Basic Equip?--Internet sharing with more than 4 lines

[Keith]

I don't know why I'm too dense to figure this out from web reading, so
I hope someone can be patient with me. I think it's a simple
question.

I currently have four PCs and a Netgear 4-Port router (RT 314).

I'm building a house in which I have run cat 5 to every room--giving
me about 10 or so leads in the basement that are ready to be plugged
into something. (This is so I can put printers on-line and plug in
laptops wherever I need to or whatever.)

So--assuming a Road Runner connection, what do I need to finish the
job to attain Internet sharing and a simple network for these lines?
A switcher? Do I still the netgear router? Do they need to be
plugged together? Something else?

Told you it was simple. But all help would be greatly appreciated.

[Dg1261]

"Keith" <keith@noemailplease.com> wrote: I currently have four PCs and a Netgear 4-Port router (RT 314). I'm building a house in which I have run cat 5 to every room-- giving me about 10 or so leads in the basement that are ready to be plugged into something. (This is so I can put printers on-line and plug in laptops wherever I need to or whatever.) So--assuming a Road Runner connection, what do I need to finish the job to attain Internet sharing and a simple network for these lines? A switcher? Do I still the netgear router? Do they need to be plugged together? Something else?

Keith,

You'll still need the Netgear router -- that's your access to the internet.
Since 4 ports isn't enough for you, buy a switch or hub (such as the Netgear
FS108) and cascade it through the RT314.

It helps to understand that your "router" is really two devices in one case --
a router and a 4-port ethernet switch. Routers really connect networks, not
computers, and the router in your RT314 is connecting the RR network to your
network switch (also in the RT314). To expand your local network, you just
need more switches (or hubs, which perform the same function with slightly
different technology).

To cascade the switches, you connect one of the 4 ports on your RT314 to the
uplink port on the FS108. Now your router feeds 3 computers through the RT314
and feeds 7 more through the FS108 via the 4th port on the RT314. Note that by
cascading switches, you effectively lose one port on each device, so a 4-port
RT314 with an 8-port FS108 lets you connect 10 computers together, not 12.

The four RT314 ports are identical, so it doesn't matter which you cascade --
in fact, you could hook up four FS108's to the RT314 if you wanted to. The 8
ports on the FS108 are also identical, although one of the ports (port 8) can
be changed to uplink mode. If you just wanted 8 computers on a network, you
would use the FS108 with all ports in normal mode, but to connect the FS108 to
another hub or switch you would change port 8 to uplink mode (a push-button)
and connect port 8 to a normal port on the other hub/switch.

Note I'm just using the FS108 as an example here. Lots of companies make
comparable products, and in various port counts.

[Keith]

Thank you for a beautifully articulated answer. It cleared everything
up!


On 09 Jul 2003 20:51:08 GMT, dg1261@cs.com (Dg1261) wrote:
"Keith" <keith@noemailplease.com> wrote: I currently have four PCs and a Netgear 4-Port router (RT 314). I'm building a house in which I have run cat 5 to every room-- giving me about 10 or so leads in the basement that are ready to be plugged into something. (This is so I can put printers on-line and plug in laptops wherever I need to or whatever.) So--assuming a Road Runner connection, what do I need to finish the job to attain Internet sharing and a simple network for these lines? A switcher? Do I still the netgear router? Do they need to be plugged together? Something else?Keith,You'll still need the Netgear router -- that's your access to the internet.Since 4 ports isn't enough for you, buy a switch or hub (such as the NetgearFS108) and cascade it through the RT314.It helps to understand that your "router" is really two devices in one case --a router and a 4-port ethernet switch. Routers really connect networks, notcomputers, and the router in your RT314 is connecting the RR network to yournetwork switch (also in the RT314). To expand your local network, you justneed more switches (or hubs, which perform the same function with slightlydifferent technology).To cascade the switches, you connect one of the 4 ports on your RT314 to theuplink port on the FS108. Now your router feeds 3 computers through the RT314and feeds 7 more through the FS108 via the 4th port on the RT314. Note that bycascading switches, you effectively lose one port on each device, so a 4-portRT314 with an 8-port FS108 lets you connect 10 computers together, not 12.The four RT314 ports are identical, so it doesn't matter which you cascade --in fact, you could hook up four FS108's to the RT314 if you wanted to. The 8ports on the FS108 are also identical, although one of the ports (port 8) canbe changed to uplink mode. If you just wanted 8 computers on a network, youwould use the FS108 with all ports in normal mode, but to connect the FS108 toanother hub or switch you would change port 8 to uplink mode (a push-button)and connect port 8 to a normal port on the other hub/switch.Note I'm just using the FS108 as an example here. Lots of companies makecomparable products, and in various port counts.

