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Network Upgrade Ideas

X

Xeruan

Weaksauce
Joined
Oct 5, 2004
Messages
92
My dad's work is a small business, but when a new computer arrives in the next few weeks and their wanting to network their printer, they are in need of an upgraded network.

Currently they have a Linksys BEFSR81
They have had it a few years, its an 8 port Router/Switch, and they currently have 7 computers plugged into it, but with the addition of a new computer and a networked printer, they would need at least 9 ports.

My question is this, should I just recommend them to upgrade to something better, like the Linksys RV016
Which is a 16 port hub, containing 13 10/100Mbps LAN / 2 10/100Mbps WAN / 1 DMZ, but cost 400$ (or possibly someone might know of another 12-16 port Router/Switch that is good/reliable/cheaper)

or should I simply get a 5 port hub and sort of create extra ports, I would use the 8th port on the router/switch and put that into the uplink of the 5 port hub, and then the server and new computer would run off the new 5 port hub, and that would give me 12 ports at the cost of an addition 50$ (though I would also like feedback to whether or not this would work, im not a networking guru, but it sounds like a pretty good plan)
Network.PNG


they don't want a wireless network or a print server.. i already asked
 
Cheap option is to get a 4/5 ports switch to match the same speed of the 8 ports switch/router.

Another option, a bit more expensive but much more reliable, is to find a cheap computer to act as a router then install IPCop/Endian/pfsense/etc then ditch the old BEFSR81 and replace with a 16-ports 10/100 switch, managed or not. With careful shopping, you can get this for 100-150$ easily. Computers tossed out by corporations is strong enough for this purpose and can be bought for 25$-50$ off auctions.
 
i would pick up another plain 8 or 16 port switch and hook it up to one of your router ports. You should be able to find one for under $50.

yeah, cascading switches like you want to do is a normal thing.
i wouldn't do a hub though, get a switch. Should be about the same price if you can even find a hub anymore.
 
i can get a 5port hub for 30$ easily

if i did get another 8 port switch and used port 8 of the router/switch1 and plugged it into the uplink of switch2 (non-router version) would i need to use a crossover cable?, or would a simply ethernet cable suffice

LINKSYS EZXS55W
i assume this 5 port workgroup switch would cover it, but the question remains of whether crossover between switches or simple cat5e would work
 
what specs would be required by a router comp, also, they would have to maintain this themselves, and they aren't very comp literate, my dad knows some simple PC troubleshooting and they could get another guy with some minor networking experience, but it would need to be somewhat like a setup and go machine and updates about once every 6 months, it needs to be as hands-off as possible
 
Xeruan said:
what specs would be required by a router comp, also, they would have to maintain this themselves, and they aren't very comp literate, my dad knows some simple PC troubleshooting and they could get another guy with some minor networking experience, but it would need to be somewhat like a setup and go machine and updates about once every 6 months, it needs to be as hands-off as possible
Click to expand...

For a good router computer for your network, anything with a P2-400 and 512 Mb of RAM is plenty. Even 256 Mb would work fine if there is not too heavy internet traffic. Those can be had for pratically nothing. About the ease of use, the initial config is fairly straightforward then if you setup everything right, it's very maintenance-free (if there is a issue with connectivity or access, just ask them to reboot and it would work fine). It can even be managed remotely with VPN/SSH if you setup right.

However, nothing beats the simplicity of the router like yours so it's up to you to decide how far you want to go to upgrade.
 
i may bring that up, but i think currently they want to do the cascading switches with the 5 port, my only question now is do i need a crossover cable going from port8 of router/switch1 going to the uplink of switch2? or would a normal cat5e cable work, i know with computers, you have to have a crossover cable to connect them directly without a hub or switch
 
Xeruan said:
i can get a 5port hub for 30$ easily

if i did get another 8 port switch and used port 8 of the router/switch1 and plugged it into the uplink of switch2 (non-router version) would i need to use a crossover cable?, or would a simply ethernet cable suffice

LINKSYS EZXS55W
i assume this 5 port workgroup switch would cover it, but the question remains of whether crossover between switches or simple cat5e would work
Click to expand...

i think most ports on home routers are auto MDI, so you should be able to use a plain ethernet patch cable.
 
i had seen that, even if the switch is Auto MDI, you can still use a crossover cable correct? so it would just be safer to spend another 3$ and get a crossover cable when i install the switch rather than a cat5e it not working and then having to go find a crossover cable
 
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