Crossover cable replacement

[Ultimate_Dylan]

I recently bought a crossover cable and it works great, but now I have 2 more friends coming to visit, and we won't all be able to play on my minecraft server using 1 crossover cable (because the cable can only connect 2 devices)

we are all using laptops and only have 1 Ethernet port each, the server will be hosted by a computer which is also playing.

what is the hardware that I would need to purchase so this problem doesn't happen next time.

we would not have an internet connection either. or a router, so keep that in mind.

if somebody could suggest what I would need and send me a link to it.

in case this were to happen again, but with more people. I would like the (enter solution here) to have 8-10 ports.

thanks in advance!

~Dylan

 

[USAFRet]

Why not a router? They are cheap, and when a switch is added (for more ports), will do exactly what you want. Without any further hassles.

Any cheap router, and any cheap switch. The router assigns IP addresses, and the switch is just for more ports.

 

[Ultimate_Dylan]

Why not a router? They are cheap, and when a switch is added (for more ports), will do exactly what you want. Without any further hassles.

Any cheap router, and any cheap switch. The router assigns IP addresses, and the switch is just for more ports.

What i'm hoping to get out of it is using Ethernet cables to plug all the laptops into it and not having to plug it into the wall because we won't have enough plug-in ports, I need some sort of adaptor box, if that's a thing

 

[mrmike_49]

the adapter box is called a router

 

[dextermat]

If you want to connect more than two people you will need a router. Crossover only work with two computers.

 

[mrmike_49]

Do network connections even NEED a crossover cable any more? AFAIK, all network chips have auto-config capabilities, which lets them use regular or crossover cables in any connection

 

[USAFRet]

Why not a router? They are cheap, and when a switch is added (for more ports), will do exactly what you want. Without any further hassles.

Any cheap router, and any cheap switch. The router assigns IP addresses, and the switch is just for more ports.

... I need some sort of adaptor box, if that's a thing

Yes there is such a thing. It's called a router.

 

[Ultimate_Dylan]

the adapter box is called a router

but that requires a power source

 

[Ultimate_Dylan]

Where some of the computers in our friend pool are over 10 years old, we do need a crossover cable

 

[Ultimate_Dylan]

I know almost nothing about networking, is it possible I plug my computer into the router and my friends connect wirelessly?

 

[USAFRet]

the adapter box is called a router

but that requires a power source

And the computers run on puppy farts and powdered unicorn horn?

 

[Ultimate_Dylan]

the adapter box is called a router

but that requires a power source

And the computers run on puppy farts and powdered unicorn horn?

you obviously don't understand what I am asking and aren't taking this matter seriously, so unless you have a legitimate answer or an appropriate response, please don't respond to this thread

 

[USAFRet]

I know almost nothing about networking, is it possible I plug my computer into the router and my friends connect wirelessly?

Have all the other PC's run off the WiFi emanating from your PC? Yeah, for one PC, maybe. 8-10? No...

You're looking to run a network of ~10 devices. And you need a solid, fast, connection between all of them.
There is no free magic bullet.

There is, however, a cheap magic bullet. A router.

 

[USAFRet]

the adapter box is called a router

but that requires a power source

And the computers run on puppy farts and powdered unicorn horn?

you obviously don't understand what I am asking and aren't taking this matter seriously, so unless you have a legitimate answer or an appropriate response, please don't respond to this thread

We're all out here trying to figure out what you are trying to do, with the info given.

1. You want to run a multi player game
2. You have a server to run the game, and multiple clients
3. For some reason, you don't want the easy, cheap, solution, a router to connect everything.

Yes, a router will need power from the wall. So will the server, and all the client PC's. Is there some Tesla magic I'm not seeing?

 

[Ultimate_Dylan]

If you want to connect more than two people you will need a router. Crossover only work with two computers.

I know almost nothing about networking, is it possible I plug my computer into the router and my friends connect wirelessly?

Have all the other PC's run off the WiFi emanating from your PC? Yeah, for one PC, maybe. 8-10? No...

