Expanding a Network

[LMITOUT]

Right now I have a typical wireless 4-port router in my computer room with an ethernet cable running from that router to my entertainment center in my living room. What I'm looking for is a way to add more network points at my entertainment center without running more cables.

Can I plug the one cable I have at the entertainment center into another four-port router which would give me three additional network points than I had before? Or do I need a switch? If it is a switch that I need, then how are IP addresses handled for the various devices that would plug into the switch or is it a non-issue? It is very possible that all the devices at the entertainment center would be on at the same time (XBOX, DVR, Slingbox, TV, etc).

[LMITOUT]

Well I got it to work using a switch I had laying around. I did find out something interesting though in that Port #1 nearest to the Uplink port is unusable when the Uplink port is connected. Of course Port #1 is where I connected the ethernet device when doing my trial and error testing. After some head scratching and stumbling upon the right answer online I got it to work after moving the cable down one port.

So, in the end I gained two more network points unless I want to buy a higher capacity switch.

[upnorth]

You found out that the uplink cancels out a standard port. That is pretty much the norm in home switch. If wiring is no issue it is cheaper to go wired if not you could go with USB wireless units. I know they have come down a lot.

[merkman]

Time to upgrade LMITOUT.

Get yourself some wireless gear!!

Although the Slingbox sounds cool!!!

[LMITOUT]

Wireless has it's limitations, and a lot of gear doesn't have wireless capabilities anyway.

BTW, my router IS wireless and right now it's only being used by my laptop. Everything else is hard wired.

[LMITOUT]

One more question: Could you use a router instead of a switch in the configuration I mentioned in my first post? It would be a router-to-router connection.

[MN Mike]

One more question: Could you use a router instead of a switch in the configuration I mentioned in my first post? It would be a router-to-router connection.

Sure can, look for a router that has WDS built in, I usually use Buffalo Technologies routers but I know Linksys and Netgear do have some models with this built in. Google 'WDS Wireless' and you can see what it is about.

Mike

[upnorth]

Yes you can, you would just plug one line from your primary router/switch into the secondary router switch and it should act as an uplink. But in that configuration it won't be acting as a router, just a switch. You can have it act as another router, but that would a bit more complex. That would take a bit more configuration to make it work that way and it doesn't sound like what you want to do anyway.

[LMITOUT]

I did some poking around and found that by changing the local IP address of the cascaded router I can gain another network point since I now connect my "feed" cable to the WAN port on router #2 and it won't take over one of the four PC ports. Seems to be working! Thanks.

[spearchucker]

Time to upgrade LMITOUT.

Get yourself some wireless gear!!

Although the Slingbox sounds cool!!!

Wireless is terrible for these applications. Use hardwired for entertainment systems and anything high bandwidth.