Router/Switch setup

[patman500]

Hi all,

I've got a new home cinema set up and some new kit in a few other rooms that require network connections.

I currently have a Belkin F5D8223-V4 wireless router. I plan to buy a Buffalo Linkstation Pro to store all my video/music stuff on.

I want to get all the kit (2 DLNA blu-ray players and 2 SONOS) hooked up via ethernet for reliability as i'm in an area with lots of wirless networks and other interference. In addition to these players I have a PC, a printer and a PS3 that I want connected via ethernet too. Obviously this is more than the four ports on the wireless router so I was wondering if it is possible to have the router attached through a switch (or switch off the router). Is it likely to cause IP address conflicts or any issues with DLNA if kit is connected to different access points?

My internet is Virgin Media 20MB, so no issues with the router being the first point for the internet coming in.

I was gonna go for this switch http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-102-NG&groupid=46&catid=1626&subcat=

My main questions: is this setup viable? which way round should the switch/router be connected and are there any alternatives people know of?

Thanks!
Pat

 

[Dist]

Unlike a router, a switch is 'dumb' (at least in the home environment), so it wont cause any sort of conflicts or anything like that. The only thing you need to make sure of is that you connect one of the switch ports on the router to one of the ports on the switch. So your networking would be cable modem -> router -> switch.

The devices you have can then be connected to either the switch ports or the router ports, keeping in mind that if the router only has 100Mb ports on it then you will want to connect any gigabit enabled devices to the gigabit switch, although if the router has gigabit ports then it doesn't matter if you plug the devices into the switch or the router.