network switch recommendations

[orienteeror]

I'm setting up a new network and looking for some hardware recommendations for switches, access point (and router?) Realistically looking at a total network hardware spend in the order of $500
The network topology will look something like this (the coloured boxes show groups of computers that share data)

Switch #1: Needs PoE to supply other switches. Would it need to be a managed switch?
Switch #2 & #3: unmanaged and powered from PoE
In terms of the general network configuration:

• 
  Will VLANs be useful?
  Prefer to use DHCP for IP addresses, which piece of hardware (a router?) would assign them? Is any extra hardware needed?
  The access point would be great to have 2 SSID, one directs public accessible wifi to the local web server (probably Abyss) (question: is it DNSmasq and port forwarding to achieve this?). The second SSID connects into the rest of the network. Would they be on different subnets?
  Any recommendations for providing an internet connection to one of the servers? It would probably be from a usb 3G modem. Simplest would be to plug it directly into the laptop...

 

[kanewolf]

There aren't too many POE powered switches and they are kind of expensive. Is there a reason that multiple ethernet cables can't be pulled in place of the POE powered switches?

This is a good choice for the POE powered switches -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833316701

How many ports are desired for switch 1. Since switch 1 is a POE capable switch, it can power the AP also

 

[Rogue Leader]

That switch you reccomended I don't think is powered by PoE. This one is though and should work for what is needed:

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-ProSAFE-GS105PE-Pass-through-GS105PE-10000S/dp/B00J8NAWZ8

 

[skit75]

You can get Cisco 2960 24-port PoE Layer 2 switches on eBay fairly cheap.

 

[kanewolf]

That switch you reccomended I don't think is powered by PoE. This one is though and should work for what is needed:

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-ProSAFE-GS105PE-Pass-through-GS105PE-10000S/dp/B00J8NAWZ8

I double checked it on the HP website. It says it can be POE powered via port 1. From the HP datasheet:

IEEE 802.3af PoE-powered device option
Obtains power provided by a standard PoE device connected to Port 1; deploys the switch
wherever an Ethernet cable can reach as a power outlet is not needed (8-port GbE model only)

 

[Rogue Leader]

That switch you reccomended I don't think is powered by PoE. This one is though and should work for what is needed:

http://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-ProSAFE-GS105PE-Pass-through-GS105PE-10000S/dp/B00J8NAWZ8

I double checked it on the HP website. It says it can be POE powered via port 1. From the HP datasheet:

IEEE 802.3af PoE-powered device option
Obtains power provided by a standard PoE device connected to Port 1; deploys the switch
wherever an Ethernet cable can reach as a power outlet is not needed (8-port GbE model only)

Ah ok didn't see it on there my bad

 

[orienteeror]

There aren't too many POE powered switches and they are kind of expensive. Is there a reason that multiple ethernet cables can't be pulled in place of the POE powered switches?

Yes that's certainly an option and would be much cheaper.

How many ports are desired for switch 1. Since switch 1 is a POE capable switch, it can power the AP also

Minimum 8 ports but 16 would be better - particularly if not using other switches. Cost is going to become the constraint so it might be best to ditch the PoE idea altogether...
I'd anticipated using PoE so that in case of total power failure only the Switch #1 needs to be kept on UPS while a secondary power supply is changed over

Any suggestions on whether VLANs are a good idea in this setup, or how to serve DCHP?

 

[kanewolf]

VLANs could be useful if you need to segregate something. Do the "Speaker" boxes need to be isolated from the "results" boxes for instance? The requirement to isolate the AP from the rest of the network would probably be a VLAN.

Is this a Windows domain? If so then your domain controller is your DHCP server.

 

[orienteeror]

Is this a Windows domain? If so then your domain controller is your DHCP server.

Not a windows domain, just individual laptops provided by different people at present