As an installer when I get to a house I take note of what is already in place and what paths do I have to run any new wiring. I agree completely on the conduit suggestion.

Thus, I'll be running a 2" conduit from the server location to the utility room (which currently will have no wire inside, but a string for later use).

Wherever you call home, it probably didn't come wired up for that most precious of home utilities: internet access. Sometimes wireless networking can only take you so far. Guerrilla network wiring ...