Need more ports for a Router

[Bruce Lee]

I have a router with 3 ports which connect 3 computers but I need to connect
another 2 computers. What kind of device should I get to enable more
connections? Do I need a network switch/hub? Thanks very much

 

[Noozer]

A switch is what you're looking for. A hub would work, but not as
efficiently.

 

[Pen]

Get a switch. Prices are so low now that the added
performance of the switch vs. the hub is worth the
small price difference.

 

[Bruce Lee]

Get a switch. Prices are so low now that the added
performance of the switch vs. the hub is worth the
small price difference.

Thanks both

 

[DaveW]

No, that will NOT work the way you want. You need to buy an 8-Port router,
which companies such as Linksys sell for around $99.00.

 

[kony]

No, that will NOT work the way you want. You need to buy an 8-Port router,
which companies such as Linksys sell for around $99.00.

Sure it will work.

He could even use a router with only 1 LAN port and daisey
chain several hubs off of a switch connected to that 1 LAN
port on the router, and in fact that is how it used to be
done before the influx of more integrated equipment.

But, generally speaking with consideration to today's
equipment options and prices, he just needs to buy any basic
multi-port (usually 4-8) switch, plug it into the router,
using the switch's uplink port if it's not automatically
detected, and he's done.

 

[Ian East]

No, that will NOT work the way you want. You need to buy an 8-Port router,
which companies such as Linksys sell for around $99.00.

This is not correct. You just need a simple switch/hub. Just plug
one of the ports into one of the router ports and you now have several
additional ports. Some switches/hubs are auto-sensing, some are not.
If it has an uplink button or dedicated uplink port, this is the port
you'll need to plug into the router.

 

[jameshanley39]

A 'home router' isn't just a router.
Your home router has a switch built in - hence the many ports. And you
can attach another switch.

 

[BlastUK]

this is pretty much how networks are done, some of the switches/routers
even say on the product description that you can expand your network by
plugging anotherone straight in

 

[Ken Maltby]

A 'home router' isn't just a router.
Your home router has a switch built in - hence the many ports. And you
can attach another switch.

The quintessential home router the Linksys BEFSR41 has an uplink
port, and most all of the new switches have built-in automatic wiring
crossover on all ports. I just added an SMC8508T Gigabit switch,
and literally every thing is auto sensing. You just plug in a cable to
your router, and move what you want to run at 2000Mbps to the new
switch. You can also add 10/100T devices, of course. ( By the way
I think the SMC is still the only Gigabit switch that can do Jumbo
Packets (9000) under $100.)

It's all totally automatic. A toaster is more complicated.

Luck;
Ken

 

[jameshanley39]

A 'home router' isn't just a router.
Your home router has a switch built in - hence the many ports. And you
can attach another switch.

correction. I have just found out that a 'home router' also
appropriately known as 'SOHO Router' isn't a router at all.

It takes a packet. either drops it or allows it(if it's addressed to
it). When dropping it, it's nothing special, it just drops it like
an unpromiscuous NIC would Except perhaps it tests IP addresses not
just MAC addresses. Once it allows it. The NAT and port forwarding is a
firewall feature. The packet can only be addressed to the 'home
router'. No routing takes place

The 'home router' has only 2 netwroks.
The NAT and port forwarding chooses which comp to forward the packet
to. But that is not routing. That is more ilke a high level switch. a
switch that looks like it's using ip addresses.

Not a router!

I could be wrong. I'm a newbie