switch help :S

VanMulk · Post by **VanMulk** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 12:28 am

hey im new at routers and switches and i was wondering if you need a router
to use a switch. Can simply run your dsl/cable modem box into a switch and from there into the computer(s)/other online appliances without using a router?
or do you have to run the cable/dsl modem box into a router, then into the switch and from there into the computers? any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:42 am

You can plug your broadband modem into a switch..and if you have a multiple IP account with your ISP...connect as many computers as IP addresses you're allowed at one time from your ISP. But you have no firewall protection.

A router provides you with basic hardware firewall protection by NAT. It takes a single IP address from your ISP (which is the type of account most of us have at home)...and shares it to computers on your network.

rclayton17 · Post by **rclayton17** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 4:39 pm

I have a Dlink DI-624 (rev C) Wireless Router and i'm looking into getting a switch, since i have 2 computers in one room and only one ethernet cable going to the router from there.

is getting a switch the best option? the internet will perform just the same as if i plugged straight into the router correct?

i searched briefly and found this dlink switch at the top of the list:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... rder=price

or could i just get another wirless router like the linksys wrt54g or whatever it's called and use it as a switch (so i can have a backup router), or would that not work?

thanks.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:44 pm

rclayton17 wrote:is getting a switch the best option? the internet will perform just the same as if i plugged straight into the router correct?

rclayton17 · Post by **rclayton17** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 12:47 am

thanks for the reply.

so i got the dlink switch.
is it best to configure the pc's for 100 full duplex?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:13 am

rclayton17 wrote: is it best to configure the pc's for 100 full duplex?

Most NICs work great just leaving them to auto-detect. Every now 'n then you'll run into some oddball NICs that don't get along with some switches, and you'll have to manually set them....but 99.9% of the time, auto will be just fine.

rclayton17 · Post by **rclayton17** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 4:15 pm

k thanks, i'll try that.

they are currently set to 100full duplex.

this morning when my dad turned on the winxp pro sp2 machine, it wasn't getting an internet connection through the switch.

by the way, on my other winxp pro sp2 machine (directly connected to our dlink router), it has this "Internet Gateway/Internet Connection" icon at the top. on the winxp pro sp2 machine that is connected to the switch, it doesn't have that icon, even when the internet is working. what's that all about? any ideas? thanks.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 9:34 pm

rclayton17 wrote:by the way, on my other winxp pro sp2 machine (directly connected to our dlink router), it has this "Internet Gateway/Internet Connection" icon at the top. on the winxp pro sp2 machine that is connected to the switch, it doesn't have that icon, even when the internet is working. what's that all about? any ideas? thanks.

That's Windows XPs Universal Plug and Play Discovery service at work. If you have a UPnP compliant router, you'll see that with WinXP. The purpose of this is to allow UPnP compliant applications to work with the firewall of the router, if you have UPnP allowed on the router.