need help with networking a tradeshow booth

[jontopia]

I will be going out to do tech support for a trade show this weekend and we will have 8 computers(pc winXP) needing to be networked.We will have 1 ip address from the convention centers router and a scope of 8 ip addresses to use.I have 3 linksys routers and a 2 belkin 8 port switches.Can someone help me understand the correct way to do this .Networking is not my strong suit.

Thanks in advance

[johnwill]

Actually, all you need is one router and one of the 8 port switches.

Reset the router to factory defaults.

Connect the router's WAN/Internet port to the convention center's network connection.

Connect the 8 port switch to one of the LAN/Network ports on the router. If neither the router or the 8 port switch are auto-sensing and don't have an uplink port, you'll need a crossover cable.

Plug all the devices into the remaining router ports and the switch ports. If you want more ports, connect the other switch to the router in the same manner.

Job done.

[jontopia]

Thanks. That certainly sounds easy enough.

Will I have to set the ips statically or just allow dhcp? I assume that by using the WAN then going through the switch that the router will assign the ips within its available scope for example 192.168.1.50 to 100.

Usually at trade shows they give you your 1 main ip and then assign you your additional ips statically but I suppose I could just use the router to do it and save the trouble of going to 8 computers and asigning there ips.

Am I on the right track here?

Thanks

[johnwill]

You should use DHCP all around. The router will indeed supply private IP addresses. If they have static IP addresses assigned, you could simply use the switch. OTOH, if it were my systems, I'd like the protection of the router's NAT layer. I suspect there's no reason for you to need the multiple IP addresses they're providing, right?

I'm presuming the principal reason for the connection is Internet capability. If so, I don't see any reason not to use the router.