We are converting the shed in the backyard to be used as an office, so we’re running power and networking out to it. The cables are run from the house already, and now I’ve got to handle the punchdowns of the networking cables, and decide how and where I am going to route wired ethernet in the walls of the shed. Inconveniently, the power and network cables come into the shed on the opposite wall from where I intend to put my computer.

Initially, I’m thinking I should put a 4 port outlet against the wall I intend to put my desk and computer on, and a 2 port outlet next to where the power and networking come into the shed. I’ll wire the switch up directly from the network cable coming from the house, and then run patch cables to each of the wall-port sockets. I have an 8 port Gig switch, so four ports will go to the computer desk, two ports will go to the other desk, one port will be used as the uplink, and the other port will go unused. Perhaps I’ll extend wireless with the unused port some time in the future, but this isn’t critical.

On the house side of the network cable, I’m going to run the cable up through the floor in the craft closet, and put in a small network switch. From here, we can connect the cable modem and Wireless Access Point together, providing wireless for the house, and internet services for both. I’m also tempted to go ahead and run network cable to either end of the house (while I’m under the house already), and add Wireless Access Points there – instead of putting one in the closet. Using Power Over Ethernet, this could made to be pretty simple, and would provide excellent coverage over the entire house.

We will see what I have the motivation for once we start doing the work.