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Posted by Shannon on August 27, 2005, 1:38 pm
> Shannon wrote:
>>I want to (hardwire) network 7 pcs to share a cable modem in my home.
>>I
>> already have a 4 port router and a 4 port switch. Both are 10/100
>> Mbps.
>>
>> Even though there are 7 pcs, only 3 or 4 at the most are used at one
>> time. Barely any activity happens between pcs; most are usually on
>> the internet.
>>
>> Does it make a difference if I connect the switch to the router to
>> feed 3 of the pcs, or should I buy another router to feed these last
>> 3 pcs?
>
> Most of the home routers, whether they have one, four or eight ports,
> can handle up to 255 devices connected to them. The four or eight
> ports on the router are actually on a switch that's in the same case
> as the router.
Yes.
>
> Buying another router to connect to your router adds a additional,
> unneeded complexity to your LAN. You *could* do it that way. It would
> isolate the computers coming off the second router from your LAN
> unless you configure the second router to act like a switch. (Of
> course that would raise the question as to why bother with a router if
> you're going to configure it to just act as a switch anyway?)
Those were my thoughts. I knew this would complicate the setup, and
isolate the pcs on this branch, but I didn't know if there was some
positive tradeoff.
>
> Or you could replace your 4 port router (actually a router with a
> built-in 4 port switch)
Yes.
with an 8 port router (actually a router with
> a built-in 8 port switch). But the only things you would accomplish by
> this would be you'd only have one power supply, and one case sitting
> on your desk. But you also loose a little flexibility.
Currently, I have 3 ethernet lines going from the 4 port router through
the walls to the pcs on the first floor, and one line going through the
walls to the 2st floor of the house. This is the line I'd connnect a
switch to, instead of getting an 8-port router and pulling three more
line through the walls.
For example, if
> the computers are located in two clusters, with a separate router and
> switch you could run a single cable from one cluster to the other
> cluster. With a single 8 port router, you might have multiple cables
> running parallel to each other from that single router.
>
> In general, I'd say that it's usually preferred to use both the router
> and the switch than it is to buy a new router.
Yes, I think this is what I'll do.
Thank you,
Shannon
>
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