We have one ethernet port and two computers...

almoststew1990 · 3 Sep 2015 at 09:11

We connect into the office network+internet via ethernet ports in the floor. We now have one too many computers compared to ethernet ports. Can we use this. to connect the two PCs to the one ethernet port in the floor?

Would we connect the router to the floor port using the WAN port on the router, and then use the LAN ports on the router to connect the PCs to the router?

vanandjuanunited · 3 Sep 2015 at 09:19

Use an Ethernet splitter. Couple of quid.

asim18 · 3 Sep 2015 at 09:24

What you need is a switch.

shine · 3 Sep 2015 at 09:24

Buy a switch like this.

Plug the switch into the remaining ethernet port - you now have extra ports to connect to PC's.

ubersonic · 3 Sep 2015 at 11:56

vanandjuanunited said:
Use an Ethernet splitter. Couple of quid.

Technically you would need two, one at the socket and one at the patch panel.

Also while this is a much cheaper solution than a switch it does have the drawback that it would limit both machines connected to 100Mbit, which admittedly should be fine for office/internet (the ports are probably connected o a 100Mbit switch anyway) however a switch would stop this problem arising again in future.

bledd · 3 Sep 2015 at 14:24

Don't use an ethernet splitter, they are for the devil.

Buy a 5 port switch, zero configuration. It will just work.

russell664 · 3 Sep 2015 at 14:43

Does one PC have WIFI? If so, you can bridge the connections.

Grey M@a · 3 Sep 2015 at 14:45

Easiest way is as others have said, 5 port switch or if you know there will be more computers in the near future go for an 8

No setup required, saves messing on with cheap splitters that will cause headaches eventually.

bledd · 3 Sep 2015 at 17:38

russell664 said:
Does one PC have WIFI? If so, you can bridge the connections.

Don't do this. If one is off, the other won't work. Get a switch.

Hyburnate · 3 Sep 2015 at 17:47

vanandjuanunited said:
Use an Ethernet splitter. Couple of quid.

Can you still buy hubs?

Get a switch.

bremen1874 · 3 Sep 2015 at 18:45

An Ethernet splitter isn't a hub. Splitters are passive devices that allow two 10/100 connections down a single cable. One goes at each end of the cable and uses the two spare pairs that are only required for Gigabit.

Hyburnate · 3 Sep 2015 at 19:24

bremen1874 said:
An Ethernet splitter isn't a hub. Splitters are passive devices that allow two 10/100 connections down a single cable. One goes at each end of the cable and uses the two spare pairs that are only required for Gigabit.

Fair enough, seem pretty pointless with Switches... I guess if you don't have power but I mean really...?

Orcvader · 3 Sep 2015 at 19:52

I have to agree, switches are the way to go. Splitters are pretty unreliable as well, switches does a better job handling the load between multiple PCs.

Tealc · 3 Sep 2015 at 19:58

Switch. Those 5 port tp-link ones work nicely.

SupermotoMX · 3 Sep 2015 at 21:37

i have an 8 port TP link running my entire house, havent rebooted it in over a year, best 20 quid i ever spent

RoyMi6 · 4 Sep 2015 at 11:04

vanandjuanunited said:
Use an Ethernet splitter. Couple of quid.

Hahahahaha this is such laughably bad advice!

Just because this is the first response to this thread I thought I'd reassert what others have said and tell you to buy a switch.

Based on your needs you need to buy any of the following:

TP-LINK 5-port (10/100/1000Mbps) Gigabit unmanaged switch: £15
TP-LINK 8-port (10/100/1000Mbps) Gigabit unmanaged switch: £20
TP-LINK 16-Port (10/100/1000Mbps) Gigabit unmanaged switch: £55
TP-LINK 24-Port (10/100/1000Mbps) Gigabit unmanaged switch: £65

Remember that the number of USABLE ports will be one less because you need to use one of those ports to connect to your existing network.

Using a faster switch will allow faster local transfer of files between the computers so I'd highly suggest a gigabit switch. For the money any slower is pointless and any faster is probably more than your built in Ethernet of your computer can support.

In addition you don't want to over complicate the network by having multiple switches, so future proofing by buying a switch with as many ports as you might require in the future is likely a good idea. Try not to be tempted by the fact that you can get 2x8-port switches for less than a 16-port one.

Additionally the prices above reflect the exact prices you should expect to pay. If you find a £30 24-port switch TRIPLE check the specs as it's likely not a gigabit switch.

When considering the size of the switch remember to include things like printers, laptops that you might choose to plug in to get better network performance or transfer large files as well as the total number of PC's you think you might be connecting to the switch in future.

£65 to have a 24-port switch with gigabit Ethernet would give you peace of mind that your network hardware in your office likely wouldn't need to change for quite a while.

mrkev · 4 Sep 2015 at 15:03

A switch will work as long as the office network isn't locked down to accept only 1 mac-address like it is where I work. Just saying because don't want you to spend too much money if it's going to be useless.

RoyMi6 · 4 Sep 2015 at 15:41

mrkev said:
A switch will work as long as the office network isn't locked down to accept only 1 mac-address like it is where I work. Just saying because don't want you to spend too much money if it's going to be useless.

This is true - one of the reasons I suggested avoiding multiple switches is because of the network issues it can create. Many network infrastructures will only allow one MAC address per port connected to the central managed switch.

I kind of got the impression it's an office as part of a building complex that isn't quite as sophisticated as that though since they're having to find through own solution rather than "contact IT" to get a fix.

Saying that, if you are in a position where you have IT support, get them to address the problem correctly by dropping new lines or activating unused ports.