Hubs or Switch

[explorer]

In my house, I have 3 computers that are downstairs and networked with a 5 port hub and 4 computers that are upstairs and networked with a 5 port hub. I want to connect the hubs together. However, I am not sure how to do it, do I run a cable from one uplink port to the other, or do i get a switch and plug the hubs into the switch via the uplink cable. I have my dsl shared on the 3 computer netowrk, an i would like toi be able to share it with all comps.

Thanks,
Explorer

[Jon]

You can do either and it will work.

[su root]

Both will work, yes, but if you transfer alot of files, it will put alot of strain on your network.

Rule of thumb is < 10 computers per hub network (which yours is), but if you plan to do alot on the network, I would suggest replacing one of the hubs with a switch.

For internet usage only, hubs won't be a problem.


A hub network will only go as fast as your slowest computer (because every network send has to be seen by every computer, and thus, if you have one computer with a 10Mb card, your entire network will run at 10Mb.)

[trey_w]

definately go with a switch, and better yet, a router with a 10\100 switch built into it

[zoopa_man]

The inexpensive way would be to get a crossover cable and connect the uplink ports on each hub.

The more manageable way would be to get a switch. That way you can cut your network into two segments. the computers up-stairs and the ones down-stairs. If you just connect the hubs to the switch. OR you could get a switch big enough to connect all your computers into one.

[PolyPill]

A switch really isn't very cost effective for a home network. If all you're doing is gaming and looking at webpages a shared 10mb is enough. What I did was buy a wireless access point with a 3 port 10/100 switch on it, that way the slower less used computers can be on the hub and the 2 high traffic ones on the switch.

Also if you're not using a crossover cable you have to connect an uplink port to a non-uplink port. Connecting the 1 uplink ports with a regular cable wont work. If you don't have uplink ports then you have to use a crossover cable between them.

[xCarne_Asada]

i just got a gigafast 10/100 8 port switch, and it speed up my network transfers a lot. Also, it lowered my CS pings on lans. It was on $44.95, from frys.

[KaHNZa]

Originally posted by su root
A hub network will only go as fast as your slowest computer (because every network send has to be seen by every computer, and thus, if you have one computer with a 10Mb card, your entire network will run at 10Mb.)

That statement is false. I have run a computer with a 10Mb card and the rest with 100Mb cards on a 10/100 switch and it runs fine. File transfers between the 100Mb NICs are close to 100Mb. But when transfering to the 10Mb PC its obviously not going to go past 10Mb.

[Al Capone]

you are right, what he said there was not correct

[teak]

you are right, i run the about the same network, one with 10 mb card the other with 100mb card, and i the 100 get 100 and the 10 gets 10. simple as that.