I use the linksys cable/DSL router. It is fine for a
home LAN. It is fast and works well. With the
Linksys models the prices between hubs, switches, and
routers go up about $15 per level (depending on the
number of ports, obviously). Their multi-port
router's include a built in switch.
The switch is far better than a hub. I see no reason
to purchase a hub. The hub would share the bandwidth
among all the ports. So if you have 100mb 5-port hub,
each port gets 20mb. The switch dedicates 100mb to
each hub. On top of that, the linksys supposedly
gives each port 100mb upload and 100mb download.
Because the router is also a switch, this is true for
the router as well.
Of course, the router allows you to hookup several
computers to the internet or some other network. And
it basically routes data to and from the proper
computers.
If you have a lan you want to hook to the internet, a
router would certainly be the most desirable method so
long as the price is affordable.
However, you can use your switch. You will need to
set up a computer to act as the router. In linux,
check enable routing in the networking section of
linuxconf. In windows set up Internet Sharing. This
server will need an extra ethernet card. One hooks to
the lan, the other to the internet (or whatever
network you are adding).
The client computers should then use the IP address of
this new routing server as their (the client's)
default gateway. The server IP should be for the
ethernet card attached to the internet, I believe. I
use a router, so you can try the other if I am wrong.
The disadvantage of using an ordinary switch instead
of a router is that if you power down this server, all
clients obviously lose their ability to get to the
outside network. The router will give you the benefit
of always being available. Some (like Linksys) even
include a fair firewall.
--- Dave Burrows <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I'm with similar questions. Looking forward to
> hearing responses to this.
> What hardware is necessary if 2 or 3 machines will
> be networked in a LAN,
> connection sharing, etc.)? What working/cost
> differences are there between
> hubs, routers and switches or are 2 or more of these
> synonymous?
>
> Dave
>
> (I originally posted this on Wednesday at just about
> the time everything
> became silent for a while.. early afternoon NY time.
> If you did receive
> this and the next message, please accept my humble
> apologies. It never
> came back to my box nor did I see a response to it.)
>
> Matt Schroeder wrote:
> >
> > Can I use a switch instead of a router to connect
> a Linux and a Win 98
> > machine?
> >
> > I know most people use a router but I have a 16
> port switch that I got for
> > cheap... (SMC EZ NET 10/100 Switch - 16 Ports)
> >
> > It says it also works as a router but can
> dramatically improve networking
> > speed as a switch...
> >
> > I have no manuals or anything. Just the switch
> itself.
> >
> > Also, can I later add a DSL modem to the switch
> and share my DSL between the
> > systems?
> >
> > I know so little about networking that it's a
> shame.
> >
> > Are there any how to's or anything that might help
> out...
>
> --
> Dave Burrows
> 741 Cleveland Road
> Washington, PA 15301
> USA
>
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