Creating more Ethernet ports

Hello Guys,

I have a fairly new wireless router provided by my broadband supplier. It has 4 Ethernet connections (Ports?). Up to now 4 has been sufficient.

However I am just about to purchase a new network printer and a NAS external drive for backup purposes so I need another 2 Ethernet connections.

I have on the shelf an old Netgear Fast Ethernet Hub (FE 108 if that means anything). Is there any reason why I can’t take one of the connections from the router into the hub then attach the new equipment to the hub?

Would I be better off using an entirely different approach, or a new hub?

Any assistance will be gratefully acknowledged.

 

That should work but I believe you would be better off using a switch instead of the hub. The switch basically being a smart hub. You can try the hub and see how it works out for you.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_i=B00004Z7BU

Ethernet Hub Vs Switch: Make Correct Choice

 

Thanks for your prompt reply tgell,

I thought it would be OK but had not considered a switch. Having read the article "Ethernet Hub Vs Switch: Make Correct Choice" I now understand the difference.

My network is not large with little heavy traffic - two or three laptops and a server - so I will try the hub first.

I will report back in case it helps someone.

Thanks again

 

Thanks for your input Plodr.

Last evening I attached the old hub and then attached my lap to to that.

It worked OK. Before buying a switch I will continue with the hub when the new kit is delivered and see how it performs under pressure. If there are any hold ups then I will install a switch.

Thanks again for your assistance.

 

While a switch is certainly faster in a busy network, the printer and NAS are not (normally) high priority network devices. The wife's computer would (obviously!) be high priority - if peace and quite is desired but you are not hanging her computer off the hub.

It is not likely a switch will improve your printing performance as printers are slow mechanical devices - albeit intelligent mechanical devices - the printer's job processor will always be the bottleneck, not network latency.

For your NAS, it might - depending on other network traffic. But what other network traffic would that be? With the NAS and Printer on the other side of the hub, the only network traffic that would hamper NAS performance is the printer's (or it's spooler, to be precise)!

How often are you spooling print jobs to the printer at the exact same time you are accessing your NAS? I bet rarely - and even then, it would only be for a few seconds.

So in this specific situation (where only a NAS and printer are going through the hub) I don't see a switch giving you any advantage - so if this were me and and I already had a hub laying around, I would not spend any money on a switch! Yes, NO DOUBT, an Ethernet switch is a much more capable network device, compared to a simple Ethernet hub. But in this case, you just don't need those advanced capabilities in your network.

So my advice is to use the hub and spend the money on more RAM, or better graphics, or a good UPS with AVR, or a better power supply, or a juicy steak. If (one day) you hang another computer (or an Internet capable TV or DVD/BD player) on your network, then get a switch - a 1Gbit/sec switch (for future proofing).

It is important to remember that even with hubs, most (probably all) small (less than 10 computers) home networks are bottlenecked by their ISPs, not the hubs - at least for anything that requires Internet access. Unless VERY OLD - all basic hubs (and switches and routers) run at 100Mbit/sec speeds. Real world is considerably less than that, but still much faster than your Internet access.

 

Id still recommend getting a switch over a hub, because what if down the road you need to hang the nas off your hub/switch? Its not super more expensive, but its a future proofing kinda thing.

 

He already has a hub, bought and paid for. Why buy a switch today when a switch today provides no added benefits?

I don't think you are following the thread. He already is hanging the NAS off the hub - a perfect place for it (with the printer, and that's it) - so that part of your comment, I am afraid, does not apply.

@James - As I noted above, if, "down the road" a switch is needed then by all means, get a switch. They are a superior device to have when, if, your network becomes more populated with computers needing Internet access. But for right now, with your stated intended purpose and configuration of the NAS and printer being the only devices running through the hub, buying a switch today is a waste of money today.

Your simple hub is the perfect solution for this particular application. You have the hub. There is no need to spend more money now when you reap no benefits now.

So once again, sure, a switch will serve you better "down the road" IF you decide to add more computers to your network and you need more Ethernet ports. But for RIGHT NOW, you already have all that you need in your hub. It is doing no good sitting on a shelf.

 

Thanks Digerati (and all).

I have ended up with the installation more or less as you suggest.
Off the Wireless router I have hard-wired a server running Small Business Server 2003, a network printer, one cable to my desk for my laptop and the fourth port to the hub in my house (my office is in my basement).

Off the hub I have the new Freecom NAS plus another cable into my lounge for my laptop when "at home."

When the new printer / scanner arrives that will be attached to the server by USB. The printer is to replace an existing one that is temperamental so there will be no change there in terms of connections.

We also have two or three laptops on wireless - with low network and internet traffic.

This is working fine and as the network traffic is very light and the NAS only used for backup I will stick with the hub for now. If I need something faster in the future then I have the option of a switch.

Thanks again to all who helped.

 

Right - especially if you need to hang more computers (devices that need Internet access) on your network.

Thanks for the update.