I need a network switch

[ender026]

I've used up all 4 ports on my router, and I need more ports. If I add a 4-port network switch, it'll work just like if it was 7-port router, right? I think my router loses one port if I use the Uplink.

Are all switches pretty much the same? I've heard that some cheap ones won't be able to give full bandwidth to all the ports. Will that matter if the most I'll do is 4 machine LAN game plus 2 machines browsing?

My questions are:
1. What switch should I get for around $25?
2. What brands/models to avoid?
3. What brands/models are good?

 

[Deadlierchair]

I have a 4 port router like you and a 16 port switch, but when I have 3 computer on the router and then try to have more on the switch internet doesn't work from the switch..maybe that's just my problem, but maybe it isn't.

 

[ender026]

Originally posted by Deadlierchair
I have a 4 port router like you and a 16 port switch, but when I have 3 computer on the router and then try to have more on the switch internet doesn't work from the switch..maybe that's just my problem, but maybe it isn't.

Yikes, that's not good...

What brand/model was your switch? I might have to avoid this one.

 

[Atragon]

That isn't good...

Usually using the uplink port on your router you lose the port next to it.

Additionally, you DON'T use the uplink port on the router to connect to the uplink port on the switch.

My setup is as follows:

4 port linksys BEFSR41 with computers connected to ports 2, 3, and 4. and the uplink port connected to port 1 on a 16 port linksys switch with computers connected to other ports.

 

[Deadlierchair]

It was an Edimax switch, some no name, but other than that it has been an awesome switch. I just connect all 16 to the switch and the switch's uplink to the router and I'm fine. 9 MB/s tranfers during LAN's, so I'd still say it's a good switch.

 

[GotNoRice]

It appears that some of your confusion is the result of somewhat incorrect terminology.

I've used up all 4 ports on my router, and I need more ports. If I add a 4-port network switch, it'll work just like if it was 7-port router, right?

The routing function has nothing to do with the number of ports. It is not a “4-port router”, it is a Router with a built-in 4 port switch, and identical to if you had an older router with a single LAN port, and hooked it to an external switch; except that in your case they are bundled in the same unit.

You can connect the switches together; just make sure that you are either
1) Using a crossover cable.
2) Using a regular cable, but using an uplink port on one of the switches.
3) Using a switch that supports auto-crossover (all gigabit switches support auto-crossover, and so do some Fast Ethernet ones)

I think my router loses one port if I use the Uplink.

You will lose one port on both devices. An example would be if you have two 4 port switches, you will have a total of 6 usable ports. 4 on each, minus the one port on each switch that is used by cable that connects the two.

Are all switches pretty much the same? I've heard that some cheap ones won't be able to give full bandwidth to all the ports.

You might not see full network utilization using a cheap switch, but then again even if you were only able to obtain 20% max utilization using the switch (which would be horribly, horribly bad) that is still 20Mbps when your internet connection is probably 1.5 or 3Mbps? My point is that aside from large file transfers, the switch isn’t going to slow anything down; Games, internet, all use far too little bandwidth to make your switch the bottleneck.

 

[ender026]

Thanks for clearing that up for me!

I'll need an 8-port switch now, since I'll lose more ports than I thought I would. Since brand doesn't seem to matter, I think I'll just get the $20 8-port Gigafast from a store nearby.