We were talking about the idea of doing a LAN party this summer. We've always wanted to and we'd love to.
Though, we have never done this at all, so I don't know too much about how this works.
I would like it to have a pure, wired connection rather than wireless. So I understand for that,
we would just need a Switch. And of course, the cables.
At the beginning it will probably just be the 4 of us playing, but later we wanted to have LAN party with a maximum total of 8 people. I've been looking online a little and I've been thinking of this switch.
https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Splitter-Optimization-Unmanaged-TL-SG108/dp/B00A121WN6/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=8+port+switch&qid=1619578022&sr=8-4&th=1
After some research, I hear CAT6 cables are the one to get. How long should the cables be?
I know we'll likely be using a folded desk. And a couple square desk added in or something as It's all else we got.
At first I thought 5 feet cables would be enough, but I wasn't completely sure how that would turn out.
Should I get 10 feet? How long works for you?
Though, I have a heard a little about the shorter the cable the faster the connection.
I'm not sure how true that is, but if that's the case I would like to be as minimum as I can get a away with.
Besides that, is there anything else specific I look for in a cable?
So far I was thinking of these.
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-10-Pack-Snagless-Ethernet/dp/B00K2E4UDM/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=cat6+cable+5+feet+10+count&qid=1619583631&sr=8-3
or these
https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Cable-Network-Patch-Internet/dp/B08LTBZ9HP/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=cat6+cable+10+feet+10+count&qid=1619583741&sr=8-5
I don't mind if it's multicolored or one colored or anything like that. I just want the cheapest option that will work.
Finally, how do you actually set up. I understand some games have a LAN mode that does not need internet.
So lets assume were just doing that to begin with. So we just plug all the computers to the ports and that's it?
I've heard a little about entering IP's and stuff. I don't know anything at all about IP addresses and all that,
so if that's the case I need help knowing what to do with that while setting it up. What all do I have to do exactly
when I plug all the computers in (unless I have to do it before plugging it in)?
If it helps, most of these computers are desktops running Windows 10 Home.
The games we've been thinking of include:
Team Fortress 2
Doom (Chocolate Doom)
Doom Source Port (Zandronium)
Left 4 Dead 2
Sanctum
Carmageddon: Reincarnation
Unreal Tournament
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (OG)
Rocket League
Minecraft
So I heard that some games (like Sanctum) require online even for local LAN. For those cases, how to would we add internet to our LAN?
Just connect one of the Switch ports to the internet router through a CAT cable and that's it? Do we need to set it up, and how do you if so?
Also, little did I realize is that there is a WiFi extender plugged in to the wall, and it has an ethernet input in it.
If we plugged the switch into that instead, would we get internet just the same?
And finally, how does starting LAN game, in-game generally work? Is it the same as creating a match in any game?
Most of these games will be off of Steam. Again, whenever it's possible I want the LAN connection to be pure and offline.
Btw, in the past I've had a little experience having to port-forwarding for hosting games online (Chocolate Doom),
so I'm just wondering if Port-Forwarding will be necessary for any of these games even for a LAN network?
Thank you for your time. I'm excited to learn more about this, and to finally do it!!
Edit: Oh and one last thing, about power. Are there specific extension cords I should get, some of these computer's PSU's are 850 watts or around 700 watts. And then there's the monitors. I would like a 2 prong extension cable to connect both computer and monitor.
Just curious, for LAN parties, do you prefer everybody have speakers or headphones?
Btw I decided to research again. Actually, would it make more sense to get Cat5E cables since the speed of those apparently match the speed of the ports (Gigabit?). Would that basically mean getting Cat6 would be a waste of money since they're more than the Switch supports?
Though, we have never done this at all, so I don't know too much about how this works.
I would like it to have a pure, wired connection rather than wireless. So I understand for that,
we would just need a Switch. And of course, the cables.
At the beginning it will probably just be the 4 of us playing, but later we wanted to have LAN party with a maximum total of 8 people. I've been looking online a little and I've been thinking of this switch.
https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Splitter-Optimization-Unmanaged-TL-SG108/dp/B00A121WN6/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=8+port+switch&qid=1619578022&sr=8-4&th=1
After some research, I hear CAT6 cables are the one to get. How long should the cables be?
I know we'll likely be using a folded desk. And a couple square desk added in or something as It's all else we got.
At first I thought 5 feet cables would be enough, but I wasn't completely sure how that would turn out.
Should I get 10 feet? How long works for you?
Though, I have a heard a little about the shorter the cable the faster the connection.
I'm not sure how true that is, but if that's the case I would like to be as minimum as I can get a away with.
Besides that, is there anything else specific I look for in a cable?
So far I was thinking of these.
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matters-10-Pack-Snagless-Ethernet/dp/B00K2E4UDM/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=cat6+cable+5+feet+10+count&qid=1619583631&sr=8-3
or these
https://www.amazon.com/Ethernet-Cable-Network-Patch-Internet/dp/B08LTBZ9HP/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=cat6+cable+10+feet+10+count&qid=1619583741&sr=8-5
I don't mind if it's multicolored or one colored or anything like that. I just want the cheapest option that will work.
Finally, how do you actually set up. I understand some games have a LAN mode that does not need internet.
So lets assume were just doing that to begin with. So we just plug all the computers to the ports and that's it?
I've heard a little about entering IP's and stuff. I don't know anything at all about IP addresses and all that,
so if that's the case I need help knowing what to do with that while setting it up. What all do I have to do exactly
when I plug all the computers in (unless I have to do it before plugging it in)?
If it helps, most of these computers are desktops running Windows 10 Home.
The games we've been thinking of include:
Team Fortress 2
Doom (Chocolate Doom)
Doom Source Port (Zandronium)
Left 4 Dead 2
Sanctum
Carmageddon: Reincarnation
Unreal Tournament
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (OG)
Rocket League
Minecraft
So I heard that some games (like Sanctum) require online even for local LAN. For those cases, how to would we add internet to our LAN?
Just connect one of the Switch ports to the internet router through a CAT cable and that's it? Do we need to set it up, and how do you if so?
Also, little did I realize is that there is a WiFi extender plugged in to the wall, and it has an ethernet input in it.
If we plugged the switch into that instead, would we get internet just the same?
And finally, how does starting LAN game, in-game generally work? Is it the same as creating a match in any game?
Most of these games will be off of Steam. Again, whenever it's possible I want the LAN connection to be pure and offline.
Btw, in the past I've had a little experience having to port-forwarding for hosting games online (Chocolate Doom),
so I'm just wondering if Port-Forwarding will be necessary for any of these games even for a LAN network?
Thank you for your time. I'm excited to learn more about this, and to finally do it!!
Edit: Oh and one last thing, about power. Are there specific extension cords I should get, some of these computer's PSU's are 850 watts or around 700 watts. And then there's the monitors. I would like a 2 prong extension cable to connect both computer and monitor.
Just curious, for LAN parties, do you prefer everybody have speakers or headphones?
Btw I decided to research again. Actually, would it make more sense to get Cat5E cables since the speed of those apparently match the speed of the ports (Gigabit?). Would that basically mean getting Cat6 would be a waste of money since they're more than the Switch supports?
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