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Network Setup Advice

D

Deiz

n00b
Joined
Apr 2, 2007
Messages
21
I'm quite a networking newbie, so bear with me here.

I have three desktops, and a laptop. One of the desktops runs XP, all the other systems run Ubuntu 7.10.

Currently, I have a WRT54G v5, a WPC54G in the laptop, and a WUSB54G v4 in a desktop.

Two desktops and the laptop are in one room. This room also has the router.

The third (XP) desktop is in another room, and connects with the WUSB54G.

I want to be able to utilize the gigabit ethernet of the three desktops (The laptop only has 10/100), but the router only goes up to 100 megabit. The two nearby desktops are linked together by a crossover cable and thus can use their gigabit ethernet, but the remote desktop is heavily constrained by the WUSB54G v4.

So, my current network:

Crossover: Desktop 1 -> 2
Wired: Router -> Desktop 1, 2, Laptop*
Wireless: Router -> Laptop*

*Laptop is mainly used wired, but I move it around on occasion and go wireless.

I want to simplify my cabling a bit, in addition to speeding up Desktop 3's LAN connection.

So, would I be wise to incorporate a switch (or wired router) into my system? (Operating at gigabit speed, obviously.)

I would be able to eliminate the crossover, and just directly connect the systems to the switch/router and get the same LAN speed. Since the third desktop never moves, I can justify routing a 50-foot Cat6 cable to it, to bring it into the LAN at gigabit speed.

I know there are wireless routers with gigabit ethernet, but if I connect the third desktop via a cable, I doubt I'll use wireless enough to justify a newer, more expensive router, versus a cheaper gigabit switch/wired router.

Now, assuming I go the independent wired route: Are there any issues with, say, connecting a wired router to the modem, then connecting the wireless router and the four PCs?

A few more questions:

Do you need to use a crossover cable to connect the wireless router's input port to one of the wired router's?

Will it be possible for the laptop, connected to the wireless router, to stream media from one of the desktops, connected to the wired router, provided the subnets are the same?

Is a wired router necessary here, or will a switch do the job?

Potential network:

Wired: Wired Router -> Desktop 1, 2, 3, Laptop, Wireless Router
Wireless: Wired Router -> Wireless Router -> Laptop
 
pick up those 8 port gigabit switches that pop up on newegg for like 20-30 bucks, think its Trendnet. and run a wire to the 3rd desktop.

wrt54g flashed with tomato running into the gigabit switch, then cat5 run to the 3 desktops, and wireless running to laptop.
 
marley1 said:
pick up those 8 port gigabit switches that pop up on newegg for like 20-30 bucks, think its Trendnet. and run a wire to the 3rd desktop.

wrt54g flashed with tomato running into the gigabit switch, then cat5 run to the 3 desktops, and wireless running to laptop.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, I'm in Canada - So NCIX is my alternative to the Egg. Looks like I can get a Trendnet TEG-S8 for around $50.

The other unfortunate bit is Tomato can't run on v5 or newer WRT54Gs. Totally neutered platform.
 
Hmm. I wasn't aware that switches didn't have WAN inputs.

There aren't any problems with plugging WAN and LAN devices into a switch?
 
?

your setup would be:

broadband connected to router through wan port > port 1 on router connected to port 1 on switch, port 2,3,4 on switch connected to desktop1,desktop2,desktop3
 
marley1 said:
?

your setup would be:

broadband connected to router through wan port > port 1 on router connected to port 1 on switch, port 2,3,4 on switch connected to desktop1,desktop2,desktop3
Click to expand...

Oh, alright. I was putting the switch ahead of the router in the signal chain, so the switch served the router, rather than vice versa.

Can the router assign addresses properly via DHCP when all that's directly connected to it is the switch, or will the switch as a whole get, for example, 192.168.1.100, and the devices connected to the switch will need static IPs assigned manually?
 
router assings computers ip just like the computers were connected directly into computer
 
Alright, thanks.

Anyhow, I checked the Switches & Hubs section of the weekly NCIX mailing list - I can get the Netgear Prosafe GS108NA for $50 ($79 normal, $14 instant discount, $15 MIR).

It's got 8 ports as opposed to the FREEDOM9's 5.

It looks like a good deal - Any reason not to buy it?
 
a switch is a switch. one soho brand really isn't going to be that much better then the other.

i dont like netgear all that much, but thats a personal preference, i just mentioned freedom9 because they make great gear from what i have used and can tell.

get any gig switch that you like. =)
 
One more question:

To connect a switch to a router, do I need to use one of my crossovers, or does that only apply when connecting a router to a router?
 
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