Connecting more than one computer with only one port in my office?

[DesignDawg]

Hey all,

In my new office, I have only one data port in the wall. I will be running two computers in here and I need them both on the network. I'm a little dense on the networking side of things, so this may be a non-issue, but can anyone tell me how I can work this out?


THanks,

Ricky
DesignDawg

 

[sohcrates]

Howdy

check out this AT FAQ

also check out this FAQ

basically, you can think of you're one port as the output of a cable modem (that will make sense when you read the FAQ's)

you need a switch or a hub or a router...depending on how your companies network is set up.

can you just plug any computer in and it gets net access? or does the company set them up?

 

[Garion]

It would be, in general, a very BAD idea to setup a router or a switch on a port in an office without talking to your IT group first. Hubs are probably OK, but definitely NOT switches and/or routers.

Routers can do proxy-ARP which can cause major havoc with the network - Ask Spidey about his proxy-arp experience.

Switches can participate in the spanning tree protocol used by other switches in the building - Very easy to mess something up and take down the whole building in a flash.

In short.. Don't do it without talking to the guys that DO know the network. Better safe than sorry.

- G

 

[DesignDawg]

Thanks for the replies....

I'll read over the FAQs. No router going in here, that's for sure. Anyway, I just talked to my boss (we're a small firm...no IT group here). He's just gonna have someone come in here and run another line. No problem. ABout $80.00. I'm just not used to having that level of service. I come from an academic background. In the corporate world, I'm finding out, you can just get what you need. Very cool. So, it looks like problem solved. --Although we're gonna have to buy a new hub, as this extra computer is the straw that broke the hub's back (we've run out of ports).

Ricky
DesignDawg

 

[Garion]

It might be easier to buy a hub for your one jack and multiple computers - If you're out of ports on the wiring closet hub, spending $30 on a cheapo hub would probably be better than running another cable, anyhow. It wouldn't take up any more ports on the wiring closet hub and you could do it tonight without waiting.

- G

 

[Abzstrak]

Or if they want to just go ahead and upgrade anyway, get a switch in the wiring closet instead of that hub.... even a cheapo linksys switch, won't cost much more than a hub, and performs much better.

I agree with Garion though, just throw a pocket hub in your office and dont bother with all the other crap for now until more of a need arises. Besides, using a hub in your office will work fine, and if later on down the road they run some more cable and stuff, it never hurts to have a little hub on hand for unexpected stuff.