[iNiMiTabLE]

Heres my situation, I need something that'll connect to my router and then have the ability to branch out to more computers so that they too can share the internet that is connected to the router. I believe what I need is eitehr a hub or a switch. I dont know much about either so I was wondering if someone could help explain what they are and which would be best for me. Links are great, newegg is fine or any other place.

I was looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124016

Thanks~

 

[Syrillian]

With a switch, only one system can be online at any one time. At least that is the way my Linksys 4-port Switch operates.

I believe a hub operates the same way and it is just a matter of semantics, perhaps another member can validate or nullify that....

 

[K092084]

That will work fine.A hub will be fine since you are just wanting to share the internet. Switches are just more advanced hubs that offer for features and what not.
Switches and hubs share the internet, like you are wanting to do. They should all be able to operate on the internet at the same time. Since that is there main purpose.

 

[Kamakazi]

I have this http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817130107

and it isnt one at the time, all of those things connected can be using the net at the sam etime, I use it for my 360 and PC.

 

[Xaine99]

If at all possible, you want to spend the cash on a switch. In a hub configuration, the entire bandwidth is shared and each packet is sent to all machines connected to the hub. Hubs are considered "dumb," where as a switch is considered "intelligent." With a switch, the packets only go to the system intended and each system gets dedicated bandwidth. Don't use a hub unless you have a special reason to do so. Most home switches are auto configurating making installing as simple as just plugging in and doing a ipconfig /renew.

 

[iNiMiTabLE]

Thanks for the fast replies guys, all very good information. Also, does having a switch cause any kind of complication when setting up a static ips or port fowarding?

 

[Syrillian]

Hmmm... looks like I need to re-read my manual (all 2 pages) as I can only access the web on one system at a time...

either that or Linksys just sux.

 

[K092084]

Nope. Switches don't really effect anything. I have both static IP's and port forwarding on.

 

[K092084]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syrillian Hmmm... looks like I need to re-read my manual (all 2 pages) as I can only access the web on one system at a time... either that or Linksys just sux.

Maybe you got some weird switch or something.

 

[iNiMiTabLE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syrillian Hmmm... looks like I need to re-read my manual (all 2 pages) as I can only access the web on one system at a time... either that or Linksys just sux.

Lol, yeah I was confused with your post because if only one computer can go online at a time that would defeat the purpose of a switch/hub. Hope you can fix your problem

.

EDIT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by K092084 Nope. Switches don't really effect anything. I have both static IP's and port forwarding on.

I dont have to do anything to the switch when setting these up? Like Xaine99 said, they're autoconfig, right?

 

[K092084]

Yea, just plug it in and it will auto config and work.

 

[iNiMiTabLE]

Cool. Thanks so much guys! Much appreciated.

 

[K092084]

You are basically just adding more ports onto your router, to put it plainly.

 

[SoBe8503]

I think the main problem a lot of you are having has to do with the router. You can't just plug in a switch into your modem that goes to the internet. You need a router that has NAT capeablities (Which most do nowadays). Nat enables you to have more than one computer inside the LAN to share the single internet connection. What I have at my place is my modem that connects my Comcast to my netgear router. The router has enough ports on the back so I don't need a hub / switch.

Xaine99 is spot on when it comes to the differences between routers and switches. The switch learns what MAC address is using what port, so it can forward traffic designated for a certain MAC address to the appropriate port.

This also improves security. If someone is sniffing a network using a HUB, they would be able to view all the traffic from all the machines. Switches prevent that. There are ways around that of course, but I don't want to get into specifics. I may get spanked by some directors / mods / admins, whatever they're called nowadays.