Router or a switch

[santoshb189]

I am having 4 computers and a printer. I would like to connect the printer to these computers using a cable. So should I have to buy a router or just a switch to connect the printer to these computers?

 

[marko55]

The definition of a "router" and "switch" can get confusing in the residential space with all the options from Linksys, DLink, netgear, etc. These devices are actually BOTH.

When you buy a cable/dsl router from Best Buy (for instance), with one of the brands above, they're called "routers." However, the 4 built in LAN ports are actually switched interfaces (its a built in 4-port switch). You've also got a WAN/Internet port (or 2) to connect your ISP to.

What you want is a switch, or if you want an all-in-one device form Linksys/Netgear/DLink/etc that you'll connect your ISP modem to on the WAN port and connect all your internal computers & printers to, then you'd need to find one that has 5 or more LAN ports and connect it all up. Any traffic that flows from computer-to-computer or computer-to-printer on those LAN ports will be "switched" traffic. If your computers communicate with the internet, this is considered "routed" traffic where the routing capability of the device is invoked.

If you already have an internet "router" connected and you just need more ports to connect all these devices together on your LAN, you can grab a cheap 8 port non-managed netgear 1Gbps switch for like $50, connect one of its ports to a LAN port on your router and connect all your internal devices to the remaining switch ports (and anymore open LAN ports on your router; they'll all communicate internally still).

 

[kanewolf]

It depends on what other hardware you already have. If you have internet, then you SHOULD already have a router. That router probably has 4 wired ports. Unfortunately you need 5 plus 1 to uplink everything to the router.

An 8 port gigabit switch would be my recommended hardware. You have a couple ports extra for any future network devices.

 

[boosted1g]

Router allows you to use multiple computers on one internet connection.
If you got your modem from your ISP it is likely a modem/router combo. If your modem has more then 1 ethernet port and wifi then it is a modem/router combo.

A switch will not do much without a router as the router is what provides IP addresses to the computers/devices and allows them to share your internet connection. In a completely offline environment you can run just a switch and manually set addresses for every device.
If you already have a router and just need more ethernet ports then yes a gigabit etherent switch is exactly what you need. Anything gigabit from Netgear, TP-Link or Dlink is good.

 

[jsmithepa]

Going straight to the solution, you need a switch.

These days, lots of ISP's supplied modem/routers have a built-in 4 port switch on the back, and you may already have what u need. Look at that box and see one WAN jack and four LAN jacks, THAT'S IT, just plug it in dude. Buy an inexpensive stand-alone switch to add more ports or just because your devices are in the next room whatever.