Switch or Router?

Status
Not open for further replies.
6

6pack

Mastermind
Getting a new device soon to connect to the net. I need to share internet over 3 devices with my current connection.

What I have - only an adsl modem with dhcp support.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

In the diamond marked with an ? i'd like to get the most suitable device for me in least possible price.

Was planning on getting a switch first. Price around Rs 500+ for 5 port 10/100 switch.

Read on net that it cannot be used to share internet.

I was thinking of connecting the modem to port 1 of switch. then pc to 2, pplug to 3. Naturally, dhcp would be enabled in the modem.

Will it share internet since modem will act as gateway and assign ip address to each device?

To connect to internet, i'll enter modem's ip address in switch and pplug. Dont know if both would be able to access internet at same time though.

Some say broadband router is best device since it has both adsl modem + router inside it. Price around 1000+ for wired and 2k plus for wifi.

If using a bb router, i can connect adsl modem to wan port and the router shares internet coming from wan port to rest 5 devices connected to it automatically.

Main difference between a switch and a router is

Routers are completely different devices. Where a hub or switch is concerned with transmitting frames, a router's job, as its name implies, is to route packets to other networks until that packet ultimately reaches its destination. One of the key features of a packet is that it not only contains data, but the destination address of where it's going.
Click to expand...

Source: http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/2006/router_switch_hub.asp

So what should be used?
 
You need a router thats all. Get the Asus RT N13U which is best bang for the buck. It can be used a gateway and repeater in future iff you want to.
 
As you mentioned, a switch is the cheapest option currently, in combination with existing ADSL modem. It will work, 100%.

As for router, #[member='dinjo'] can explain it better, as he know more about it.
 
Ethernet switch keeps track of Mac address attached to it , ethernet switch is fine for you.

BTW - what's the model no of the modem ?
 
i'm getting this tplink 150Mbps wireless N router- http://www.ebay.in/i...984.m1436.l2649

with 10% off coupon its even less.
happy55.gif
 
They have high rate of failures the build quality has gone down over the past years
 
#[member='dinjo'], so what do i get?

i'm avoiding Belkin and Buffalo, because i've seen users complaining about these devices dropping connections in between streaming or skype or data intensive operations.

cisco linksys was my first choice but it does not come cheap. its more than thrice my budget. so that leaves me with dlink, netgear, asus.
 
i was going to get a switch, but seems they only forward packets to devices on the same lan network.

if i need internet connection using a switch, i'll have to use modem in ppoe mode with dhcp. but even with that, i'm not sure if i can use internet and also transfer files on more than 2 devices at same time.

If you do not want to get a router, use these solutions. These alternate solutions assume that you know to respect the limits of your Internet service provider (ISP). Be sure to consider these factors:
  • If all of your computers have dial-up modems, you may only connect one computer to the Internet per phone line (and possibly per ISP account) at any given time.
  • If you have a broadband (cable, DSL, satellite, or other) connection, only one computer at a time will be able to connect to the broadband modem until you request from your ISP an additional IP address for each computer (fees may apply).
  • Some broadband modems require that you turn off or unplug them before they will recognize a new computer.
  • The "modem" provided by some broadband ISPs may also be a router. Check with your ISP if you are not sure.

Source: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2246
Click to expand...

When a host needs to connect to a resource on another system, it applies the network mask to it's own IP address, and the IP address of the destination resource, and then compares the results to determine whether the destination resource is on the local LAN, or another LAN.

If the resource is on the local LAN, a router is not needed. The packets are framed with the MAC address of the destination resource and placed on the wire.

If the resource is on another LAN, the host needs the assistance of a router. The packet is forwarded to the router, the router then uses its knowledge of adjacent routers to determine the next hop. One router passes data to the next, and so on, and so on, until it reaches a router directly connected to the LAN where the destination host resides.

Your host would frame the packet with the MAC address of the router's LAN interface. When that router places the packet onto the WAN, it is framed with the MAC address of the next hop router.

Forgetting about issues such as NAT for a moment, the source and destination IP addresses in the IP header remain the same as the packet traverses the Internet. However, the source and destination MAC addresses with which the packet is framed are constantly changing hop by hop.

Two devices on the same segment use the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) to resolve an IP address into the MAC address needed to forward the traffic. Communication occurs at Layer 2 (MAC). IP addresses are logical, they really exist to facilitate getting from one network to another.

Source: http://forums.speedg...236418-Wan-port
Click to expand...

Pros: Quote from previous poster: Cons: Doesn't work with cable modem!!!

Of course it doesn't!

Unless your cable modem provides multiple fixed IP addresses (most non-business setups don't), you need a *router* after your cable modem, not a switch.

Regardless of manufacture...ya gotta use 'em correctly...

Cons: Doesn't work with cable modem!!!

Other Thoughts: I am sure this product works great with a DSL modem, however, it WILL NOT work with a cable modem. Had to call the company to find that out. Newegg was GREAT about a return and refunded the product with no hassle. Great doing business with them!

Source: http://www.newegg.co...#scrollFullInfo
Click to expand...

A router on the other hand has a wan port, so it will forward the packets to the modem (through wan port) which will forward to the internet.

Since wan and ethernet ports are on different networks, i can use internet as well as share files at same time i think.

Am i confused?
 
To add to my previous post,

Traditional routers are designed to join together multiple local area networks (LANs) with a wide area network (WAN). Routers serve as intermediate destinations for network traffic. They receive incoming network packets, look inside each packet to identify the source and target network addresses, then forward these packets where needed to ensure the data reaches its final destination.

Routers for home networks (often called broadband routers) are designed specifically to join the home (LAN) to the Internet (WAN) for the purpose of Internet connection sharing. In contrast, switches (and hubs) are not capable of joining multiple networks or sharing an Internet connection. A network with only switches (hubs) must instead designate one computer as the gateway to the Internet, and that device must possess two network adapters for sharing, one for the home LAN and one for the Internet WAN. With a router, all home computers connect to the router as peers, and the router performs all gateway functions.

Source: http://compnetworkin...tervsswitch.htm
Click to expand...

Also i saw this: http://compnetworkin...ork-Diagram.htm

Sharing an internet connection using a switch

I am attempting to share internet between two windows-based PCs. I have a Netgear FS105 Fast Ethernet 5-Port Switch. I have only ever networked using a router. The internet connection is a adsl dhcp provider. Whe I plug everything into the correct ports, I get an IP conflict on one of the computers. One works. One doesn't. I have rebooted the modem and the router. Restarted both the computers. Tried different ports. It says on the box that I need network management software. I didn't know what I should do. Thanks!

Source: http://www.techrepublic.com/forum/questions/101-218118/sharing-an-internet-connection-using-a-switch
Click to expand...
 
arey 6pack bhai. it is simple network. configure your current ADSL modem in PPPOE mode and configure DHCP on it.

Your ADSL MODEM's WAN Port goes to any port of your switch. connect other clients to the switch.

Now ADSL Modem will provide the DHCP address to your clients , Internet and local file sharing.

If you buy wifi Router.

Put your ADSL Modem into Bridge mode and your WIFI Router will Dial out to your ISP. Configure DHCP on your wifi router. and you will get same functionality internet,local file sharing and Wifi to your network.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom