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Posted by Warren on January 19, 2006, 2:42 pm
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BigJim wrote:
>I have used a router with my computers from day one. Will a switch allow me
> to use more than one computer at a time with a broadband cable modem. I
> understand about the NAT firewall with router.
A router delineates the border between two networks. A switch is a device
within the same network. DHCP arp traffic doesn't travel past a router. So
when you have a router, the ISP doesn't assign IP addresses to devices on
the other side of the router. The typical home "broadband" router also has a
DHCP server built in to do that, and then uses Network Address Translation
to allow private range IP addresses to be used. NAT is not a firewall, but a
side-effect of NAT is that packets coming from outside the network have to
negotiate something extra. The effect is what is commonly being called a
firewall, but it really isn't a firewall. (Some home "broadband" routers
really do have additional firewall capabilities, but NAT, in and of itself,
is not a firewall.)
But the basic purpose of a router isn't protection. The basic purpose of a
router is to allow you to delineate your network from the cable company's
network. That delineation results in protection, but it also means that the
ISP does not have to assign IP addresses to all the devices in your house,
as all those devices are now on your network, not the cable company's
network. You're just connecting your network to the cable company's network.
If you use a switch, every device connected to the switch is connected to
the same network that the switch is connected to. If you connect a switch
directly to your cablemodem, then every device you connect to the switch is
on the cable company's network. The cable company needs to assign each
device an IP address, and they will charge you extra for that. And since
those devices are directly on the cable network, they're essentially on the
same network as every device connected to the network. If your neighbor
isn't using a router, but has also connected directly to his cablemodem, the
devices behind your switch are on the same network as his computer(s).
Also, with a switch, since the ISP needs to assign all the devices an IP
address from their pool, it's possible that you could get IP addresses in
different subnets. If that's the case, traffic between the two computers
physically located in your house will need to travel out onto the cable
network to the cable company's router before being sent back to your house
to the computer on the other subnet. That also means the speed between the
two computers will be limited by the upstream cap of the cablemodem instead
of the maximum speed of the switch and network interface cards.
So with a switch, you are no longer the network admin. Your neighbors are on
the same local network as you. You give up both NAT and firewall
capabilities. And you have to pay for multiple IP addresses.
With a router, you are setting up your own LAN that you get to administer.
Your neighbors aren't on your LAN. Your router will have NAT and some basic
firewall capabilities to protect yourself. And you only have to pay for one
IP address.
Most home "broadband" routers have switches already built in to allow you to
connect multiple devices to the router. If your router doesn't, then you can
place a switch on *your* side of the router. You don't want to use a switch
instead of a router, and you don't want to put the switch on *their* side of
the router.
--
Warren H.
==========
Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my
employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife.
Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is
coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this
response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants
to go outside now.
Compare and buy TaxCut and TurboTax Software:
http://www.holzemville.com/taxes/
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Posted by riggor99999 on January 20, 2006, 5:54 am
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>I have used a router with my computers from day one. Will a switch allow me
> to use more than one computer at a time with a broadband cable modem. I
> understand about the NAT firewall with router.
>
> TIA
It's not clear if you have a one port router ... in which case you just hook
up a switch or hub and share the connection. Or if you are using a software
router / firewall to share your connection....or even if you are sharing
your connection. Here is a standard reply for how to share your connection.
====
You have three basic options for sharing one TCP/IP address:
1) You can buy a router/firewall with a built in switch such as the Linksys
BEFSR41 Etherfast Cable/DSL Router...for around $50. This will connect all
your PC's together as well as connect to the internet and share the one
internet connection. This is a small device, quiet, cheap, and can be left
on all the time. Each PC is independent of each other so either can be on or
off without affecting the other. You can also get a router that has both
wired switched ports and wireless capabilities such as the Linksys BEFSW411
Wireless-B Broadband Router. You will also need a wireless NIC / Adaptor for
your PC/Laptop. This will free you from being physically connected to the
router via Ethernet cables.
2) Add a second Ethernet Card to the PC connected to the Cable Modem, and
run proxy software...i.e. MS-ICS, Sysgate, WinGate, WinRoute, AnalogX, and
some firewall software...i.e. ZoneAlarm or BlackICE. You can use a "cross
over cable" to connect two PC's together...but a hub or switch would be
better. A hub or a switch is a must for more than two PC's. This is option
is cheap and easy but requires that the main "router PC" be on all the time,
or at least on while you want internet access from the second PC.
3) If you are up for the challenge, you can setup a dedicated Linux system
or a Windows system to share your connection and provide proxy and firewall
services. This requires a third PC and some Linux expertise. You will still
need a hub or a switch to connect everything together.
I would check out the following links for more info on options, products and
reviews.
http://www.linksys.com/configurator/config.asp
http://www.linksys.com/products/whitepaper.asp
http://www.linksys.com/edu/
http://www.linksys.com/edu/homebig.asp
http://www.speedguide.net
http://www.practicallynetworked.com
http://www.cablemodemhelp.com
http://cable-dsl.home.att.net
http://www.broadbandreports.com
http://www.broadbandnuts.com
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