Tom's Hardware > Forum > General Networking > Network General Discussions > I need a "switch", right?
Ask the community Add a reply
Word :    Username :           
 
p3matty   09-05-2008 at 10:16:42 PM

So I just purchased my first home, and it's an older fixer-upper. Anyway, in the remodeling of the house, I'm going to wire every room with internet (cat 5e) and 2 lines for TV. I'm going to have 1 internet wall jack in 3 rooms (bedrooms) and 2 wall jacks in 3 other rooms (office, living room, and family room). This means that I'll have 9 wires running to some central location where I'll have my cable modem, my wireless router with 4 outputs, and I guess a "switch", right?

The router alone, only having 4 outputs, wont have enough plugs for all 9 wires. Can I just use one of the 4 and connect that to an "8 port switch" and then have the other 7 ports on the switch, and the extra 3 ports on the router to connect all the wires?

Will all 9 wires (and thus all 9 wall jacks) be usable at the same time, and each able to connect to the internet (switch to router to modem to internet)?

Thanks for any help you might be able to give!!

Add a reply
Sponsored Links
Register or log in to remove.
rgeist554   09-05-2008 at 10:33:21 PM
- 0 +

Quote :


The router alone, only having 4 outputs, wont have enough plugs for all 9 wires. Can I just use one of the 4 and connect that to an "8 port switch" and then have the other 7 ports on the switch, and the extra 3 ports on the router to connect all the wires?



Correct

Quote :

Will all 9 wires (and thus all 9 wall jacks) be usable at the same time, and each able to connect to the internet (switch to router to modem to internet)?



Yes

As far as setting up the router, I strongly recommend you use a PC that is directly connected into the router to do that. As far as the switch goes, you may have to configure it with an IP address depending on the switch you get, but it should be fairly easy and the documentation should tell you how to set this up.

Other than that, it's pretty much plug-and-play unless you're trying to set up some kind specific address / filtering scheme.

Things to look out for would be running the cables too close to fluorescent lighting and other things that could impair the signal.

If you run into any troubles setting things up, make another post or PM me and I'll help you out.

Reply to rgeist554
p3matty   09-08-2008 at 10:28:42 PM
- 0 +

Another stupid question for you. If I connect one port from the router to one of the 8 ports on the switch, it will leave me with 3 more on the router and 7 more on an 8 port switch.

Would there be any difference at all in any of these 10 ports? Each will connect to the net, right? I guess the 7 other ports on the switch would be somewhat limited by the single port on the router that they are all going into, right? I was thinking of using the extra 3 on the router for plugs that I know will be used often, and the rest going into the switch.

Is my thinking correct on this one?

Reply to p3matty
rgeist554   09-08-2008 at 10:57:44 PM
- 0 +

Yes, all remaining ports on both the router and the switch will function the same and have net access.

They wouldn't really be limited by speed either. Assuming you use a 100Mbps connection, your net access is probably not going to be higher than 10Mpbs. In fact, it will probably be more like 2-6Mbps. So you got plenty of bandwidth left on that one port.

If you've got a Gb router and switch, then there's no chance in hell that you'll max out your bandwidth on that one port.

Reply to rgeist554
Ask the community Add a reply
Tom's Hardware > Forum > General Networking > Network General Discussions > I need a "switch", right?
Go to:

There are 1278 identified and unidentified users. To see the list of identified users, Click here.

Forum map
Bestofmedia Forum ©
2000-2009 Bestofmedia Group
Page generated in 0.349 seconds
Please mind

You are about to answer a thread that has been inactive for more than 6 months.
If you still wish to proceed, please ensure that your posting is original and does not duplicate or overlap any prior responses to this thread.

Add a reply Cancel
Sponsored links
  • Ask the community now
  • Publish
Ad
Related Topics
See all relatives topics
They won a badge
Join us in greeting them