workgroup switch help

yimmortal · 05-04-2007, 12:41 PM

ok, i bought a linksys 8 port workgroup switch by accident.. i'll lose money on shipping if i return it.. so...

what is this thing used for specifically? i have read alot about improving network speed.. does this mean that web pages will open faster?

i got it originally thinking it was an 8 port router i know i'm wrong about that

can i use it to connect a printer so every computer that is connected to the router can use that printer?

i need some plain english about what this thing is used for and how it can benefit my home system

right now we have 6 computers hooked to 2 routers that are connected to each other ...one of the routers only works sometimes... only one computer has a printer hooked up to it.

the printer has a port for an ethernet cable

not sure how much more detail to put in here.. if ya need to konw more just ask me

thanks all!!

kinbard · 05-04-2007, 03:42 PM

Hi,
Switches and routers are alike and different. Switches basically block collisions while routers pass them, routers block broadcast while switches pass them. Other than that they can be looked at as similar, and we don't need to get too technical. Since you already have a router configured to get you out to the internet I don't see a problem using the switch. I am wondering why so many routers and switches for so few pcs and printers?

**cjessee** · 05-04-2007, 04:28 PM

It sounds to me like you have purchased the correct item - a switch is typically used in your case. Normally, you will use a router to connect "different" networks - so, perhaps in your case, a router would be used as the device that interfaces with your internet service provider.

A switch is then used on your internal network as it talks only to the computer it needs to talk to - thus, making it faster than a hub. A hub will talk to all the computers and the receiving computers just have to listen for when their name is called - making for a lot of unnecessary traffic.

If your printer has an ethernet or network interface you can plug it into the switch and all computers will be able to access it. You probably need to have a moderate understanding of computers to do this.

Why don't we start with one question at a time?

**TheMatt** · 05-04-2007, 05:49 PM

Hi,

I think you may need to return it. You can't connect to the internet via a switch without a server, so you may need to get a router. Switches, however, still don't have the speed issues that hubs do, so you are all set there.

If you have a computer that is always on, you can designate it as the gateway computer, which will act as a gateway to the internet. You will need either a modem that supports USB connections OR a dual NIC LAN adapter. Then, you can plug the modem into the gateway computer, and the switch into the gateway computer.

You can even use an existing router, and put the new switch where the router was. basically, you need a router, server, or gateway computer connected to the modem. You cannot use the switch for that.

**cjessee** · 05-04-2007, 06:30 PM

But if the user is already connected to the internet, with a router, the user can certainly add a switch to the network.... I think be big question is... well.... what is your question?

Oogitsmelol · 05-04-2007, 07:31 PM

well... since you have two routers, and only one of them works all the time, you can ditch the second router. plug all of your computers into the switch, plug the switch into the router, and you should be set for a basic setup. if your printer has a network port, then you can plug that in as well (i see you said it does). ok, and your wondering what a switch is compared to a router think of it this way. the router is the part that connects your lan to the modem to get out on the internet (the wan port). all of the other ports on the router act as a switch. thats a pretty basic description, but its about the simplest i can get for you to help you understand the difference.
about the differences:
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/h...ervsswitch.htm

kinbard · 05-05-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oogitsmelol

ok, and your wondering what a switch is compared to a router think of it this way. the router is the part that connects your lan to the modem to get out on the internet (the wan port). all of the other ports on the router act as a switch. thats a pretty basic description, but its about the simplest i can get for you to help you understand the difference.
about the differences:
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/h...ervsswitch.htm

Yeah, it is kindof hard to explain without information overload.

yimmortal · 05-06-2007, 05:19 AM

so basicly i plug the router into the modem, then i plug the switch into the router, and i plug all the computers and printer into the switch and it should all work??

kinbard · 05-06-2007, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yimmortal

so basicly i plug the router into the modem, then i plug the switch into the router, and i plug all the computers and printer into the switch and it should all work??

You hit the nail on the head. Of course, make sure you keep the same ip addressing scheme on everything. The router will allow your network and the internet to communicate, and the switch will allow your workstations to communicate with one another, the printer, and the router if they need out on the internet.

