Can my Router be used as a switch?

I have the Linksys BEFSX41 Router with the integrated firewall and switch. Im just about to host a miniature lan party at my house (4 comps total) and I was wondering whether If I simply connected up the 4 computers to the ports, but without the WAN connected if this would simply act as a switch? If not my friend has a hub we can use but would a switch be that much better for networking 4 computers for online gaming?
Also, if I neded more than 4 ports would it be possible to connect two 4 port hubs/switchs (or even a hub and a switch) together to allow 7 ports?


<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=5467618 " target="_new">Almost Breaking 12k!!</A>

You shouldn't need the hub unless you do more than 4 comps, in which case you can hook the hub to the any of the four ports on the back(1-4/DMZ, not the WAN).

<font color=blue>My job is to polish</font color=blue> <font color=green>turds</font color=green><font color=blue>, I</font color=blue> <font color=red>love</font color=red> <font color=blue>my job.</font color=blue>

yes not to mention that it will handle dhcp for you, making it function better than a switch.

<font color=blue> If it ain't broke, don't fix it...tweak it.</font color=blue>

cool , although im now thinking of buying an 8 port switch (4 port switch + a hub sounds like major lag for the guys on the hub to me), but I was wondering whether a hub would be faster for gaming?

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=5467618 " target="_new">Almost Breaking 12k!!</A>

switch would definitly be better than a router. We dont have any trouble with lag running 4 comps on a router at our lans. Sometimes we even uplink to another switch or two to accomodate extra comps. Still works fine.

<font color=blue> If it ain't broke, don't fix it...tweak it.</font color=blue>