Cat. 7 network from main house to annex underground

I am not advising, I am sharing that *I* would consider it. And honestly, I don’t see what should be more complicated about a fiber optic cable than about a copper cable. Anyone who trusts themselves to install Cat-something will definitely manage this as well.

How can anyone possibly advise a layperson to connect switches via fiber optic cables? If the unlikely event of a lightning strike occurs, there is surely a household insurance.

It's not the first time that an end user who doesn't know much about the subject (no offense intended) is proposed totally oversized solutions. lay power and CAT7 cables in two separate empty conduits and that's it. You have THEORETICAL 10GBit per PORT which you will practically never ever reach because your end devices can't do that. That means a single cable is more than enough in your case. Based on your post, I don't assume you're setting up a BitTorrent server farm in the extension, so even with this one single cable everything is safe for the future. You need: On the main house side: Fritzbox Switch with enough ports for the connections in the main house + one port for the connection line Patch panel with enough ports for the connections in the main house + one port for the connection line For the connection: x meters CAT7 S/FTP installation cable (not "normal" CAT7 cable) x meters empty conduit (also called corrugated tubing or flexible conduit – personally I've had very good experience with the "Fränkische") For the extension side: Patch panel with enough ports for the connections in the extension (number of ports*number of rooms) (don't forget WLAN access point) + one port for the connection line Switch with enough ports for the connections in the extension + one port for the connection line Everything else is absolute nonsense for the normal private user and complicates the project in the most unnecessary way. This starts with the bending radius of fiber optic cables, goes through the different connectors and cables, and ends with configuring the switches.

I am not advising, I am sharing that *I* would consider it. And honestly, I don’t see what should be more complicated about a fiber optic cable than a copper cable. Anyone who trusts themselves to install Cat-whatever will definitely manage this as well.

Thanks. Maybe can tell us which special configuration he thinks needs to be made on a switch when I use a media converter instead of a normal patch cable or go directly (if the switch supports it) via SFP to the appropriate fiber optic cable? You do have to be a bit careful about the bending radius, that’s true. This isn’t about using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but about easily avoidable mistakes with very little effort. But we’re all grown-ups here and no one is forced to follow recommendations.

Thanks. Maybe can tell us which special configuration he thinks must be made on a switch when I use a media converter instead of a normal patch cable or connect directly (if the switch supports it) via SFP to the appropriate fiber optic?

You do have to be careful with the bending radius, that’s true.

This is not about using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but about avoiding errors that can be prevented with very little effort. But we are all adults here, and no one is forced to follow recommendations.

That’s where it starts. Which switch, with which ports, which SFPs, which cables. Of course, it is extra effort for someone who is not familiar with the subject. It is exactly that: Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Not to mention a cost comparison.

Answer just one question:

What added value does fiber optic offer in his case compared to copper?

if I use a media converter instead of a normal patch cable or connect directly (if the switch allows) via SFP to the appropriate fiber optic?

And why the heck would anyone do that? Just so you can say "hey, I installed fiber optic at home" and then have an additional adapter as a possible source of error in the network? It doesn't really make it easier for the layman. What advantage does it have compared to simply leaving out the adapter and using copper?

but to avoid preventable errors with very little effort.

You are contradicting yourself

Oh dear. Advantage: No problems with possible lightning strikes or potential differences. Sure, there is household insurance, but why should I bother redoing everything when I can prevent it with little effort (yes!)? My time ultimately also costs money.

Otherwise, I really lack the desire right now to keep playing the missionary here. Just because someone shouts loudly doesn't mean they're right.

On the topic of simplicity: The majority of homeowners who even remotely deal with the topic and go beyond a Fritzbox with a repeater often end up with Ubiquiti. Then you Google for 1-2 more minutes and find the right fiber optic cable in the Ubiquiti shop. Otherwise, there is nothing else to do except to bring the thing intact underground. Absolutely impossible task. Not.

You contradict yourself

Nope. When building a house, there are countless things that are far more complicated and require significantly more thought and decision-making effort; this here is a ridiculously trivial problem.

Whatever problem you have with the idea of "fiber optics," I'm out of here.