Router + Switch

[JD]

Originally Posted by Mr. Gruntsworthy

well, my router is only a 100mbit D-link. It's given me no trouble whatsoever, and it's been buried in a mass of wires for over two years now. Right now it lets my PS3, my xbox 360, and two computers have access to the interwebs. It's one sturdy little mofo, but i'm worried that i might pick something else up down the line that might require another port, so a switch is my best bet then, right?

Yeah a switch is all you need. Any consumer grade one should do fine and they don't require any configuration, just plug and go.

And frosty, I hope you disabled DHCP on the 2nd router and changed the 2nd router's IP to one that matches the main router's IP range, otherwise that's a pretty bad setup IMO.

[confusion]

My recommendation,

Pick up a Gigabit switch.

Use 1 port from your Router to uplink to the Gigabit switch. Your core network will be based around the Gigabit switch now. The Router will act as your DHCP server and DNS/Internet server as it is now. No configuration changed needed. Also, there is no need to upgrade your 10/100 Router to anything else since current internet speeds are not exceeding 100 Megabits a second and won't for a long time.

Eventually change your NIC's to gigabit over time. This might just happen as you get new PC's in the future. Also invest in some Cat6 cabling, even though Cat5e works just as well, there is a slight performance difference. And finally, if you ever convert your entire network (minus router) to Gigabit, go to the settings for all network adaptors and turn on Jumbo Frames.

FYI, this is exactly how I have my network configured at home, even though I'm using two switches between rooms (for LAN parties).
My Gigabit switches are:
NCIX.com - Buy Linksys EG005W Gigabit 5 Port Workgroup Switch - EG005W In Canada.
NCIX.com - Buy Netgear Prosafe GS108NA 8 Port Gigabit Desktop Network Switch 10/100/1000 - GS108NA In Canada.
and I've had no issues with them whatsoever. I like the Netgear switch because of it's design and size.

[death_hawk]

Originally Posted by confusion

slight performance difference

Only in runs of 100ft or more.