help need w/ switch / router easy question

I do not know much about networking. I have a PC running linux, ethernet NIC
attached to a LinkSys wireless router. I also have my previous non-wireless
router. Is there some way I can hook up my two routers for a LAN party so
that more than 4 computers (# of ethernet cable slots in wireless router)
can be in on the LAN party if all I use is my wireless router? Or do I need
to buy something called a "switch" or some other piece of hardware?



Beowulf

Beowulf wrote:

> I do not know much about networking. I have a PC running linux, ethernet
> NIC attached to a LinkSys wireless router. I also have my previous
> non-wireless router. Is there some way I can hook up my two routers for a
> LAN party so that more than 4 computers (# of ethernet cable slots in
> wireless router) can be in on the LAN party if all I use is my wireless
> router? Or do I need to buy something called a "switch" or some other
> piece of hardware?

The routers include 4 port switches and you can tie more than one together,
using the uplink port on one, to connect to a regular port on another.

I guess there'll be a lot of singing at your party:

"This lan is your lan. This lan is my lan." ;-)

> The routers include 4 port switches and you can tie more than one together,
> using the uplink port on one, to connect to a regular port on another.
Yes, this was my thought too. Then I remembered that both routers may
try to be 192.168.1.1 or something. If the OP can change the address to
192.168.1.something-else on the unneeded router, all will be well again.
Or even 192.168.something-else.1, and turn off DHCP. This is a little
unclean, but it might work.

Unless neither router has an uplink port or the right autosense
capability. In which case a crossover cable is called for.

It's almost easier to buy a hub.

Allen McIntosh wrote:
...
>
> It's almost easier to buy a hub.

Ok I admit my stupidity-- what is a hub?
Related to this, any recommendations on a book or website to understand the
basics of networking, especially for understanding what I need to know for
a LAN party, etc.?

Beowulf <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

>I do not know much about networking. I have a PC running linux, ethernet NIC
>attached to a LinkSys wireless router. I also have my previous non-wireless
>router. Is there some way I can hook up my two routers for a LAN party so
>that more than 4 computers (# of ethernet cable slots in wireless router)
>can be in on the LAN party if all I use is my wireless router? Or do I need
>to buy something called a "switch" or some other piece of hardware?


Most wireless routers allow more than 4 wireless connections. Ie there may
only be 4 wired ports, if that is what you ask.
b) Yes, I think you can use the router as a hub/switch as well. It is a waste of
ability. Mind you I have not tried it, but see no reason why it should not
work.

Beowulf <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

>Allen McIntosh wrote:
>..
>>
>> It's almost easier to buy a hub.

>Ok I admit my stupidity-- what is a hub?
>Related to this, any recommendations on a book or website to understand the
>basics of networking, especially for understanding what I need to know for
>a LAN party, etc.?

A hub is lowest on the chain. It takes any input and broadcasts it out all
of the other connnections. Stupid, cheap and works.

A switch is smarter-- it determines which port the packet should be sent
out of and only sends it there.

Both are cheap these days. Make sure you buy one without a fan. Those fans
are noisy and very annoying.

Beowulf wrote:
> Allen McIntosh wrote:
> ..
>
>>It's almost easier to buy a hub.
>
>
> Ok I admit my stupidity-- what is a hub?
> Related to this, any recommendations on a book or website to understand the
> basics of networking, especially for understanding what I need to know for
> a LAN party, etc.?


I found this site to be informative:

http://wwww.handsonhowto.com/index.html

Look at the hubs, switches reference.

Beowulf <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

> I do not know much about networking. I have a PC running linux, ethernet NIC
> attached to a LinkSys wireless router. I also have my previous non-wireless
> router. Is there some way I can hook up my two routers for a LAN party so
> that more than 4 computers (# of ethernet cable slots in wireless router)
> can be in on the LAN party if all I use is my wireless router? Or do I need
> to buy something called a "switch" or some other piece of hardware?

Just get one or more ethernet hubs or switches that don't do routing. A hub is
a collection of ethernet ports, and everybody sees every packet that goes by
(so you can have packets collide). I think you can only have 2 hubs chained
together between any two hosts in 100M/bit ethernet. A switch is similar,
except that it stores each packet internally, and only sends them out to the
receivers that are intended to receive the packet, so you can't sniff for
passwords going between two other hosts, and I believe you can have more
switches daisy chained together. Nowadays you can buy hubs and switches fairly
cheaply (most seem to be switches these day, and there doesn't seem to be the
price penality for a switch).

For example, going to CompUSA, the first switch that I see would do what you
want:
http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...498&pfp=SEARCH

--
Michael Meissner
email: (E-Mail Removed)
http://www.the-meissners.org