8-Port Network Solution

[schenks]

Currently I'm running 4 PCs and a 360 through two 4 port routers. However, this is sort of a mess and is really only a temporary solution. I want to move up to a single 8 port solution and wasn't really sure which route to go.

The routers themselves are running off a connection supplied by a Trendnet TEW-430APB Access Point running as a wireless bridge.

Where I'm having trouble deciding is whether I want to go with an 8 port switch or an 8 port router. Are there any advantages (or disadvantages) of going with one or the other?

I want to keep this fairly cheap (<$100), which I know I can do, but certainly a cheaper solution is much preffered.

Thanks

 

[Xipher]

Just get a switch, I don't see any need to get a whole new router at all, and a switch would likely end up costing you less in the long run.

 

[rayman2k2]

yup, an eight port switch will do you best, and you can attach things to the router and the switch, giving you room for upgrades in the future.

 

[jeffmoss26]

This may be a bit overkill:
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...nksys/Common/VisitorWrapper&lid=7167522279B02

 

[Madwand]

Depending on what you're bridging to, you might want a router after it to provide a firewall. Most client bridges don't incorporate a firewall. One exception is DD-WRT's "client mode", which does. If you have a DD-WRT compatible device, you could use that to do the bridging + firewall.

An 8-port gigabit switch such as the D-Link DGS-2208 would be my suggestion for the LAN.