Adding Switch to Router

[Guest]

Hi... I will be setting up a small network for an office which will be transfering data between 5 to 8 computers. These transfers needs to be fast as it is a small business and time is important.

5 to 8 computers will come connected *Wired*. One computer will hold the files and others needs to be able to transfer them through network.

I want to connect the network this way.....

Cable Broadband -----> Modem ------> Router -------> Switch

I haven't connected or used a swtich on a router before but I have some knowledge on it. I need to know which swtich is good for fast file transfers? Or what should I do for fast transfers?

 

[gtvr]

Get a gigabit ethernet switch. There's a variety of price points & features available - it really depends on what you mean by "needs to be fast" - how big are the files really? Are you doing video or other large files, or just standard business documents and email?

The actual connection is very easy, you will either need a crossover cable, or a switch with an autosensing port (auto mdix)

 

[Guest]

it is for a small arqitect business... main pc will hold autocat files n large rendered videos... when i say it need to be fast, i mean, file transfer between 1 pc to another need to be fast!

 

[gtvr]

Get a good gigabit ethernet switch. Not one of the $50 consumer jobs, but a nice managed one.

Here's one: http://reviews.cnet.com/switches/3com-baseline-switch-2924/4505-6432_7-32492632.html?tag=mncol;lst

cnet reviews, filtered by price/features: http://reviews.cnet.com/networking-wifi-hardware/?filter=100021_11041926_500300_103611_500306_5030006_&tag=mncol;srt&sort=edRating7+desc

 

[dse879]

Notice that if you get a gigabit switch all the network adapters on the computers or devices that you are connecting to the switch (devices like a NAS) have to be compaitble with you gigabite switch meaning their Ethernet port has to be gigabite also. Another thing to keep in mind is that although it will increase the speed of your local network it will not add any speed to your broad band connection because that it is limited by you ISP. If the switch you buy has a port labeld with "up link" you do not need a crossover cable you can use a regular Ethernet cable preferably CAT5e or CAT6.

 

[Kewlx25]

Even most consumer grade switchs will auto-sense crossover/strait. Just make sure you find out. If the switch does not support this VERY simple feature, I would question the quality as it's about as standard as color is for TVs.

You don't "have" to have all gig NICs, but obviously if you try to transfer a file between a 1000 nic and a 100nic, you're only going to max out at 100.

managed is nice, but not needed for a small lan. One nice thing about a managed switch is you can setup a true firewall on the port connecting to the router.