[Solved] can someone clarify how to use a switch on my network please

[highland hippie]

Hello All

 

Probably a really simple answer to this but before I go and buy an 8 way switch for my home network I thought I would ask a question. I have two machines at present but am looking to get maybe two more. I run the pair I have on my BT home hub but with 4 I will run out of space (ports).

 

I am thinking of getting an 8 way switch and setting up my network on it. What I am not sure about is if I need to connect the hub to the switch and then my other machines or do I need to connect my hub to the server machine and then the server to the switch?

 

I see from the info on the switches that they have self learn for the addresses and I use computer names instead of IP address's on my current set up, do I need to reconfigure the network I have at present or do I just add the switch and the machines will still talk to each other?

 

Any help would be gratfuly appreciated.

 

Regards Highland Hippie

[seedy21]

Hello Highland Hippie

 

As it is a Switch, you should be fine. You will need to wire the Hub into the Switch and then the machines into the Switch. As they is a link to the BT Home HUB that will be control of the IP Addresses.

 

Seedy21

[tismehi]

[h=1]i also have a bt home hub and quickly run out of ports. i had similar queries to you and decided to try this switch -

[/h][h=1]TP-Link TL-SF1005D 5-Port 10/100Mbps Unmanaged Desktop Switch - from amazon for under £7 delivered.

 

i thought its a fairly cheap way to try it out.

 

i was not disappointed. i just removed one ethernet cable from my bt hub and plugged one into the switch. then all of the sockets on the switch became available, almost immediately.

 

the speed is a little bit reduced, but not enough to spoil things.

[/h]

hope this helps.

[highland hippie]

Hello Seedy21 and tismehi

 

Thanks for the replies, I just wanted to check before I went and got one.

 

Thanks again HH

[seedy21]

Hi Highland Hippie

 

Glad we could help you :)