So I am a little confused. My 4 ethernet connections on my router is occupied. I need to add 3 more devices to my network via ethernet. How can I accomplish this? Do I buy another router and plug it into the existing router? Do I need a switch? I don't know if a switch is what I'm needing. Help please!
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I need more ethernet connections to my router. What do I do?
- Thread starter Qwerty11
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You can get a dumb switch, nothing that has the word managed in it.
You can see them here.
http://www.newegg.com/Switches/SubCategory/ID-30
You can see them here.
http://www.newegg.com/Switches/SubCategory/ID-30
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You need to add a ethernet hub or switch to your network. Attach one of the router ports to the hub/switch and then attach your other devices to the hub. If you get a gigabit switch, attach all your devices to that and then attach it to the router. Your internal network will then be largely independent of the router although that is likely to be providing the IP addresses through DCHP.
HTH
I have this one and it works nicely.
TP-LINK TL-SG1005D 10/100/1000Mbps 5-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch, 10Gbps Capacity
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How important is it for me to get a 1000Mbps one?
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As important as you want. If you want high-speed data transfers within your home, that will work very well.
Not sure how I ended up on this thread, but...
Your usage scenario doesn't really matter, get a 1000mbit switch like the one linked - Doesn't really matter what model or brand (unlike soho routers which seem to be luck of the draw).
It will be tricky to find a 10/100 switch and even if you do, it'll have spent years and years on a shelf and likely save you little to no money over a cheap gigabit model and will quite literally be 1/10 of the speed.
My main goal is for distributing HD content through my HTPC. Is 100 Mbps adequate for that?
For now it is (Apple TV uses 10/100 ports) but gigabit really isn't that much more expensive and it would definitely leave room for what the future might bring.
