Need Help: Networking Basics =[

[windsor]

Help! I've been reading some of the posts in the previous threads, but I am still terribly confused. What is the difference between a router and a switch? I have a DSL connection which I would like to share with my family. I am also a gamer, and would like hi-quality equipment that work best with games. I am getting the idea that this is what I will need:

DSL modem <-> router <-> switch <-> desktop w/ 100 mbps ethernet card

If so, what are good routers and switches to get? Is Linksys a product that combines both router and switch?

Please help me out. I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

 

[Spearfodder]

Linksys makes a router with a built in 4 port 10/100 ethernet switch. A basic handy item, it will plug into your dsl/cable modem, then you plug the pc's into the ethernet switch ports. Works pretty well, easy to set up. Not perfect but a good surf &amp; mail solution. Some games a bit funky to set up throught the firewall.

 

[Spearfodder]

Linksys makes a router with a built in 4 port 10/100 ethernet switch. A basic handy item, it will plug into your dsl/cable modem, then you plug the pc's into the ethernet switch ports. Works pretty well, easy to set up. Not perfect but a good surf &amp; mail solution. Some games a bit funky to set up throught the firewall.

 

[jmcoreymv]

Well if you plan on serving games Linksys is not the way to go. On the most basic level, a router moves packets in between different networks and a switch moves frames in between the same network. Both are used in conjunction in many cases. If you want a SOHO router I would recommend the netgear RT311 or a Umax. If you want to move up a little go with a cisco, but itll cost you. Then your going to need a switch, a netgear fs308 is what i have and I like it but any should do.

 

[Dogbertatwork]

I am using the Linksys 4-port DSL/Cable Router to share a cable modem in a networked apartment. I bought it from Amazon for around $160. It combines a router and a 10/100 switched hub. Switching improves the way that bandwidth is used over a LAN. The router works as a firewall, being the only exposed IP address to the internet, unless you put a computer in the DMZ. The port for a cable/dsl modem is only 10 Mbit, since that is fast enough. You can find reviews of the Linksys and other similar products made by D-Link, Zyxel, Netgear, and other companies online.
Prior to getting the router, I was using my PC running Sygate to do NAT for the LAN.

 

[BCYL]

Basically a router let many computer share the 1 IP address your DSL provider gives you. Many router also has a built-in firewall for your security. A switch, on the other hand, just connects computers to form a single LAN network. All a switch does is let the computers talk to each other, nothing real special.

Hope that clear up your understanding a little!

 

[windsor]

Ah, thanks for your help everyone. Very much appreciated. I have a few more question in my mind:

How does the switch know which computer to go to? I see something about NAT, but let's say that both computers are web servers. Which computer does it choose? Does a firewall help the decision?

I will look into Netgear router and switch if they are better for gaming. I need to wire to the upstairs of my house. How long can a CAT 5 ethernet cable go?

Also, is there a way to set maximum transfer rate per port? Do switches have options that can be configured through software?

Thank you very much for your help. You guys are much better than tech support, and fast replies too!

 

[jmcoreymv]

In Nat...your going to have to foward the port 80 to the internal ip of the web server you want, you cant have both. Cat 5 cable can go 100 meters without a device that acts as a repeater in between. With the switch youll be getting, your only going to be able to choose 10 or 100 and full and half duplex and it cant be configured. If you bought a managed switch you would have alot more options then that, but you wont be needing that for a home network.

 

[Dogbert]

I just remembered reading this review a couple of days ago.

From agn3d.com 7/17/00:

Rob over at Hardcoreware let us know that he has posted a new shoot-out between the latest routers for Cable\DSL internet connections. Products include units from Linksys, D-Link, Netgear, Umax, and Zyxel.

http://www.hardcoreware.net/reviews/networking/cable_xdsl_routers/1.htm

 

[jmcoreymv]

That article had a few errors and wasnt very detailed.

 

[windsor]

Thanks jmcoreymv. But that article at hardCOREware gave Netgear RT311 a C- rating. I'm not sure how professional that website is. Has anyone experimented with some of the routers in that review?

 

[jmcoreymv]

Ive used the Netgear, the Zyxel, and the Linksys. The Netgear and the Zyxel are exactly the same and u can even flash the others firmware with it. Check out timhiggins.com its a much more reliable source. I first got the Linksys and it worked for basic stuff, but anything advanced is pretty much outta the question. Netgear has been perfect.

 

[windsor]

Ok, I have one more question.

My DSL company assigns me a static IP, contrary to some cable companies. I also have a friend who works at a company who can assign a hostname to my IP, like blah.domain.com.

Is it possible to use one of those routers and then make it look like I am surfing from blah.domain.com? The hardCOREware web site made it seem like ZyXEL and the Umax routers could do this. I am a bit confused on how this work.

Thanks for your time again!

 

[lowlight]

I am the webmaster of hardCOREware.net

I'm trying to figure out your comments on my site/review... Particularly the one that suggested the site is not professional because their router got a low score...

The intro page describes what the scores are based on. This is PART ONE of a huge roundup, and covers only the basic aspects of routers: setting them up, installing them, routing ports, package contents, etc...

The Netgear is indeed the same HARDWARE-WISE as the ZyXEL. And yes, you CAN flash the Netgear with the ZyXEL's firmware.

HOWEVER, if you are to do that, you will NOT be able to use ZyXEL's software setup utility, which is what gave the ZyXEL such high marks in this review. You will actually LOSE html setup ability of the Netgear.

Security and performace-wise, the ZyXEL and Netgear are identical. However, in part 1 of the roundup, we are looking at ease of installation etc, and that is where Netgear falls short.

Also, please describe to me the &quot;few errors&quot; we made.. If you know more about these routers, which is entirely possible, please let us know! Everyone makes mistakes!

As a matter of fact, I checked out some of Tim Higgins.com's reviews, and they made plenty more factual errors about the Netgear than we did.

Please keep an eye out for part two of this report, it will probably be even bigger than part 1, includes FULL TCP AND UDP SECURITY SCANS (not just 5-10 ports like other reviews around.. we went ahead and payed for a good scanning for each one). We will test the performace of each router, which includes playing games on multiple PCs, running servers, etc...

 

[lowlight]

Re: Domain Hosting

Any PC can have its own domain, provided it is static like yours. Just have your friend set it up for you, and it should work.

For dynamic IP's like most people on cable, DSL, and dialup, Umax, ZyXEL, and Netgear offer dynamic domain services. These are free services, but you can only choose a subdomain of the DNS servers pre-specified.

The Netgear and ZyXEL both support DynDNS.org and DDNS.org, both of which offer subdomains under several primaries.

Umax offers a similar service using their own primary domain (maxgate.net)

So if you have a Umax set up with yourname.umax.net people will be able to access your ip via that domain.

Your PC's main domain will still be assigned by your ISP, however. This is just a forwarding service.

Hope this helps!