What do i need to expand number of Ethernet ports using a switch {Diagram's included}

[J_D]

I need to expand the number of ethernet ports on my home network. Currently there are 3 computers. We have our ADSL broadband from BT, so we have the BT home hub which is basically a modem, router, WiFi in one box. However it only provides 2 Ethernet ports. See diagram below of current set up.

Now I have got a 4th computer that will be running Linux (ubuntu) but I would like to get on the network obviously, it’s less than a metre away from the BT home hub, and therefore WiFi is a silly option. I have a Belkin 5 port switch (was bought in the days before broadband to share dial-up which was only like 18months ago)

So main question is do I use normal CAT5e cables to link the BT home hub and switch or do I need a cross over cable AND which of the below set ups would be preferable

OR

Link to Belkin switch page http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=151153

Link to BT Home Hub page
http://www.shop.bt.com/productview....rchKey=All&SearchMode=All&NavigationKey=50910

I'm tempted to try linking the switch in now because I do have one spare cat5 cable but I would need one more to make the complete set up. But I don’t have any cross over cables.

Anyway hope someone can advise me on what I need to do

 

[apj101]

So main question is do I use normal CAT5e cables to link the BT home hub and switch or do I need a cross over cable AND which of the below set ups would be preferable

you use normal cat5 or cat5e cables

as for the setup. I would use option 2, simply because it will allow more dedicate port forwarding for any applications that may need that eg If i had a web site i would want port 80 forwarded to PC 1 and not bother forwarding it to PC2 and PC3 (which you happen if you went with option 1) . I assume the hub is in fact a true passive hub and not really another router.

 

[J_D]

you use normal cat5 or cat5e cables

as for the setup. I would use option 2, simply because it will allow more dedicate port forwarding for any applications that may need that eg If i had a web site i would want port 80 forwarded to PC 1 and not bother forwarding it to PC2 and PC3 (which you happen if you went with option 1) . I assume the hub is in fact a true passive hub and not really another router.

Thanks for your responce, i will be giving it a try later today.

However i'm not sure i understand what you mean by

I assume the hub is in fact a true passive hub and not really another router.

 

[Geoff]

Thanks for your responce, i will be giving it a try later today.

However i'm not sure i understand what you mean by

Please dont use a hub. All you need to do is connect your router to a switch ($20) from the ethernet port to the WAN port on the switch using a Cat 5/5e cable. Then connect all your computers to the switch.

 

[J_D]

before more people get confused, Blam Britsh telecom not me

The "BT Home Hub" is not a good name for the product they use, It is not a hub (by definition), it is a router / modem / WiFi product. However i think the reason behind calling it a hub is mainly down to non-tech savey people understand that a hub would be your central device (which is the main advertising line they use), were as we more tech savey people know a hub is a unintelligent networking device that sends data to all computers not just the one that the data is intended for. i.e why switch's were invented.

So basicly i have a 2 port router and a 5 port belkin switch which is auto sensing and auto-uplinking,

anyway i will post back when i get it all connected, can't atm cause other people in the house are using the net and i'm sure they wont be too pleased to find it switched off for a few mins.

 

[J_D]

OK it's all working fine, just ordered another cable so i can connect the linux computer up to the switch.

thanks for the assistance