Network Switch for Closed Network

[EJ53]

I'm building a small portable network for events that are located (usually) in a domed arena. It's a retail operation and I have a workstation as my storage device and 4-6 laptops that are used for viewing, processing and purchasing of images.

All of our images will reside on the workstation and the laptops will have viewing or printing software and will need to load the images from the workstation.

It is a CLOSED network - there is no Internet connection necessary for this system.

I am looking for recommendations for a switch that would work with both Windows 10 and Mac iOS

Probably at minimum of 12 ports for growth. All printing is handled via USB direct connect to the workstation

Thank you

EJ53

 

[freeskier93]

Operating system is irrelevant, any gigabit switch with however many ports you need will work.

Also, you still need a router.

 

[JackMDS]

Whether you need a Router or Not depends on the way you want IPs to be assigned.

Using a Router's DHCP will take care of it, otherwise you would have to manfully assign static IP on each computer.

As for ports! - Giga switches, look here for an example.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...&sprefix=trendnet+,aps,164&crid=26D0DUGF8F0OZ

Two 8 ports would cost you 22x2=$44, while one 16 port would cost $68.

Strange?? Yeah that is the way it goes with switches.

So, you basically can Start with a Router that have 4 Giga capable ports + an 8 port switch yielding 12 ports. Then you can add when needed more switches.

 

[EJ53]

Whether you need a Router or Not depends on the way you want IPs to be assigned.

Using a Router's DHCP will take care of it, otherwise you would have to manfully assign static IP on each computer.

As for ports! - Giga switches, look here for an example.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_9?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=trendnet+switch&sprefix=trendnet+,aps,164&crid=26D0DUGF8F0OZ

Two 8 ports would cost you 22x2=$44, while one 16 port would cost $68.

Strange?? Yeah that is the way it goes with switches.

So, you basically can Start with a Router that have 4 Giga capable ports + an 8 port switch yielding 12 ports. Then you can add when needed more switches.

Thank you for the information, but want to clarify one statement. If I'm willing to assign IP#'s manually, I would not need a router. Is that correct?
The goals here is to setup a system that would move from location to location, so the same setup would be used all of the time. None of these systems would need access to the internet except for updating Windows, etc. and we can use a hotspot for that on each computer, as necessary.

Thanks
EJ53

 

[Rifter]

Thank you for the information, but want to clarify one statement. If I'm willing to assign IP#'s manually, I would not need a router. Is that correct?
The goals here is to setup a system that would move from location to location, so the same setup would be used all of the time. None of these systems would need access to the internet except for updating Windows, etc. and we can use a hotspot for that on each computer, as necessary.

Thanks
EJ53

Jack is correct if you manually assign IP's you do not need a router. Or if you want DHCP and dont want another appliance to run it you could always just run a DHCP server on the workstation.

 

[mv2devnull]

I thought that Windows has Automatic Private IP Addressing (APIPA) which assigns unique address from 168.254.0.0/16 if no DHCP is available. Hence no need for DHCP.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Don't rely on that windows ip thing. Make a plan, keep manual IP'S documented.

Getting standard soho router would be fine, just get a solid switch, plug all devices into the switch, and one cable from switch to LAN port on router.

All your traffic in the LAN will stay in the switch.

 

[mv2devnull]

Is that a problem within the APIPA protocol or is the Windows implementation poor?

Anyway, a DHCP server on the desktop:
http://dhcpserver.sourceforge.net/

 

[JackMDS]

Don't rely on that windows ip thing. Make a plan, keep manual IP'S documented.

Getting standard soho router would be fine, just get a solid switch, plug all devices into the switch, and one cable from switch to LAN port on router.

All your traffic in the LAN will stay in the switch.

+1

In fact many of the other "creative" paths are just paving the "Road to Hell" with good intentions.

 

[HutchinsonJC]

Manual IP assignment + switch means Cat5/6 or whatever you decide... which will likely wear out over time with all that coiling and uncoiling it'll quite likely go through. Plus, it potentially creates tripping hazards that have to be hidden/tucked away in some manner or another.

