Comments on: Router vs Switch vs Hub

By: Colanth

Colanth — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:31:28 +0000

pacman, if the modem has a router in it you can connect it to a switch, otherwise you need a router first. Then you have to bridge the wireless router if the one in the cable room isn’t where you need the wireless signal.

Wireless Router’s *LAN* jack, with DHCP disabled in the router–>Switch if needed–>Router->CableModem–>Internet

Connecting 2 devices to a modem with a switch will give you a duplicate DNS error, or some such error meaning that 2 devices are trying to use the same IP address. (A non-routing modem only repeats the IP address you get from your provider – a router leases internal IP addresses to your computer.)

By: pacman777

pacman777 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:11:31 +0000

Quick question about this networking with routers versus switches. I’m trying to configure a patch panel where all the cat 5e cables from the various rooms in the house converge into. I want to install my cable modem in the panel and distribute internet access to several rooms in the house. Can I use a switch that connects to the cable modem and then plug in the various cat 5e cables for the respective rooms into the switch? I was going to then have a wireless router connected to the port in one of the rooms. So basically the configuration would be

Router–>Switch–>CableModem–>Internet.

Would this work, or do I have to have a router attached to the cable modem to distribute internet access throughout the home properly. Thanks!

By: Max

Max — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:12:31 +0000

Plugging one router into another is not ideal. You’d be creating two private networks w/in one network. The devices plugged into router1 will not be able to talk to devices plugged into router2. Its called Double NAT.

A switch is what you want to use to extend the number of ports behind the standard 4 on a typical router.

By: thepyewacket

thepyewacket — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:03:18 +0000

My understanding is that you would be better served by connecting a switch (or hub) to your router, Russ. This assumes that you are connected to the internet. Aseem is correct in stating that you “could” use a router or switch, but should you be connected to the internet there could very easily be configuration issues going from router -> router -> internet. While it is theoretically possible to connect in that fashion, the far simpler way would be to add a switch, i.e. switch -> router -> internet. No configuration of switch required. Alternatively, you could use a hub instead of a switch. Bandwidth is most assuredly not an issue on your side – the limitation will most likely be in your connection to the internet.
Best of luck.