Keeping existing router but want to go gigabit ?

[mrk]

I have a WRT54GL eating Tomato right now and am very happy because tomatoes are good for you.

Anyway, I would like to have my network gigabit enabled but not lose the WRT.

What would be the best solution to integrate gigabit into the network? I do have wireless devices using the wireless but they are my little brother’s PC and my sister’s Laptop and the Wii so they don’t need anything faster than 54G to operate. All 3 other computers are wired to the router.

Could I for example plug a wired gigabit switch into one of the router ports and have the wired computers running off that as a network? Would the wireless computers connected to the router still be able to access computer shares on the switch ?

I don’t want to lose the WRT ideally!

 

[Messiah Khan]

Could I for example plug a wired gigabit switch into one of the router ports and have the wired computers running off that as a network? Would the wireless computers connected to the router still be able to access computer shares on the switch ?

Yup and yup, no problem with that at all. So all you need is a 4 port or more gigabit switch (ive just got a Netgear GS105 which is very nice), and gigabit NICs in all the pcs.

 

[Peg]

A gigabit switch will do exactly what you want. I have a different router but use a switch for my wired devices and router for wireless and all devices are visible on the one network.

 

[mrk]

Thanks guys! I have one last question before looking at what OCUK stock.

With the switch plugged into one of the ports on the router say for example 2 wired computers begin downloading something (I am on VM 20MB) would the bandwidth be crippled in any way because the data is being fetched from one port on the router instead of 2 as it would be without the switch?
I know the speed would be around 1.1MB/sec per machine if they started downloading a file without restrictions at source but would it be any worse because the switch is connected to only one router port or will the routers built in switch manage this out as normal ?

I have found the Netgear:
NETGEAR GS105 ProSafe 5-Port Unmanaged Gigabit Switch

Seems awfully cheap at under £40 !

I am assuming that no configuration is needed since it’s just a switch ? (never used one before!)

Cheers!

 

[Sp00n]

You won't reach the limit of the LAN on the router with your internet so i wouldn't worry about that and yes, it's just a switch so plug it in and away you go.

 

[bledd]

mrk, this is exactly what i do

i've got a belkin (shudder) 5 port gigabit switch plugged into my WRT54G, it just 'works' as soon as you plug it in, it's belkin but it works perfectly and hasn't skipped a beat in the 3 years i've had it

you could daisy chain as many as you wanted (until 255 devices)

 

[mrk]

Good to hear! ok one final question I swear! I connect to my PC via RDP and have forwarded ports mapped to specific machines with specific IP addresses, will the wired machines on the switch be issues new IP addresses by the switch or will it simply pass this job to the router ?

 

[bledd]

it won't even 'see' the switch, it'll just think that the router has more ports on the back


^that's the basic way to answer your question.. there won't be an IP / login screen for the switch itself (unless you buy an enterprise level managed switch)

 

[jbloggs]

Thanks guys! I have one last question before looking at what OCUK stock.

With the switch plugged into one of the ports on the router say for example 2 wired computers begin downloading something (I am on VM 20MB) would the bandwidth be crippled in any way because the data is being fetched from one port on the router instead of 2 as it would be without the switch?
I know the speed would be around 1.1MB/sec per machine if they started downloading a file without restrictions at source but would it be any worse because the switch is connected to only one router port or will the routers built in switch manage this out as normal ?

I have found the Netgear:
NETGEAR GS105 ProSafe 5-Port Unmanaged Gigabit Switch

Seems awfully cheap at under £40 !

I am assuming that no configuration is needed since it’s just a switch ? (never used one before!)

Cheers!

Apparently the Netgear GS605 is exactly the same as the GS105, except that it is made of plastic, and not metal...the GS605 is what I have and it works fine.

 

[mrk]

I think i will have to make use of the free shipping this week then on the 605!

Many thanks all!

 

[mattross]

Funnily enough I've just order the Netgear GS605 as well to add gigabit to my WRT54GL. I've seen conflicting reports about jumbo packet support, has anyone tried enabling it to improve their tranfer speeds through the GS605?