[Schumi]

I'd recommend a Linksys router since it is much better than the
Netgear. I know many people who ownED Netgear's and after months of
trying to configure it for certain programs n such, they went out and
bought a Linksys.

On 09 Jul 2003 20:51:08 GMT, dg1261@cs.com (Dg1261) wrote:
"Keith" <keith@noemailplease.com> wrote: I currently have four PCs and a Netgear 4-Port router (RT 314). I'm building a house in which I have run cat 5 to every room-- giving me about 10 or so leads in the basement that are ready to be plugged into something. (This is so I can put printers on-line and plug in laptops wherever I need to or whatever.) So--assuming a Road Runner connection, what do I need to finish the job to attain Internet sharing and a simple network for these lines? A switcher? Do I still the netgear router? Do they need to be plugged together? Something else?Keith,You'll still need the Netgear router -- that's your access to the internet.Since 4 ports isn't enough for you, buy a switch or hub (such as the NetgearFS108) and cascade it through the RT314.It helps to understand that your "router" is really two devices in one case --a router and a 4-port ethernet switch. Routers really connect networks, notcomputers, and the router in your RT314 is connecting the RR network to yournetwork switch (also in the RT314). To expand your local network, you justneed more switches (or hubs, which perform the same function with slightlydifferent technology).To cascade the switches, you connect one of the 4 ports on your RT314 to theuplink port on the FS108. Now your router feeds 3 computers through the RT314and feeds 7 more through the FS108 via the 4th port on the RT314. Note that bycascading switches, you effectively lose one port on each device, so a 4-portRT314 with an 8-port FS108 lets you connect 10 computers together, not 12.The four RT314 ports are identical, so it doesn't matter which you cascade --in fact, you could hook up four FS108's to the RT314 if you wanted to. The 8ports on the FS108 are also identical, although one of the ports (port 8) canbe changed to uplink mode. If you just wanted 8 computers on a network, youwould use the FS108 with all ports in normal mode, but to connect the FS108 toanother hub or switch you would change port 8 to uplink mode (a push-button)and connect port 8 to a normal port on the other hub/switch.Note I'm just using the FS108 as an example here. Lots of companies makecomparable products, and in various port counts.

[Dg1261]

"Schumi" <moi@home.com> wrote: I'd recommend a Linksys router since it is much better than the Netgear. I know many people who ownED Netgear's and after months of trying to configure it for certain programs n such, they went out and bought a Linksys.

Keith already has a router, and hasn't said he's had any problems with it. He
doesn't need another router. He just needs to expand his network with another
hub/switch.

[CJT]

Schumi wrote: I'd recommend a Linksys router since it is much better than the Netgear. I know many people who ownED Netgear's and after months of trying to configure it for certain programs n such, they went out and bought a Linksys.

There's certainly room for a difference of opinion there. I've had
excellent results with Netgear equipment, and less luck with Linksys.

