Routers

[XMoshe]

Ok here's the deal..Since I'm getting a laptop I need internet on it. I don't have a wireless connection at home so I gotta use routers ofcourse. Now a friend told me that a router after a router could be dangerous, but in the description of a router I found that it was stated that you could place it after another router if the first router didn't have security stuff etc (which that router had).

So is it dangerous to use a router to divide my internet cable (coming from the main router upstairs) into a cable for my pc/laptop and xbox?

And if so, can I use a hub or switch instead?

Thanks in advance ^_^

/Note: I'm a hardware/software nub, I only know about games hehe

[sasian]

Just get a good driver router or what else and find a good spot to set your router but if you need wirles internet you need 1 router go to options ETC dont have to explain the whole SH*T so if i gt a poit but i never have a point 0/10 for me

[ThatBluePerson]

How do you get the main internet from a router? Isn't it a modem. If it's a wireless router then feel free to try to connect to it with the laptop but if it's something else then probably you can connect a new router to your main line and then just use that one which you can put security on. But idk if your ISP can use a third party router or something.

[XMoshe]

As I said in the first line, my connection is wired at home. And ofcourse I get internet from a modem, but it goes through a router which divides it into one for me, one for my dad and one for my sister. Now I want to divide my line into one for my pc, one for my laptop and one for my xbox. Is that possible with a router or do I need a hub because 2 routers after eachother is dangerous or something? ^_^

[MrFudge]

he's basically saying that the modem directs his internet into a first router, which then reaches his computer. But then he wants to direct THAT internet connection using a router towards his mobile laptop/xbox. I would think your connection would be shit, but i dno. Also, using any sort of router is 'dangerous'. Any connection can be broken into, even secured ones.

[woutR]

why can't you just use a hub?

[MrFudge]

why can't you just use a hub?

cuz hes a harware/software nub.

[XMoshe]

why can't you just use a hub?

That's what I was asking =p

And I already had it once Fudge, had my xbox/my pc and my friends pc on my internet line with my friends router he took with him from his house. It worked properly but that was only for a day or 2. I was wondering if it has any bad consequences (sp?) using it for alonger period of time, and I'm not talking about hacker security etc.

[Vandango]

yea 2 routers anit bad..
i have my connection comin from a modem into a router , into my switch then splits off into my PS3 And PC

[pr0klobster]

Sure, you can use another router with all security settings turned off and DHCP disabled, but it's easier to configure and use a switch.

Hub is cheapest, but you can't really find those anymore, the "switches" they have out now are basically hubs. A true switch is smart enough to manage traffic.

[XMoshe]

Sure, you can use another router with all security settings turned off and DHCP disabled, but it's easier to configure and use a switch.

Hub is cheapest, but you can't really find those anymore, the "switches" they have out now are basically hubs. A true switch is smart enough to manage traffic.

Don't mind if I ask, but what is the true difference between a hub and a switch then? (I'll probably go for a switch then).

/Edit: Would something like this one work? (Just a product name, no link) Asus GigaX 1005 Desktop Switch 10/100

[spyboy1o1]

ehhh but the standbuying on that is so fun so easy to hack on online games

[XMoshe]

ehhh but the standbuying on that is so fun so easy to hack on online games

The what?

[[SD]Twysta]

I was in exactly the same position.

Got my new comp some time ago so I wanted to hook my old comp up as well, to stall, store movies, download stuff etc.
I thought it was going to cost me tons of money for an ADDITIONAL router (like you) PLUS 36 meters of cable. *Scratches head*

*Asks father*

"LOL U MAD!?!?! Just buy a switch for 10 euro's and ur done".

So yah, buy a switch, hook it up.. and done. Little 5-connection huds don't have any advanced properties, so u hook it up and done!

Hope this helped

[XMoshe]

It helped 100%, it confirmed what I thought and since you experienced it I can count on it that it works . I'll go get a switch then ^_^

Thanks guy's for the help =]

[DotCom]

Don't mind if I ask, but what is the true difference between a hub and a switch then? (I'll probably go for a switch then).

A switch is basically a hub but more intelligent. A hub transmits the same incoming data from one port to all the other ports because it doesn't know who requested that data. It doesn't care about the type of data at all, just transmits it to all the possible ports. A switch when receives incoming data knows exactly who requested it and in which port that machine is located. This prevents data collision which would happen often with the hub.

[XMoshe]

Don't mind if I ask, but what is the true difference between a hub and a switch then? (I'll probably go for a switch then).

A switch is basically a hub but more intelligent. A hub transmits the same incoming data from one port to all the other ports because it doesn't know who requested that data. It doesn't care about the type of data at all, just transmits it to all the possible ports. A switch when receives incoming data knows exactly who requested it and in which port that machine is located. This prevents data collision which would happen often with the hub.

Oh, I get it now So a switch would be faster and efficienter too?

[iGod]

If you dont need 2 hard lines on 2 different floors, you could just use a wireless router and connect the 2 pcs by cable and the laptop or whatever with wireless. Dont know how would 2 routers work.

[pr0klobster]

Don't mind if I ask, but what is the true difference between a hub and a switch then? (I'll probably go for a switch then).

A switch is basically a hub but more intelligent. A hub transmits the same incoming data from one port to all the other ports because it doesn't know who requested that data. It doesn't care about the type of data at all, just transmits it to all the possible ports. A switch when receives incoming data knows exactly who requested it and in which port that machine is located. This prevents data collision which would happen often with the hub.

Oh, I get it now So a switch would be faster and efficienter too?

For larger networks, much more efficient. For a small home network it probably wouldn't increase your throughput that much (especially since you're only pulling at the most ~8mb through your Internet)

Switches are nice to have when doing a file copy from PC to PC. Less broadcasting n' crap. I can probably hook up a 100 mb switch and do a copy of a 100 MB file 2-3x as fast as through a hub. (haven't checked, used switches for so long now). Hubs also have no intelligent features such as subnetting and virtual networks, nor do they usually have an IP address since they don't need one.

Home switches are basically "hubs" with a few more bells and whistles - like Moshe said, they know where the traffic is headed for because they're looking at a different network layer. An enterprise-level switch can cost anywhere from $1k-5k and up.

[phulshof]

I think it would be hard to even buy a hub anymore; there's little to no price difference and no advantages at all of buying a hub over a switch. For your situation: get a switch; there's only disadvantages in your situation of using a second router.

As for dangerous: some protocols have problems using 2 NAT (Network Address Translation) routers in a row, so that should cause problems with programs that use those protocols. iSRO is not one of them; I had 2 NAT routers in sequence in my network for the longest time without any problems.

If you need some basic networking knowledge, just send me an email. I'm a chip designer in the telecom industry, so I know a thing or two about networks.

[XMoshe]

Cool thanks =] I had it too once (2 routers) no probs there, but I'll get a switch then cuz I will play some new games on it (cuz my pc can't handle it >.>)

Thanks again for all the info