how to hard connect more than 4 devices ?

avatar12m · 22 Jun 2010 at 18:04

sorry not that clued up on networking but if my router has 4 ports but i want to connect like 8 things do i just buy a 8 port normal hub then run 1 cable from it into my router ?

thanks

swbroadband · 22 Jun 2010 at 18:13

Yes, that is all you need to do.

However, you will need a cross-over cable to join the additional switch to the internal switch within the router. Although the device is referred to as a 'router' it actually contains multiple devices; a router, a switch and a wireless access point (if it is wireless).

These two products would suit this situation nicely:

Edimax 5 Port Switch

Cross over cable

The above cross over cable is 3m, smallest I could find on OCUK.

Connect them together and voila!

tolien · 22 Jun 2010 at 18:18

Provided you're not using a hub but rather a switch that is fairly modern (i.e. less than a few years old) a crossover cable isn't needed. The switch (either new or built into the router) will do the hard work for you.

avatar12m · 22 Jun 2010 at 18:27

great thanks for help i'll order them

Ryan111 · 22 Jun 2010 at 23:44

Using a combination of your router (with a 4 port switch presumably?) and a 5 port switch you will end up with 7 ports to use. If you need more, look at getting an 8 ports switch...

matthab · 23 Jun 2010 at 00:36

tolien said:
Provided you're not using a hub but rather a switch that is fairly modern (i.e. less than a few years old) a crossover cable isn't needed. The switch (either new or built into the router) will do the hard work for you.

That rule only applies for 1Gbps ports. Its good practice with 10/100(FastEthernet) to use a cross over cable to same devices.

swbroadband · 23 Jun 2010 at 10:48

That rule only applies for 1Gbps ports. Its good practice with 10/100(FastEthernet) to use a cross over cable to same devices.

Very true - I suggested a cross over cable in case he got one second hand or got one from a mate; which could have been older and not so supportive.

tolien · 23 Jun 2010 at 14:48

matthab said:
That rule only applies for 1Gbps ports. Its good practice with 10/100(FastEthernet) to use a cross over cable to same devices.

No it doesn't. Unless you're buying exceptionally old or esoteric hardware, it'll do MDI/MDX. There are plenty of 100Mbps switches that'll do it and, worst case, it's virtually certain that the router's switch ports will.
It might be "best practice" but you don't need to use a crossover cable. With devices that do MDI/MDX you could use a crossover one in place of straight through anyway...

mejinks · 23 Jun 2010 at 23:15

tolien said:
No it doesn't. Unless you're buying exceptionally old or esoteric hardware, it'll do MDI/MDX. There are plenty of 100Mbps switches that'll do it and, worst case, it's virtually certain that the router's switch ports will.
It might be "best practice" but you don't need to use a crossover cable. With devices that do MDI/MDX you could use a crossover one in place of straight through anyway...

The last time I came across a device that didn't do MDI/MDX was 7 or 8 years ago. :eek:

Dist · 23 Jun 2010 at 23:31

And even back before Auto-MDIX there was switches/hubs with an uplink port which will either always crossover the cable or can be manualy set by a button on the device.

So as has been mentioned, just ignore cable type. Unless you are buying a decade old networking kit off ebay you simply won't have to care.