My current system consists of a NAS media server with various other networked stuff (TV's, streaming devices, etc.). All are hardwired to a single 1Gb switch (let's call that the "hub"). I'm now wiring a new media room that will add at least 6 more hardwired components - TV, AVR, Nvidea Shield, Apple TV, 2 audio streamers, and probably more in the future. The temptation to daisychain another switch in the media room to the hub is probably obvious. Most IT folks would object to this however, and say to bite the bullet and just run all the cables directly to the hub. But I'm lazy, and so not wild about making 14 or more cable terminations, dealing with all the cables etc. If I can reasonably run just 1 cable from the hub to the room and use a switch it would be a lot easier..
Related to this is the network topology. The new room will have are both video and audio streamers. The former are playing content mostly from the NAS. The latter are pulling content directly from the internet, So, if I daisychained a switch for the media room, would it be better to connect the NAS to that? Maybe there'd be 1 less "bounce" between the NAS and video player?
Suggestions for the network topology would be welcome. I'm not enough of an IT guy to figure it out. [Please don't suggest reverting to WiFi for simplicity, it simply doesn't work as well as wired.] So many possibilities..... Comments welcome. Thanks and cheers,