router/hub studio setup
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- inspiration
i'm setting up a network for the first time and would like some advice.
it will be 4+ computers with an all in one printer and another scanner. each computer needs access to the internet aswell.
so what exactly do i need? routers seem to be for enabling broadband across different machines, but not for ethernet networking and most only seem to have 4 ports.
hubs have more ports, but can internet be accessed by all through one machine connected?
anyone have any experience - it's a small studio setup. any help aappreciated...
- randoman0
Get a Lynksys or Netgear 4 port / wireless router. I say wireless because it isnt much more money, plus it's convient to have 4 laptops and what not.
The router will act as an ethernet network hub, a gateway to internet, and a firewall.
- rabattski0
difference between a hub and a router is that a hub enables more ports, that's all, routers are configurable and routers can for instance login on the internet thru a dsl modem, there is more stuff you can do with routers, not important right now, you only need a router, i'd go for more than 4 ports but you can also take a 4 port router and a 4 port hub (cheaper) and that way you have 3 + 7 = 7 ports. wireless is ofcourse cool.
- ribit0
We use a Netgear wireless router...most of the laptops are connected using wireless (and just using DHCP), with only 2 of the fixed computers attached by ethernet (with static IP).
Using NAT/port forwarding so we can have one computer as webserver, another for FTP, another windows box accessible through Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection (so you can run a Windows session from a remote Mac), etc..
We access from the interent using Apple File Sharing, FTP, but looking at setting up a VPN for more security, which has the advantage of allowing you to join the LAN from outside the office, so all addressing is as if you are on the local network, and you can easily access multiple computers, printers, local messaging etc, using the same addressing as when you are at the office.
- ribit0
You can add a switch/hub to give you more ports (theyre cheap), daisy chaining as many as you like.
Can anyone recommend a London based company that can help us setup VPN access and some other security/backup/fileserver stuff for our small workgroup?
- rabattski0
lmao @ tomkat. good one, have to keep that in mind.
- tomkat0
; )
- inspiration0
so a wireless router, with a switch added should cover all my needs. if the router has 4 ports, can you connect more over wireless?
- lnu0
A wireless router with a hub, no? I might be wrong but I think you can connect as many computers as you like the wireless way.
Personally, I love wireless. I'm actually taking a dump as I'm writing this.
;)
- version30
cable to modem to hub to computers
no hub needed
share the printers and youre up and running
- sparker0
your soho config should be:
wan -> gateway -> lan
your wan link plugs into the broadband router. nodes connect to the router either through wifi or ethernet.
if you need to scale then buy a cheap 10/100 switch. or simply buy more wireless nics.
the router is important because it provides security, nat, and dhcp.
a hub or switch is just a link between multiple nodes.
routers should always be your poc (point of contact).
and, contrary to popular [dis]believe...internet connection sharing from a workstation is a fucking stupid idea.
a lot of low-cost soho routers come bundled with ~5 or so vpn licenses. might be a good thing to look into.
- version30
"cable to modem to hub to computers"
i meant router
- sparker0
i figured. my comment was aimed at you. it was more a generalization.
:)