[archangelgabe]

I need to network 9 imacs and 2 G5s and a powermac tower. Under $250.

The clostest option is this...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124154
but it's twice my budget. Is it possible to get one router and 2 switches?


Or 3, 4 port routers? etc etc?

[mbentley]

Originally Posted by archangelgabe

I need to network 9 imacs and 2 G5s and a powermac tower. Under $250.

The clostest option is this...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833124154
but it's twice my budget. Is it possible to get one router and 2 switches?


Or 3, 4 port routers? etc etc?

the easiest solution from my point of view would be to buy a less expensive router such as:

LINKSYS BEFSR41 10/100Mbps Router - Retail $42.19 (s&h included)

and

LINKSYS EF3124 10/100Mbps 24-Port Switch - Retail $127.97 (s&h included)

this will only run you $170.16 with shipping included. this will work just as well as the all in one unit. just connect one of the lan ports on the router to one of the ports on the switch and voila, you're connected.

if you wish to use multiple switches (for example, if you have these computers separated in two locations) you could buy two switches with fewer ports if that is what you want. it will end up costing more but if it helps for a better network topology, then that is something you'll have to decide.

[brakezone]

You could get a 16 port switch for less, or 3 5 port switches for less. But the 24 port switch is nice too.

[mbentley]

Originally Posted by brakezone

You could get a 16 port switch for less, or 3 5 port switches for less. But the 24 port switch is nice too.

very true. you could definitely go with a 16 port switch. that still gives you 4 ports for expansion on a 16 port switch (11 workstations + 1 port used for linking the router to the switch) if you went with 3 x 5 port switches you would have 1 empty port for expansion out of the 3 switches and 1 port on the router which you could connect a workstation to. any way you set it up, it should work well for you. as to which one works best for you would just depend on the physical layout of the location of these machines... good luck to you in your network adventure