Trying to plug multiple Cat5 cables into 1 Ethernet port

[SmartPrepCL]

At the dealership where I work at, the company I work for is subcontracted to the Dealership. Therefore we have our small working space and only one computer for all the employees of my company to share from. Due to the dealership's internet restrictions, we cannot access their WiFi and so we are currently HotSpotting our internet thru Verizon Wireless. The dealership has recently given us permission to connect to their customer based internet via hard lining.

The problem comes into play where our company's time clock is currently connected to our computer via a Cat5 cable.

Is there a way to connect multiple Cat5 cables into 1 ethernet port on the computer? I have found a few "10/100 BaseT 1P/2J 04 Wiring Splitter, Pigtail Type" and "RJ45 Splitter Cable Adapter" cables, but they look as if they are for splitting Ethernet signals coming from the wall and splitting to 2 computers versus multiple signals coming in to 1 computer.

Any help on this situation would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

 

[USAFRet]

Modem->router->switch->multiple devices.

Without knowing much more about your setup, a switch might be what you need.

 

[mjslakeridge]

How many people (computers) will be connecting to the router? It sounds like you need either a hub (cheaper, but generally not very many ports) or a switch (generally more expensive, but more sophisticated solution in the way it handles data and more ports).

See this link comparing the 2 devices.

http://www.ebay.com/gds/Ethernet-Hubs-Vs-Network-Switches-/10000000177629216/g.html

 

[bigwoofer]

Yep USAFRet has the best option if it works. You can't split a ethernet cable on a network and connect it to 2 computers simultaneously. That is exactly why switches exist - the good news is nice ones can be obtained for about $25 that have 5 ports which is what I'd recommend for your situation. Also I'd ask the dealership for permission before getting on their network or modifying it. In most cases it will just work by properly handling each device connected to it back through to the source switch you can't see.

 

[SmartPrepCL]

I apologize, I may not have worded my previous question. The problem isn't the internet necessarily. The problem is that my computer only have the 1 Ethernet port on it and I need to connect both the Internet (which I have obtained permission to do so) with a Cat 5 cable and I need to connect my time clock that connects via Cat 5 cable as well.

 

[GodEater]

ah i see what you mean, the only thing i can think of would be a usb to ethernet adapter..

 

[GodEater]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812186198&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Network+-+Interface+Cards-_-N82E16812186198&gclid=COPpr_r-x8oCFQuSaQodGh4Nig&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[triley]

I would almost suggest a cheap wired router. If you just use a switch your PC and time clock will be on the public customer network and accessible to anyone on that network. I would plug the PC and time clock into the switch ports on the router and then plug the internet cable into the wan port. I suggest wired only router, if you happen to pick up a wireless router you better clear it with the dealer 1st otherwise you will be creating a rogue access point on their network.

 

[USAFRet]

I apologize, I may not have worded my previous question. The problem isn't the internet necessarily. The problem is that my computer only have the 1 Ethernet port on it and I need to connect both the Internet (which I have obtained permission to do so) with a Cat 5 cable and I need to connect my time clock that connects via Cat 5 cable as well.

Ah, completely different.

A USB->RJ45 (ethernet) adapter would work for the physical connection
You need 2 NICs. 1, the RJ-45 on the motherboard, 2, a USB thing.

After that, settings in Control Panel to manage the two connections/networks.

 

[bigwoofer]

I apologize, I may not have worded my previous question. The problem isn't the internet necessarily. The problem is that my computer only have the 1 Ethernet port on it and I need to connect both the Internet (which I have obtained permission to do so) with a Cat 5 cable and I need to connect my time clock that connects via Cat 5 cable as well.

Is this not the situation and solution?

 

[USAFRet]

I apologize, I may not have worded my previous question. The problem isn't the internet necessarily. The problem is that my computer only have the 1 Ethernet port on it and I need to connect both the Internet (which I have obtained permission to do so) with a Cat 5 cable and I need to connect my time clock that connects via Cat 5 cable as well.

Is this not the situation and solution?

When the PC talks upstream out the single LAN port, how is it supposed to know what to talk to? The time clock or the wall port?

 

[bigwoofer]

The answer to that is exactly how networks work. The DHCP server on the network issues credentials including IP address and gateway access out to the internet. The switch brokers the traffic, allowing multiple devices/pc's to share the one connection to the main network.

 

[USAFRet]

The answer to that is exactly how networks work. The DHCP server on the network issues credentials including IP address and gateway access out to the internet. The switch brokers the traffic, allowing multiple devices/pc's to share the one connection to the main network.

Yes. However, he is looking for the reverse of that.

1 device, 2 networks.

 

[bigwoofer]

I'm confused, I don't see where there are 2 networks involved. Just 1 pc, 1 time clock, and 1 wall jack. If he doesn't want anyone on the local network to access his pc, when he connects he should choose 'public internet connection' and it will block any traffic from the other devices on the local network trying to access his pc

 

[USAFRet]

I'm confused, I don't see where there are 2 networks involved. Just 1 pc, 1 time clock, and 1 wall jack. If he doesn't want anyone on the local network to access his pc, when he connects he should choose 'public internet connection' and it will block any traffic from the other devices on the local network trying to access his pc

We both may be confused.
What is the Time clock doing? I was under the impression that it was a server of some sort, hence the '2nd network'.

 

[bigwoofer]

LOL I am thinking the time clock is using a ethernet connection to go out to the internet and report everyone's payable times into a system, using the regular single network.