05-04-2007, 12:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
yimmortal Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 12 OS: vista	workgroup switch help ok, i bought a linksys 8 port workgroup switch by accident.. i'll lose money on shipping if i return it.. so... what is this thing used for specifically? i have read alot about improving network speed.. does this mean that web pages will open faster? i got it originally thinking it was an 8 port router i know i'm wrong about that can i use it to connect a printer so every computer that is connected to the router can use that printer? i need some plain english about what this thing is used for and how it can benefit my home system right now we have 6 computers hooked to 2 routers that are connected to each other ...one of the routers only works sometimes... only one computer has a printer hooked up to it. the printer has a port for an ethernet cable not sure how much more detail to put in here.. if ya need to konw more just ask me thanks all!!

05-04-2007, 03:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
kinbard Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 2,365 OS: Solaris 10, XP,SuSE10, 10.3,11, Freespire,PCLinuxOS, Vista HP, and a partridge in a pear tree	Re: workgroup switch help Hi, Switches and routers are alike and different. Switches basically block collisions while routers pass them, routers block broadcast while switches pass them. Other than that they can be looked at as similar, and we don't need to get too technical. Since you already have a router configured to get you out to the internet I don't see a problem using the switch. I am wondering why so many routers and switches for so few pcs and printers? __________________ Half viking, half pirate, stronger than both 5 Steps XP Repair

05-04-2007, 04:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
cjessee Uh oh. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 782 OS: Windows NT/2000/XP, Dictaphone, Windows 2003 Server	Re: workgroup switch help It sounds to me like you have purchased the correct item - a switch is typically used in your case. Normally, you will use a router to connect "different" networks - so, perhaps in your case, a router would be used as the device that interfaces with your internet service provider. A switch is then used on your internal network as it talks only to the computer it needs to talk to - thus, making it faster than a hub. A hub will talk to all the computers and the receiving computers just have to listen for when their name is called - making for a lot of unnecessary traffic. If your printer has an ethernet or network interface you can plug it into the switch and all computers will be able to access it. You probably need to have a moderate understanding of computers to do this. Why don't we start with one question at a time?

05-04-2007, 05:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
TheMatt Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,693 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: workgroup switch help Hi, I think you may need to return it. You can't connect to the internet via a switch without a server, so you may need to get a router. Switches, however, still don't have the speed issues that hubs do, so you are all set there. If you have a computer that is always on, you can designate it as the gateway computer, which will act as a gateway to the internet. You will need either a modem that supports USB connections OR a dual NIC LAN adapter. Then, you can plug the modem into the gateway computer, and the switch into the gateway computer. You can even use an existing router, and put the new switch where the router was. basically, you need a router, server, or gateway computer connected to the modem. You cannot use the switch for that. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides Last edited by TheMatt : 05-04-2007 at 05:51 PM.

05-04-2007, 06:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
cjessee Uh oh. Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 782 OS: Windows NT/2000/XP, Dictaphone, Windows 2003 Server	Re: workgroup switch help But if the user is already connected to the internet, with a router, the user can certainly add a switch to the network.... I think be big question is... well.... what is your question?

05-04-2007, 07:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Oogitsmelol Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 51 OS: Windows XP	Re: workgroup switch help well... since you have two routers, and only one of them works all the time, you can ditch the second router. plug all of your computers into the switch, plug the switch into the router, and you should be set for a basic setup. if your printer has a network port, then you can plug that in as well (i see you said it does). ok, and your wondering what a switch is compared to a router think of it this way. the router is the part that connects your lan to the modem to get out on the internet (the wan port). all of the other ports on the router act as a switch. thats a pretty basic description, but its about the simplest i can get for you to help you understand the difference. about the differences: http://compnetworking.about.com/od/h...ervsswitch.htm

05-06-2007, 05:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
yimmortal Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 12 OS: vista	Re: workgroup switch help so basicly i plug the router into the modem, then i plug the switch into the router, and i plug all the computers and printer into the switch and it should all work??