'Expand' my network ?

kevpuk · 10 Sep 2007 at 21:21

Probably a real simple question......but I need more Ethernet ports and wondering the best step to take ?

Currently, I have my cable internet connection from a Samsung NTL set-top box....going into my Freecom FSG-3 WLAN - this serves as a router for my main PC, my PS3, my Vaio MCE and my DualPhone Skype phone thing.....and also serves ad-hoc laptop/N95/PDA/PSP/Momento connections.

For a variety of reasons, I would like most 'permanent' devices to be connected with wires, they are all tidily routed etc.

So I need more Ethernet ports....just got a SlingBox......and the FSG has only 3 LAN ports......so.....do I buy a router as main distribution and then have the FSG downstream (might be awkward for ftp/http servers on the FSG ?) or can I use a switch/hub ?

Help :confused:

please....a bit out of my depth !

Caged · 10 Sep 2007 at 21:23

Just buy a switch and connect one of its ports to one of the ports on your router.

kevpuk · 10 Sep 2007 at 21:44

Caged said:
Just buy a switch and connect one of its ports to one of the ports on your router.

Is it really as easy as that ?

Caged · 10 Sep 2007 at 21:49

V|per · 10 Sep 2007 at 21:52

Most switces will have an uplink port, plug that into the router. That 1 port on the router now becomes many

kevpuk · 10 Sep 2007 at 21:53

Great, thanks guys

off to go get me a switch.....

Caged · 10 Sep 2007 at 21:53

Most switches auto-detect when they should be running ports in uplink mode, I haven't seen a dedicated uplink port on a comsumer switch for ages.

Ev0 · 11 Sep 2007 at 22:04

Caged said:
Most switches auto-detect when they should be running ports in uplink mode, I haven't seen a dedicated uplink port on a comsumer switch for ages.

Yup, almost all home stuff is autosensing, can't go wrong with a cheapy netgear blue box switch tbh

Le_Petit_Lapin · 11 Sep 2007 at 23:54

V|per said:
Most switces will have an uplink port, plug that into the router. That 1 port on the router now becomes many

Say I had a modem, that is connected to the WAN port on an 8 Port Router. All PC's are hooked up to that router and are happily sharing files, folders, and printers. Now say for example I need to add a couple more network PC's or printers to the network, if I buy a (for example) Netgear FS105 Switch, stick its uplink port into a port on the router, will any PC's that are then connected to the ports on the switch, automatically be on the LAN?

Does the switch do all the legwork for you?

gumbald · 12 Sep 2007 at 12:16

Yes. It's just turning one existing port into more ports.