Do I need a switch?

[PriMaTe]

Right now I have all 4ports in my router filled up, 3 computers and 1 xbox. I want to add another xbox to the router, I assume all I need is a switch? Then I can connect the switch to one of the ports in the router and connect 2 xboxes to the switch. Will that work out alright or is there something else I need to do? Any problems I should look out for?

Any recommendations on a switch? Here's a random linksys I found

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124005

Thanks for any help

[Colossus]

Yes a switch will fit your needs in expanding the ports on your router.

[James]

Any recommendations on a switch? Here's a random linksys I found

Netgear GS108.

Great passive (no fan) desktop/workgroup switch. We have 3 of them at work for the different groups of desks. Never once have they given us problems. I use a 16-port (GS116) for the network distribution in my house. I've always been a fan of Netgear's Pro line of switches. They may not do the best routers, but their basic business class desktop switches are top notch. They are auto-negotiating (adjust the speed per port), and auto-crossover (if you need a crossover and plug in a straight through cable, the switch will fix it for you).

[geek moment]
Finally I like them because they use non-blocking backplanes in the switches. I.e. If you have an 8 port gigabit switch, they use a 16gbps backplane so that each of those 8-ports can be running at full-duplex gigabit speeds, without the backplane (which does the switching between ports) being a bottleneck. Most people don't run their switches full out pretty much ever, but it's nice to know that the capacity is there.
[/geek moment]

[wh666-666]

Yes a switch will fit your needs in expanding the ports on your router.

Im going to do the exact same thing as soon as I find a power adaptor for my spare switch.


One query though. Lets say I have a cable modem > 4 lan port wi-fi consumer router >

I currently utilise 2-3 of these ports. Is there any limitation on how big a switch I hook up to one port? Any limitation on hooking up two switches to port 3+4? Any contention or bandwith issue to deal with on my lan, except internet bandwith, the more computers that access the web?

[cat5e]

This one is inexpensive fast and can do Jumbo Frames Giga if needed.

Take into consideration that you lose one port on each switch for the Interconnetion.

I.e. 4 ports Router + 8 Ports switch, yields 10 ports available.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833156251

,

[kent1146]

Right now I have all 4ports in my router filled up, 3 computers and 1 xbox. I want to add another xbox to the router, I assume all I need is a switch? Then I can connect the switch to one of the ports in the router and connect 2 xboxes to the switch. Will that work out alright or is there something else I need to do? Any problems I should look out for?

Any recommendations on a switch? Here's a random linksys I found

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124005

Thanks for any help

Go with the Netgear 8-port Gigabit switch that James recommended. I have, and still use the older 10/100Mbps version of that switch - owned it for over 10 years, and it's still kickin.

You are correct, that you connect the switch to your router. There is an Uplink port on the switch (usually port 8, or whatever the "last" port is), that may have a toggle next to it. Just toggle it to Uplink mode, and plug it into any port on your router.

The only comment that I would make is that I would connect your computers to the switch, instead of computers to the router. If your computers have gigabit ethernet cards in them, then you can transfer files between computers at 1000Mbps, instead of 100Mbps using the config that you mentioned in your original post.

[PriMaTe]

Good info, thanks for the help guys!

[James]

You are correct, that you connect the switch to your router. There is an Uplink port on the switch (usually port 8, or whatever the "last" port is), that may have a toggle next to it. Just toggle it to Uplink mode, and plug it into any port on your router.

Thankfully with the new ones, there is no more toggle or anything. It's all automatic, and it can be done on any port on the switch.

*Edit: This comment is specific to this line of Netgear products. Other switches, including higher end managed netgear switches have the uplink ports and/or toggles that kent1146 mentions.

[Thermo]

If you need a switch, I have a 24 port that I will let go of very reasonable. PM Me.