5 port linksys-#5 port not working?

[PilatusInc]

I have a 5-port linksys for my network at home, so far i have only had 4 computers hooked up to it. ports 1 through 4, ive never used port number 5. I just bought a laptop and pluged it in on port number 5 and i cant get it to do anything. i unpluged all the the other computers and pluged it in on the number 1 port and it worked fine, but as soon as i plug it in on the number 5 port it stops working again. my question is if that number 5 port is even supost to work or if its for something else? if you have any ideas that would be great.

[Un4given]

A 5 port what? Hub, switch, router???

Does this unit have an uplink port? If yes, are you using it? If you are you will lose one of the ports to using the uplink port.

Also, some hubs/switches don't have a dedicated uplink port, but just use one of the regular ports that can be switched between normal and uplink by pressing a small button, usually located on the back near the port.

We need more information.

[PilatusInc]

OOOPs its a HUB. its got 5 ports in the back numbered 1 thru 5 and then it also has one uplink port. i have the 4 computers hooked up to the hub on ports 1 thru 4 and then hooked up the laptop on port number five. the hub is hooked up to a router via the uplink port and then the router is hooked up to the cable modem. Every computer i hook up to the number 5 port doesnt work. with a router i should be able to have as many computers as i want on the internet. ive got it set up to 10.

[muisejt]

Port 5 and the Uplink port in this case are shared (there may be a line there to show they are connected) so you can't have a device hooked up to both at the same time.

[PilatusInc]

hmm interesting. so if i get another hub can i hook that hub into port number 5 or how do i go about getting another hub in the network?

[Un4given]

Originally posted by PilatusInc
hmm interesting. so if i get another hub can i hook that hub into port number 5 or how do i go about getting another hub in the network?

That's what I thought it might be. You will always lose a port when you use the uplink. That means port #5 is completely off limits. To connect another hub you would need to use one of the ports 1-4 with a x-over cable.

My recommendation would be to buy a single switch with more ports, rather than trying to uplink multiple hubs. Hubs and switches won't segment broadcast domains, but switches make it such that each port is its own collision domain. This will reduce or eliminate collisions, and allow for full duplex operation. With 5 systems on your network it would be worthwhile to get a switch.

Newegg has a palm size Linksys 10/100, 8-port switch for $35. Mwave has the slightly nicer full size 8-port 10/100 switch for $55.

[PilatusInc]

Awsome, thanks for all the info, and i can live with 35 dollars. thanks

[DeadKen]

Originally posted by muisejt
Port 5 and the Uplink port in this case are shared (there may be a line there to show they are connected) so you can't have a device hooked up to both at the same time.

Usually, the Port/Uplink thing is just another connector wired reversed so you don't need a crossover cable.

Some hubs/switches use a physical switch to do this swapping, but as speed gets higher, going through a physical switch is a no-no.

[muisejt]

I know how it works, I'm just keeping it simple, I was not going to explain MDI-II and MDI-X to him.