switch downstream to Router?

[dcomp]

Hi all!

I have a router connecting four computers to the internet. Now, I want to connect one more computer to the internet but all the ports of the router have already been used. So I was thinking to get a switch and connect the switch downstream to the router and then connect my computer to the switch for internet connection. Is it possible? Also, what effect it will have on the internet speed to my computer? Or do I need to get another router?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
DV

 

[00Roush]

It should work just fine. I actually have my main switch downstream from my router. Modem--->Router--->Switch--->Computers. In my case my router is only 10/100 but my switch is gigabit. That way I can use gigabit between my computers and all of them can also access the internet through the router.

00Roush

 

[dcomp]

Hi 00Roush!

Thank you very much! Actually I did not see it earlier but the device is Linksys EZXS55W EtherFast 5-Port Switch- now I am confused because it says switch but I think it as a router + switch .. since it is connected directly to the internet line.. am I right? If yes, then I think as u said switch downstream to the router should work..

Now, I have one more question.. I have other computers and a printer connected directly to the router... do I need to connect all those computers to the switch for proper working..? also I want to access the printer.. for that do I need to connect the printer to the switch or will it work while connected to the router?

Thanks, I really appreciate it.

 

[00Roush]

Well it looks like the Linksys EZXS55W is in fact just a switch according to the information I found on the Cisco website. Based on this I would have to guess that your internet modem actually is the one acting as a router. Either way it should not matter too much. Just as long as you have at least one device that is acting as a router and can assign IP addresses to devices that are attached to your network.

I am not sure if you understand how switches work so I will try explain a little bit. A switch basically routes data from a network connection to another network connection based on the network address the data is supposed to go to. Switches can also be connected together to connect lots of network devices to each other. Generally with a router all the computers that get connected to any of the switches in the network gets its own IP address. Since each computer has its own address each computer/device can communicate with each other no matter how many switches are between them. Their are situations where this is not the case but for most home networks this would be the case. In your situation this means you should be able to connect the printer/computers to any switch in the network and they will all be able to communicate with each other. I hope that makes sense.

00Roush

 

[dcomp]

Hi!

Thank you very much. It makes sense and I understand more clearly now..... so I will get another switch and connect it to the Linksys... hope that will work! Thanks again!