So YMMV.
On 09 Jul 2003 20:51:08 GMT, dg1261@cs.com (Dg1261) wrote:"Keith" <keith@noemailplease.com> wrote:I currently have four PCs and a Netgear 4-Port router (RT 314).I'm building a house in which I have run cat 5 to every room--giving me about 10 or so leads in the basement that are readyto be plugged into something. (This is so I can put printerson-line and plug in laptops wherever I need to or whatever.)So--assuming a Road Runner connection, what do I need tofinish the job to attain Internet sharing and a simple networkfor these lines? A switcher? Do I still the netgear router?Do they need to be plugged together? Something else?Keith,You'll still need the Netgear router -- that's your access to the internet.Since 4 ports isn't enough for you, buy a switch or hub (such as the NetgearFS108) and cascade it through the RT314.It helps to understand that your "router" is really two devices in one case --a router and a 4-port ethernet switch. Routers really connect networks, notcomputers, and the router in your RT314 is connecting the RR network to yournetwork switch (also in the RT314). To expand your local network, you justneed more switches (or hubs, which perform the same function with slightlydifferent technology).To cascade the switches, you connect one of the 4 ports on your RT314 to theuplink port on the FS108. Now your router feeds 3 computers through the RT314and feeds 7 more through the FS108 via the 4th port on the RT314. Note that bycascading switches, you effectively lose one port on each device, so a 4-portRT314 with an 8-port FS108 lets you connect 10 computers together, not 12.The four RT314 ports are identical, so it doesn't matter which you cascade --in fact, you could hook up four FS108's to the RT314 if you wanted to. The 8ports on the FS108 are also identical, although one of the ports (port 8) canbe changed to uplink mode. If you just wanted 8 computers on a network, youwould use the FS108 with all ports in normal mode, but to connect the FS108 toanother hub or switch you would change port 8 to uplink mode (a push-button)and connect port 8 to a normal port on the other hub/switch.Note I'm just using the FS108 as an example here. Lots of companies makecomparable products, and in various port counts.

[FredBear]

Hello. I am trying to learn about this. Is Road Runner DSL, cable modem or
what? I understand about "daisy-chaining" the hubs or switches together by
"uplinking" them together. Is he wanting 10 seperate hub ports?

Thank you very much,
Jason Whorton



"Dg1261" <dg1261@cs.com> wrote in message
news:20030709165108.24669.00000122@mb-m01.news.cs.com... "Keith" <keith@noemailplease.com> wrote: I currently have four PCs and a Netgear 4-Port router (RT 314). I'm building a house in which I have run cat 5 to every room-- giving me about 10 or so leads in the basement that are ready to be plugged into something. (This is so I can put printers on-line and plug in laptops wherever I need to or whatever.) So--assuming a Road Runner connection, what do I need to finish the job to attain Internet sharing and a simple network for these lines? A switcher? Do I still the netgear router? Do they need to be plugged together? Something else? Keith, You'll still need the Netgear router -- that's your access to the
internet. Since 4 ports isn't enough for you, buy a switch or hub (such as the
Netgear FS108) and cascade it through the RT314. It helps to understand that your "router" is really two devices in one
case -- a router and a 4-port ethernet switch. Routers really connect networks,
not computers, and the router in your RT314 is connecting the RR network to
your network switch (also in the RT314). To expand your local network, you
just need more switches (or hubs, which perform the same function with slightly different technology). To cascade the switches, you connect one of the 4 ports on your RT314 to
the uplink port on the FS108. Now your router feeds 3 computers through the
RT314 and feeds 7 more through the FS108 via the 4th port on the RT314. Note
that by cascading switches, you effectively lose one port on each device, so a
4-port RT314 with an 8-port FS108 lets you connect 10 computers together, not 12. The four RT314 ports are identical, so it doesn't matter which you
cascade -- in fact, you could hook up four FS108's to the RT314 if you wanted to.
The 8 ports on the FS108 are also identical, although one of the ports (port 8)
can be changed to uplink mode. If you just wanted 8 computers on a network,
you would use the FS108 with all ports in normal mode, but to connect the
FS108 to another hub or switch you would change port 8 to uplink mode (a
push-button) and connect port 8 to a normal port on the other hub/switch. Note I'm just using the FS108 as an example here. Lots of companies make comparable products, and in various port counts.

[Keith]

On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 18:04:48 GMT, Keith <keith@noemailplease.com>
wrote:
It looks like using that access point means I haveset up a two-routers system, which makes printer sharing quitedifficult.

Well, maybe not. I just saw in the Linksys manual that the AP is a
wireless hub and nothing more with no DHCP capabilities.

I do remember some very difficult times with file and print sharing
before I tore the old network down. (I'd try to transfer files and it
would ungodly long periods of time or crash the process altogether.)

The WAP 54G AP has its default address of 192.168.1.245. The Netgear
RT314 router has its default address of 192.168.0.1.

Should I set the AP to 192.168.0.245? Or does that make any
particular difference?