Wired networking question (switch vs router)

[OpenToSuggestions]

Hey all.
In late summer last my department moved to a nice new office.
We are increasing our staff numbers slowly but we have an issue, which is that there are not enough network ports.

We will be using wired only as we could get in the **** if we have a wireless and somebody from outside gets into the network.

So, from a regular ethernet port on the wall do we need a cheap £10 switch (unmanaged, cheap jobbie) or a router? All we want to do is to duplicate network ports to allow more computers to be used in the office.

 

[moss]

As you said, just plug a switch into one of the ports of the wall.

 

[MagicBoy]

Switch. A £10 one is a bad idea mind.

If a user at my work procured their own switch to add additional ports there would be hell to pay on many different levels. Not that it would work as the main switches are locked down to prevent this happening.

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

I intend to get something like this:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-051-TP&groupid=46&catid=1626&subcat=

 

[moss]

That would work but if you do any bandwidth intensive work it would be worth getting a gigabit switch.

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

That would work but if you do any bandwidth intensive work it would be worth getting a gigabit switch.

The most intensive use would be downloading a few PDF files each day for academic research .