Do I need a switch, a hub, or a router?

[Joseph Rynerson]

I have a small home network that uses a linksys wireless router 80211g. I
have four computers on the network. Three are hard wired one is wireless. I
have built a room addition and want to move two of the hard wired computers
into this room. My plan is to connect the two computers in the new room to
the router through one existing cat 5 wire. In the new room the computers
will be hard wired into a switch, (hub or router) which will communicate
with the existing wireless router through one run of cat 5. Will this work?
Which do I need a switch, a hub or another router? I think I need a switch
but I am not sure. The people at compusa said if I use another router then I
will have set us two networks which I don't want to do. They suggested a hub
or a switch. I guess I could put wireless cards in the two computers but the
wireless is not as fast as the hard wire. I don't know much about hubs or
switches which do I need? Thanks for helping.
Joe

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Either a switch or hub would work in the case you've outlined, though a
switch would be the better choice.

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* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
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[Steve Winograd [MVP]]

I have a small home network that uses a linksys wireless router 80211g. I
have four computers on the network. Three are hard wired one is wireless. I
have built a room addition and want to move two of the hard wired computers
into this room. My plan is to connect the two computers in the new room to
the router through one existing cat 5 wire. In the new room the computers
will be hard wired into a switch, (hub or router) which will communicate
with the existing wireless router through one run of cat 5. Will this work?
Which do I need a switch, a hub or another router? I think I need a switch
but I am not sure. The people at compusa said if I use another router then I
will have set us two networks which I don't want to do. They suggested a hub
or a switch. I guess I could put wireless cards in the two computers but the
wireless is not as fast as the hard wire. I don't know much about hubs or
switches which do I need? Thanks for helping.
Joe

Get a switch, which connects multiple computers to a single network
connection. A hub performs a similar function, but it's less
efficient than a switch when there's more than one computer. Connect
the CAT 5 wire from the router to the switch's uplink port.

It's possible to use a home broadband router as just a switch, without
creating a second network:

1. Connect the CAT 5 wire from the first router to the second router's
uplink port. If it doesn't have an uplink port, connect the CAT 5
wire to one of the second router's LAN ports using a crossover cable.

2. Don't connect anything to the second router's WAN (Internet) port.

3. Disable the second router's built-in DHCP server.
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

Please post any reply as a follow-up message in the news group
for everyone to see. I'm sorry, but I don't answer questions
addressed directly to me in E-mail or news groups.

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Program
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

 

[Adam Membrey]

Just thought I would add my $0.02 on this issue to explain to some that may
not know. The main difference between a switch and a hub is as follows,
both purport to be 10/100/1000 mbps..whatever speed is advertised however a
hub will have only 10/100/1000 across the entire device whilst a switch has
that speed for each port.

Effectively if you have a 4 port hub and all ports are filled they are all
vying for a part of the available bandwidth, whilst a switch has the
advertised bandwidth for each port.

At least that's how I understand the devices

 

[Peter R. Fletcher]

You don't need a router. Either a switch or a hub will work fine for
you in this situation. Since a switch has some small advantages in
terms of throughput, and will probably be no more expensive, I would
get a switch.

I have a small home network that uses a linksys wireless router 80211g. I
have four computers on the network. Three are hard wired one is wireless. I
have built a room addition and want to move two of the hard wired computers
into this room. My plan is to connect the two computers in the new room to
the router through one existing cat 5 wire. In the new room the computers
will be hard wired into a switch, (hub or router) which will communicate
with the existing wireless router through one run of cat 5. Will this work?
Which do I need a switch, a hub or another router? I think I need a switch
but I am not sure. The people at compusa said if I use another router then I
will have set us two networks which I don't want to do. They suggested a hub
or a switch. I guess I could put wireless cards in the two computers but the
wireless is not as fast as the hard wire. I don't know much about hubs or
switches which do I need? Thanks for helping.
Joe

Please respond to the Newsgroup, so that others may benefit from the exchange.
Peter R. Fletcher

 

[John R Weiss]

want to move two of the hard wired computers into this room. My plan is to
connect the two computers in the new room to the router through one existing
cat 5 wire. In the new room the computers will be hard wired into a switch,
(hub or router) which will communicate with the existing wireless router
through one run of cat 5. Will this work? Which do I need a switch, a hub or
another router?

You need a switch. A switch is actually a "switchable hub," which is the modern
version of a hub. The short version is that a switch provides full bandwidth to
each machine, and a hub provides shared bandwidth.

Switches are cheap enough, and hubs aren't made any more (that I know of). Any
hub you find will likely be a 3+ year-old leftover.

Wire the switch to the downlink port in your router.

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

I have a small home network that uses a linksys wireless router 80211g. I
have four computers on the network. Three are hard wired one is wireless. I
have built a room addition and want to move two of the hard wired computers
into this room. My plan is to connect the two computers in the new room to
the router through one existing cat 5 wire. In the new room the computers
will be hard wired into a switch, (hub or router) which will communicate
with the existing wireless router through one run of cat 5. Will this work?
Which do I need a switch, a hub or another router? I think I need a switch
but I am not sure. The people at compusa said if I use another router then I
will have set us two networks which I don't want to do. They suggested a hub
or a switch. I guess I could put wireless cards in the two computers but the
wireless is not as fast as the hard wire. I don't know much about hubs or
switches which do I need? Thanks for helping.

Joe,

you already got loads of good information, so I can only add
some background info, just in case you want it. Check
http://www.michna.com/kb/SwitchHub.htm.

Hans-Georg

 

[Joseph Rynerson]

Thanks so much for all the great information. Sounds like it will be a
switch.
Joe