You're looking to run a network of ~10 devices. And you need a solid, fast, connection between all of them.
There is no free magic bullet.

There is, however, a cheap magic bullet. A router.

here we go again, I'll try to explain this better

1 server hosting computer,
1 (solution here)
2-8 clients
no wifi/internet access at all
and forget the outlet problem, I can deal with that

 

[USAFRet]

here we go again, I'll try to explain this better

1 server hosting computer,
1 (solution here)
2-8 clients
no wifi/internet access at all
and forget the outlet problem, I can deal with that

------------------------------------------
1 server hosting computer,
1 [strike](solution here)[/strike] router + 1 switch
2-8 clients
no wifi/internet access at all
and forget the outlet problem, I can deal with that
------------------------------------------
Achievement unlocked!

A router does not need outside internet access. It is there to provide connectivity between all the devices. And it can do wired or WiFi.

 

[Ultimate_Dylan]

here we go again, I'll try to explain this better

1 server hosting computer,
1 (solution here)
2-8 clients
no wifi/internet access at all
and forget the outlet problem, I can deal with that

------------------------------------------
1 server hosting computer,
1 [strike](solution here)[/strike] router + 1 switch
2-8 clients
no wifi/internet access at all
and forget the outlet problem, I can deal with that
------------------------------------------
Achievement unlocked!

A router does not need outside internet access. It is there to provide connectivity between all the devices. And it can do wired or WiFi.

ok, so how would I set all of this up, keep in mind the computer hosting the server will be playing too

 

[USAFRet]

here we go again, I'll try to explain this better

1 server hosting computer,
1 (solution here)
2-8 clients
no wifi/internet access at all
and forget the outlet problem, I can deal with that

------------------------------------------
1 server hosting computer,
1 [strike](solution here)[/strike] router + 1 switch
2-8 clients
no wifi/internet access at all
and forget the outlet problem, I can deal with that
------------------------------------------
Achievement unlocked!

A router does not need outside internet access. It is there to provide connectivity between all the devices. And it can do wired or WiFi.

ok, so how would I set all of this up, keep in mind the computer hosting the server will be playing too

Buy a router (10/100/1000)
Buy an 8 port switch (10/100/1000)
Plug everything in, and connect to the router and/or switch
Turn them on, router first
Done

This is what is meant by 'easy'.

 

[USAFRet]

Obviously, there may be some configuration needed with your particular game server or router, but that should be easy.

 

[Ultimate_Dylan]

here we go again, I'll try to explain this better

1 server hosting computer,
1 (solution here)
2-8 clients
no wifi/internet access at all
and forget the outlet problem, I can deal with that

------------------------------------------
1 server hosting computer,
1 [strike](solution here)[/strike] router + 1 switch
2-8 clients
no wifi/internet access at all
and forget the outlet problem, I can deal with that
------------------------------------------
Achievement unlocked!

A router does not need outside internet access. It is there to provide connectivity between all the devices. And it can do wired or WiFi.

ok, so how would I set all of this up, keep in mind the computer hosting the server will be playing too

Buy a router (10/100/1000)
Buy an 8 port switch (10/100/1000)
Plug everything in, and connect to the router and/or switch
Turn them on, router first
Done

This is what is meant by 'easy'.

well I knew all that, I need to know how everything plugs into eachother and don't say Ethernet cables because I know that, what plugs into what and into which port
and for the configuration for the server, that would be easy

 

[USAFRet]

well I knew all that, I need to know how everything plugs into eachother and don't say Ethernet cables because I know that, what plugs into what and into which port
and for the configuration for the server, that would be easy

On the back of the router, there will (maybe) be 5 RJ-45 ports.
1 labeled WAN, 4 labeled LAN. Ignore the one labeled WAN.

1 cable from a port on the switch to one of the LAN ports on the router.
The other 3 LAN ports can be used for RJ-45 (ethernet) ports PC's or the game server.
The other PC's, to RJ-45 ports on the switch.

If you are still unclear, create a wiring diagram of what you think it should be, post it here, and we'll provide suggestions.