I need help expanding my network

[BlackTegSE]

I currently have an 8 port SMC router. I need to add about 6 or 7 more machines to the network. I was thinking about replacing it with a 16 port router since this router is kind of old but I haven't had any luck finding one with more than 8 ports.

Should I buy another router and use the uplink port to connect to the existing router? Or should I buy a switch?

Honestely, I'd like to get rid of this SMC and get something a little more robust. The SMC for example only allows you to forward 20 ports total and won't allow you to enter a port range to forward. This is kind of a problem because I run a web server which uses up about 10 of those slots for different services. It would be nice to have some advanced features for a change. Any advice? Thanks in advance.

 

[Atheus]

Not many consumer routers will give you advanced features out of the box, but you can put 3rd party firmware on them to give you a full operating system and a real firewall. Openwrt for example.

For expansion purposes you should buy a new switch, you won't find a router with more than an 8 port switch built in.

 

[petey117]

i have a couple of suggestions -
definately get a switch - allows you to have more control over expansion and things (especially if it is managed)

if you have that many web sites to server, i would suggest you use host headers, which would allow you to put everything to a single port

if you are limited in anything you want to do on the SMC, then i would say UPGRADE!

i would either go with another stand alone router, or, if you have the ability and hardware, go with a software based firewall, such as ipcop.org or smoothwall

 

[BlackTegSE]

Thank you so much for your replies guys. I did a little research on OpenWrt and it sounds great for my needs. It's like getting an enterprise level router/firewall. It does sound a bit complicated to setup reading through their FAQ but I think I can manage it.

This is the hardware I plan on buying:

1. Linksys WRT54G
2. Linksys EZXS16W EtherFast 10/100 16-Port Workgroup Switch

What do you guys think?

 

[pikachu656]

Do you plan on expanding in the future? If so you may want to consider a 24 or 48 port switch. If you are going to add an additional 6 or 7 more machines right now you will probably only have one or two ports left to exand on.

 

[BlackTegSE]

That's a very good point. I don't plan on expanding any more than that but you never know. If I buy the above setup, then I will have:

1. Linksys WRT54G - 3 useable ports, 1 port connected to switch
2. Linksys 16 port switch - 15 useable ports, 1 port connected to router

That will leave a total of 18 useable ports (assuming there is no dedicated uplink port on both of them). I currently need to have 15 machines connected which is cutting it close. I tried pricing the 24 port switches but they're a little bit more money than what I wanted to spend on this upgrade. Can I add another 16 or 24 port switch in the future? That way, I would have:

1. Linksys WRT54G - 2 useable ports, 1 port connected to each switch
2. Linksys 16 port switch - 15 useable ports, 1 port connected to router
3. Linksys 16 port switch - 15 useable ports, 1 port connected to router

Is this possible?

 

[Oakenfold]

Originally posted by: BlackTegSE
That's a very good point. I don't plan on expanding any more than that but you never know. If I buy the above setup, then I will have:

1. Linksys WRT54G - 3 useable ports, 1 port connected to switch
2. Linksys 16 port switch - 15 useable ports, 1 port connected to router

That will leave a total of 18 useable ports (assuming there is no dedicated uplink port on both of them). I currently need to have 15 machines connected which is cutting it close. I tried pricing the 24 port switches but they're a little bit more money than what I wanted to spend on this upgrade. Can I add another 16 or 24 port switch in the future? That way, I would have:

1. Linksys WRT54G - 2 useable ports, 1 port connected to each switch
2. Linksys 16 port switch - 15 useable ports, 1 port connected to router
3. Linksys 16 port switch - 15 useable ports, 1 port connected to router

Is this possible?

Yes.