network solution help

[lozza23_uk]

ok here is the scene.

current installation.
upstairs, modem/4 10/100 port router. 2 machines plugged into it. cable running downstairs to another machine.

all installed cable is cat5e (gigabit compatible? please confirm)

now...I need to go gigabit to allow for faster file transfer from machine to machine.

so, is it possible/can someone point me in the right direction for what I think will work. heres the plan:

current adsl modem/router to be used for just modem.
connect the modem to a gigabit router/switch (not sure which yet, dependant on the rest).
connect all upstairs machines to the router.
connect the downstairs cable to the router
downstairs another router/switch required to connect 2 machines to (is only one machine at the moment)

just trying to get it all right in my head before I go steaming in and order anything.

think I am confussing myself even more here. I really mean gigabit switches, but can I connect the modem/router to a switch, as well as another switch???

thanks in advance.

 

[UKDTweak]

All you need is a switch, but if you want to reduce the amount of cables running to the downstairs pc's; then two switches.

 

[lozza23_uk]

so i will end up with a primary switch, which has the modem and a secondary switch running into it.

then in theory all the machines will be able to access the modem?
i need to save cables to prevent re-drilling holes into walls and running lengths of 20+metres of cable really.

edit. going to change the diagram to suit.

 

[errata]

...then in theory all the machines will be able to access the modem?...
t.

yes 2 gigabit switches with the adsl router issuing IP addresses will work fine.
Terminals 4 and 5 share the gigibit path back to the upstairs switch

With better use of cable to the downstatirs you could avoid the 2nd switch and a shared gigabit path.

 

[lozza23_uk]

yeah unfortunately this is for a recording studio i installed the original network in.
had to drill a hole upstairs and run the cable outside, along existing piping and down into the noise (pc) room downstairs.
there is no easy way of me updating there existing cable layout.

thanks for the advice so far....now, what switches do people reccomend?

I see lots of goodies on OCUK, not sure what is best though. I havent had the need to buy a switch for many years

edit:
oh, and do I need to think (thunk) about uplink ports on these. will the secondary switch NEED to connect from uplink to uplink?
if so I am going to have to crossover? crumbs networks are well past me now. forgotten everything since I becaome a monkey drummer (hence the link with a recording studio)