*Urgent* advice - what does a router do?

[Cobra]

Hi all,

Sorry, I have to find this out pretty quick.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3...duct_uid=47102

This is the link to a router we need to get. My question is, does it act just like an Ethernet hub, so we can connect all our PCs to it and we can share with each other and all get net access? Or, will I need to get a hub and connect our PCs to that, as well as the router?

I assume the router also just plugs right into the ADSL line, so it's got a modem built in.

Thanks very much!

CobraDMX

[reboot]

A router is a hub/switch, that routes traffic between multiple PC's on a LAN.
To put it another way, get it. It will do what you need, and more.
Do you have more than 4 computer to hook up?
There are other models/manufacturer's that have excellent selections for far less money.
www.linksys.com
www.smc.com
http://www.d-link.com/

[Cobra]

Yeah, five! Hence, the 8-port router, nobody does fives! That puts the cost up from £40 to £120.....

Thanks for the swift response!

CobraDMX

[Shudder]

You should be able to plug a hub into the router and use that.. The connections are "dumb" on the hub, but it's probably better than overpaying for an 8 port router.

You can also get a switch to plug into the router if it'll be cheaper.

[gmatov]

Most, if not all, have an Uplink port, so you can stack them.

2 4s make an 8 port.

[Cricket90]

Hi all,

Sorry, I have to find this out pretty quick.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3...duct_uid=47102

This is the link to a router we need to get. My question is, does it act just like an Ethernet hub, so we can connect all our PCs to it and we can share with each other and all get net access? Or, will I need to get a hub and connect our PCs to that, as well as the router?

I assume the router also just plugs right into the ADSL line, so it's got a modem built in.


Thanks very much!

CobraDMX

the router does not have a modem "built right in" you plug adsl line into router from modem

[Cobra]

Sorry, that's confused me a little.

I thought a router had a modem port on it, so I can plug it right into the ADSL line. If it doesn't do this, and needs a separate modem, how do I connect a modem? There's no mention of support for a USB modem or anything...

I have tried searching the web for info but I can't get anything.

Thanks again,

CobraDMX

[stiltman]

A router is a hub/switch, that routes traffic between multiple PC's on a LAN.
To put it another way, get it. It will do what you need, and more.
Do you have more than 4 computer to hook up?
There are other models/manufacturer's that have excellent selections for far less money.
www.linksys.com
www.smc.com
http://www.d-link.com/

Ummm a router is not a switch/hub that routes traffic between PCs

A router routes traffic from on subnet to another (different) subnet. that's it. (Layer 3 traffic)

A switch/hub routes traffic on the same subnet and can not route traffic to different subnets. (Layer 2 traffic)

A switch with a router module in it can do both. This is also refered to as a Layer 3 switch

[reboot]

The router has an uplink port, that is where you plug in your xDSL or cable "modem".
If you don't have a "modem", you aren't on the internet.
You don't want a USB modem, you want an ethernet modem.
Make sure you get one that's compliant with your broadband supplier (ISP).
The adsl line plugs into the modem, the modem plugs into the uplink port on the router, the computers plug into the lan ports on the router.

Stiltman, you know that, and I know that, but everything you said is probably completely over most everyone elses head, and not relevant to the original poster's question. For sake of brevity, a router routes traffic to multiple computers on a LAN. Technically that statement is wrong, but does (sort of) explain what a router does, providing we're talking about a SOHO router with built in switch/firewall/NAT.

[Cobra]

Can you please keep it in plain English for the lowly, unenlightened people like myself?

How about if I got a single-port router which definitely has an integrated ADSL modem, and connected this via a standard Ethernet cable to a hub, then connected all five PCs to that hub? Would this:

- Allow us all to access the Internet at the same time?
- Allow us to see each other's PCs and share stuff?

Thanks so much for this flood of help - I appreciate what I can understand!

CobraDMX

[stiltman]

Can you please keep it in plain English for the lowly, unenlightened people like myself?

How about if I got a single-port router which definitely has an integrated ADSL modem, and connected this via a standard Ethernet cable to a hub, then connected all five PCs to that hub? Would this:

- Allow us all to access the Internet at the same time?
- Allow us to see each other's PCs and share stuff?

Thanks so much for this flood of help - I appreciate what I can understand!

CobraDMX

Yep

if it's an old *hub* it may have a little button next to port 1. this is the uplink port to your router. If it doesn't you may need whats called a crossover cable to connect the router to the hub

[Cobra]

OK, cool. Here's what I've decided on. You guys seem to know a lot about this stuff, so your opinion would be great.

This is the modem/router thing: http://www.dsl-warehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pr=DM602&pm=416

This is the hub: http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3...duct_uid=35436

Thanks,

CobraDMX

EDIT - would it be an idea to get a crossover cable to connect it anyway, just to be safe?

[stiltman]

Looks good, but doesn't netgear have a combined switch/router?
Curious as to you want to buy to seperate peices?

my bad, I didn't realize it was a combo modem/router

[Cobra]

Well, the separate hub and router works out cheaper anyway. So, it's OK to do this?

CobraDMX

Also, about the crossover cable? Will I just get that?

[stiltman]

EDIT - would it be an idea to get a crossover cable to connect it anyway, just to be safe?

Judging by the quick setup guide, it looks like it does the translation for you. I know my modem requires a crossover cable but my is not a router too....

[Cobra]

Right, I'll get the single-port router, a crossover cable and that big hub. that should be us sorted.

We shouldn't have problems accessing the router from our PCs should we? Just worried that hub might get in the way....

CobraDMX

[stiltman]

Well, the separate hub and router works out cheaper anyway. So, it's OK to do this?

CobraDMX

Sure!

i was just curious.... It's a good combo

[Cobra]

Well, thank you very much Stiltman, and everyone else who gave me advice.

If I ever meet you guys, I'll buy you beers.

CobraDMX

[SquirrelDip]

Here's my take in simple English...

Without any router your PC is connected directly to your modem (cable or otherwise). Any request from your PC is sent directly to the outside world (the internet...).

Now install your router. It goes between your PC and the modem. Any request your PC makes is now analyzed by the router to decide if it goes to the outside world or stays inside your internal network.

Now you want to put more than one computer on the network. You put a hub or switch between your PC and the router. This device spreads the request throughout your network. If the request is meant to go to the outside world the router will catch it and send it there.

A hub is not a router. It does not check where that request is supposed to go - it simple spreads the request throughout the network. A switch is kind of like a hub only a little smarter (but still not a router) - it doesn't simply spread the request all over, it sends it to the port that it is meant to go to.

Instead of buying two devices (hub and router), most companies build hubs into their routers. But it's still best to think of these as different devices - helps to understand what things are doing.

An uplink port is simply a way of connecting one hub/switch to another. If your hub switch does not have one you can purchase a "crossover" wire and connect them together. Think of the crossover wire as connecting input of A to the output of B and visa-versa. This isn't necessary when connecting the hub to your PC as the plugs are designed to connect input to output with straight through wire. Note here that you can use this crossover wire to connect two PC's together without a hub...

All the parameters, IP addressing, sub-nets etc are very important to getting everything to work but not necessary to understand what is going on. Knowing what is going on, in my opinion, is more important - getting them to work is only details...