I’ve just moved into a new apartment. It’s got Fiber, and tons of ethernet ports throughout the apartment, which has me excited, but the box is a bit underwhelming. None of the ports are actually active, because the ethernet connections just end loose in the box. I plugged my router directly into the ONT, which has me up and running, but having my wifi coming from a closet isn’t the best.

I know just enough about home networking to know this can be a lot better. My understanding is I’ll need a router connected to the ONT in the box, which I would then connect to a switch, which could then connect up to a patch panel (for the sake of organization), and that would let me use all my wall ports. I’ve got 15 ethernet ports (plus the 3 coax that are already connected up). If people have recommendations for any of that, preferably stuff that would fit neatly in the box, I absolutely would love to know more. Bonus points if you know how to mount stuff to the backboard in the box, I don’t know what kind of mounting system that is.