Is there any consideration for a Wireless router and having your setup be all wireless? The router can dole out IP addresses easy enough. Put a mac address filter on the router (so devices other than those which you specify can't connect), and on top of that, put a password on the network, and on top of that, turn off the advertisement of the Network's ID (SSID). Once that's setup, you can basically walk into any warehouse or open area and put your router in the middle, and your laptops on the perimeter or throughout and everything should connect.

And because of the mac filter/password combo and lack of an SSID being advertised, no one else is gonna be able to try to connect to your network. Most people probably won't even realize the network is even there.

 

[JackMDS]

Manual IP assignment + switch means Cat5/6 or whatever you decide... which will likely wear out over time with all that coiling and uncoiling it'll quite likely go through. Plus, it potentially creates tripping hazards that have to be hidden/tucked away in some manner or another.

Is there any consideration for a Wireless router and having your setup be all wireless?

Yeah Cat5/6 might wear out over many years.

On the other hand Wireless (because of its being affected by the environment) does it from day One. --.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Wired cables will not wear out unless you physically wreck them with rolling chairs, putting them on the floor in high traffic areas, etc...

It's more likely a electrical hit fries something

 

[HutchinsonJC]

Yeah Cat5/6 might wear out over many years.

If you're the one in charge of handling all 6 laptops (you as in the IT/tech minded person), and the cabling is never a tripping hazard, and customers/guests don't get to touch the laptops, and you're the one in charge of coiling and uncoiling the cabling for transportation/after transportation, maybe you're right.

In my experience, other people don't exactly exhibit the utmost care in the world for something that's not theirs and also in my experience, people don't tend to uncoil cat5/6 properly, leaving kinks and hard bends in the cabling, but that's gonna be more of a problem in long runs of cabling than in shorter runs.

The OP said it was mostly going to be in domed arenas; I have a hard time believing there'll be a whole lot of wireless congestion/ interference in an environment like that.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Wireless could be a good solution. Just make sure all security is in place.

 

[freeskier93]

Setting static IPs on everything isn't worth the hassle when you can buy a cheap D-Link router for $20.

Better yet, as other have suggested, get a bit nicer router and go wireless. For something portable and always moving it would really save the hassle of setting up wires every time. Uess you really need the bandwith of wired I'd go wireless.

Running DHCP on the workstation is an option if you are technically inclined.

 

[ch33zw1z]

You could really just have both in the kit. If you end up at an event where the wireless is being a problem, setup the wired. A switch, router, cables, looking at a reasonable about of gear to leave in the truck for insurance.

 

[XavierMace]

OP: I'm not sure what your budget is and how often your stuff is being moved, but for a business generally I want to try to ensure this equipment is safe and sound. Nobody wants to have to go buy replacement equipment last minute because somebody knocked something off a table. So I'd consider investing in a setup like this:

A small portable rack, such as: https://www.serverrack.com/1skb-r90...MI7fnC7I_i1QIVybfACh16TA4sEAYYByABEgIhKvD_BwE

One or two small rackmountable switches, such as: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Ethernet-Unmanaged-Rackmount-TL-SG1016/dp/B002HAJQGA/

If you want a router simply for the ease of IP addressing, something like: https://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-EdgeRouter-Advanced-Gigabit-Ethernet/dp/B00YFJT29C

Personally, I'd get a small rackmount case for the workstation so it can go in the rack as well. That way the majority of your "critical" gear is in a protective, easy to transport case. Those cases are built like tanks. Some of them are water proof. You can get a 2U rackmount drawer to toss your power bricks and network cables in. Everything in one box.

In my experience, other people don't exactly exhibit the utmost care in the world for something that's not theirs and also in my experience, people don't tend to uncoil cat5/6 properly, leaving kinks and hard bends in the cabling, but that's gonna be more of a problem in long runs of cabling than in shorter runs.

Uncoil properly? We're not talking fiber or coax cables here. You have to go out of your way to damage cat5/cat6 without using an object to smash it. The minimum radius for cat5/6 is like an inch. You've got to go out of your way to bend it more than that just for transport. I've being tying cat5 cables into knots for over a decade rather than dealing with tangled messes.

 

[sdifox]

Just run this http://www.dhcpserver.de/cms/

On one of the computers, get a switch with enough ports and cables, done.