In order to understand what the new LAN design will look like, I want to first determine what requirements I have for the LAN:
1) I want to have a central repository for audio, pictures, and video.
2) I want to be able to view output from the security cameras from any location.
3) I want to centralize my backups from all machines to one location.
4) I want to be able to create a single file for backup to off-site storage.
5) I want an open source development environment.
6) I would like access to my LAN from the Internet.
7) I would like to VPN in to my LAN so that I can securely browse the Internet from anywhere.
8) I would like to set up an internal wiki that contains instructions on LAN usage.
9) I want to interface the LAN with the home theater. This is for streaming of all media types.
10) I want to create a database of pictures, serial numbers, etc. for insurance purposes. This db must be accessible from any machine and be extractable from backups.
I'm sure there are other requirements as well, but this is a good start.
I will be naming the LAN 'FieldsNet'. In the future I will be referencing these requirements as FieldsNet:R1 - Rn.