Help with Design and options

[TankJKU]

Goal- To be able to connect multiple machines(iOS, OS X, Windows) to a network and access multiple drives/Multiple NAS, printer, av, etc. Also I would like to add a hardware network firewall for security.

Machines/iDevices- What I would like to connect to
Two MacBook Pro's- Internet, Two separate single drives (My working drive and Wife's working drive), Drobo 5N(This is purely an archive backup for my wife's photography business), network printer
iPad- Internet, Network Printer, Working drives would be great.
Windows 7 Laptop- Internet and access work via VPN
Surface Pro- Internet, two separate single drives, Drobo 5N, Network Printer
Apple TV- Internet
iPhones 5s and 6+- Internet and Printer for now.


We try to keep only items we need day to day on the computers, every thing else stays on the "working drive" or the Drobo 5N. I would like to add an additional Drobo 5N or synology NAS for all of our personal documents, pictures, etc.

We are currently using the ISP provided router/modem and plugging directly into the drives as needed. We have a Time Capsule that is unopened and can be returned if needed. What is the ideal setup? Which should I setup everything on?

What would you all recommend.

Thanks for the advice.

TankJKU

 

[Altemose]

We are currently using the ISP provided router/modem and plugging directly into the drives as needed. We have a Time Capsule that is unopened and can be returned if needed. What is the ideal setup? Which should I setup everything on?

I would set the ISP router to bridge mode and use the Time Capsule as the router. It can handle that load just fine! I recommend that you share the Time Capsule disk with user accounts however.