Basic network question - Hubs etc.

SideWinder · 21 May 2008 at 18:14

Okay, scenario...

5 laptops
1 network socket that connects to the University network (with internet)
1 hub

1) I am right in thinking that if the hub is connected to the network, that the 5 laptops can 'plug in' to the hub and therefore all 5 would have internet access?

2) Would this still be possible if there WASN'T a hub, like making a chain? For example, a laptop connected to another, that is connected to another, that is connected to another and so on with just one laptop connected to the network socket?

mdjmcnally · 21 May 2008 at 18:18

1. Correct all 5 would be able to access the network.

2. In theory could do this if you enabled Internet Connection sharing on each of the first 4 pcs but with the price of a hub it REALLY isn't worth the hassle and trying to trouble shoot this off. Also each laptop would need 2 NIC cards.

SideWinder · 21 May 2008 at 18:22

Ah ha, so just to be completely clear...

-------------NETWORK PORT-------------
--------------------|--------------------
--------------------|--------------------
--------------------|--------------------
--------------------|--------------------
-------------------HUB------------------
--------------------|--------------------
1-------2-------3-------4-------5-------

?

oldbag · 21 May 2008 at 18:24

Yeah, port 1 would go to the main LAN, and the others for the laptops.

SideWinder · 21 May 2008 at 18:26

Thanks.

oldbag · 21 May 2008 at 18:27

Don't forget that the laptops will need the right IP address range and gateway before it will work. Maybe the Uni uses DHCP?

suarve · 21 May 2008 at 18:43

All the laptops will also be in the same collision domain too

tolien · 21 May 2008 at 19:06

Anyone buying a hub nowadays needs their head looking at, unless there's a specific function of a hub that you need (and 99% of them can be replicated with a decent managed switch, though of course that's more expensive).

The university might not be keen on you connecting 5 machines to a single port, even more so with a hub that would broadcast everything the 5 machines sent back out the port they've provided - you'll probably need a router without a modem.

FrenchTart · 21 May 2008 at 19:13

Also, lots of universities require you to register a MAC address with them for network access. You may find they get funny about you having 5 MACs/PCs

Obviously, tolien's suggestion of an ethernet router should solve that problem.

J.B · 21 May 2008 at 19:28

I had a similiar problem when I lived in halls, had an unmanaged switch which would have been fine apart from the fact that the uni couldnt accept that anyone would need more than one machine :confused:

They were very stricked on 1 MAC address per room!

anyway, I used ICS for a while but eventually got a cheap cable router. Gave the IT dept the routers details and bobs your uncle!

dave-lew99 · 21 May 2008 at 19:50

Depending on your uni it's quite likely you will need to NAT onto your halls connection so that as far as they know you only have one machine - a WRT54G/cable router would work, or a dedicated box, or windows with ICS.

You'd still need a switch though, so try that first.

tolien · 21 May 2008 at 21:39

J.B said:
the uni couldnt accept that anyone would need more than one machine

Or they don't want to dish out their (limited, without jumping a shedload of hoops) allocation of IPs to students in halls attaching everything with an ethernet socket they have.
That said, it still beats me how universities get away with the massive allocations they have...

FrenchTart · 21 May 2008 at 21:47

tolien said:
Or they don't want to dish out their (limited, without jumping a shedload of hoops) allocation of IPs to students in halls attaching everything with an ethernet socket they have.
That said, it still beats me how universities get away with the massive allocations they have...

I'd guess most of it is due to them be allocated tons of IPs 'back in the day' before IPv4 became so 'ripe' (hoho)

Kol · 21 May 2008 at 23:15

When I was in halls and I had a laptop and main machine I just used a router.

Halls connection -> WAN port (wrt54gs - with the router spoofing my laptop mac as I registered that when I moved in... however they do allow you to change the mac you register with them - I did it once).

Worked perfectly.

Caged · 21 May 2008 at 23:17

Our halls pretty much allowed anything, but held you responsible for anything that happened on that port. You needed to register everything with them first so it would be allocated an IP, but they were happy for Xboxes to go on there, and no issue with access points - they placed the responsibility on the student to secure it. Which I think is a nice way of doing it.