Expanding my home network..

**failurbydesign** · December 17th, 2010

I have a Netgear wireless n router with the standard 4 or 5 ports on the back. Im going to hard wire each room in my house with 1-3 cat5e ports. How can i gain more ports for the hardwired cat5 and still keep my wifi, from what i read i will need a switch? Not sure how it can work, but any advice will help!!

**LeeJend** · December 17th, 2010

Just plug a switche into the existing router hard ports. You can daisy chain multiple switches together or get one big one. Which approach is cheapest will depend on how many total ports you need. 5 port switches are dirt cheap, 8 port switches start getting a little pricey, after that your into commercial equipmnet that can get down right nasty on pricing.

**Johnny** · December 18th, 2010

Yeah, like leejend said. You can hook a switch up to the router and have as may as 250 computers hooked up to the network ..

**dreamliner77** · December 18th, 2010

Also, while you're doing the hard wiring, you might as well run cat 6 cable and get gigabit switches... you know, future proofing.

**Johnny** · December 19th, 2010

That is a good point, Dreamliner ..

**failurbydesign** · December 22nd, 2010

Thanks for the replies!

So all i have to do is connect the switch to any open port on my wifi router? Thats it?

The reason i'm using cat 5e is that at my work we have to use cat 6 (as of 2010), so we have 12 extra brand new rolls of cat 5e (which i get one or two)... which is great since its free!

**Johnny** · December 23rd, 2010

Yep, just hook the switch up to an open port on your router ..

**LordOfLA** · December 24th, 2010

5e will run gige

5 will too but not over long distances...

**dreamliner77** · December 24th, 2010

Free is the best kind.

**failurbydesign** · January 11th, 2011

Originally Posted by dreamliner77

Free is the best kind.

Hell yea!!

**failurbydesign** · February 24th, 2011

Whats a good switch to use?

**LordOfLA** · February 24th, 2011

Anything by cisco, juniper, netgear

**Johnny** · February 25th, 2011

Originally Posted by LordOfLA

Anything by cisco, juniper, netgear

I echo this 100%.

**fitz** · March 1st, 2011

Cisco/Juniper might be overkill for a home network. Netgear has some decent SOHO switching. I suppose it depends on what your needs are.

Very hard to give a good recommendation without stating needs and budgets.. from earlier in the thread, I'm assuming you don't need any managed type switches or layer 3 capability.. so, you're really looking for just a basic SOHO switch - which is why I say Cisco/Juniper are probably overkill.

**LordOfLA** · March 2nd, 2011

He asked for good switches

**fitz** · March 2nd, 2011

Originally Posted by LordOfLA

He asked for good switches

well, Technically he asked

Originally Posted by failurbydesign

Whats a good switch to use?

Which implies (at least to me) "what's a good switch to use [for my situation]?" rather than just a blanket, open-ended discussion type question like "what are good switches in general?"

**note: just giving ya a hard time Lord

**LordOfLA** · March 2nd, 2011

I'd have no issue dropping one of these on my desk: EX2200 Ethernet Switches - Ethernet Solutions - Juniper Networks

I might have to question one of these however... EX8200 Ethernet Switches - Modular Ethernet Solutions - Juniper Networks

December 17th, 2010	Top \| #1
failurbydesign music MUSIC music Joined: April 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,821 Blog Entries: 2 Reputation: 450 Power: 121	Expanding my home network.. I have a Netgear wireless n router with the standard 4 or 5 ports on the back. Im going to hard wire each room in my house with 1-3 cat5e ports. How can i gain more ports for the hardwired cat5 and still keep my wifi, from what i read i will need a switch? Not sure how it can work, but any advice will help!! Macbook Pro 13"

December 17th, 2010	Top \| #2
LeeJend OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: January 2003 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 5,261 Reputation: 3386 Power: 199	Re: Expanding my home network.. Just plug a switche into the existing router hard ports. You can daisy chain multiple switches together or get one big one. Which approach is cheapest will depend on how many total ports you need. 5 port switches are dirt cheap, 8 port switches start getting a little pricey, after that your into commercial equipmnet that can get down right nasty on pricing. Thought for the new millenium: In a world without walls and fences, who needs Windows and Gates? - Open Office - Firefox - Thunderbird - Gimp -Ubuntu - Red Hat -

December 18th, 2010	Top \| #3
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,869 Reputation: 2369 Power: 173	Re: Expanding my home network.. Yeah, like leejend said. You can hook a switch up to the router and have as may as 250 computers hooked up to the network .. Paul Reed Smith.

December 18th, 2010	Top \| #4
dreamliner77 The Analog Kid Joined: March 2002 Location: Red Sox Nation Posts: 4,653 Reputation: 1111 Power: 182	Re: Expanding my home network.. Also, while you're doing the hard wiring, you might as well run cat 6 cable and get gigabit switches... you know, future proofing. "You can fight without ever winning, but never win without a fight." -Neil Peart of RUSH

December 19th, 2010	Top \| #5
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,869 Reputation: 2369 Power: 173	Re: Expanding my home network.. That is a good point, Dreamliner .. Paul Reed Smith.

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December 22nd, 2010	Top \| #6
failurbydesign music MUSIC music Joined: April 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,821 Blog Entries: 2 Reputation: 450 Power: 121	Re: Expanding my home network.. Thanks for the replies! So all i have to do is connect the switch to any open port on my wifi router? Thats it? The reason i'm using cat 5e is that at my work we have to use cat 6 (as of 2010), so we have 12 extra brand new rolls of cat 5e (which i get one or two)... which is great since its free! Macbook Pro 13"

December 23rd, 2010	Top \| #7
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,869 Reputation: 2369 Power: 173	Re: Expanding my home network.. Yep, just hook the switch up to an open port on your router .. Paul Reed Smith.

December 24th, 2010	Top \| #8
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Expanding my home network.. 5e will run gige 5 will too but not over long distances... If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

December 24th, 2010	Top \| #9
dreamliner77 The Analog Kid Joined: March 2002 Location: Red Sox Nation Posts: 4,653 Reputation: 1111 Power: 182	Re: Expanding my home network.. Free is the best kind. "You can fight without ever winning, but never win without a fight." -Neil Peart of RUSH

January 11th, 2011	Top \| #10
failurbydesign music MUSIC music Joined: April 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,821 Blog Entries: 2 Reputation: 450 Power: 121	Re: Expanding my home network.. Originally Posted by dreamliner77 Free is the best kind. Hell yea!! Macbook Pro 13"

February 24th, 2011	Top \| #11
failurbydesign music MUSIC music Joined: April 2004 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 1,821 Blog Entries: 2 Reputation: 450 Power: 121	Re: Expanding my home network.. Whats a good switch to use? Macbook Pro 13"

February 24th, 2011	Top \| #12
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Expanding my home network.. Anything by cisco, juniper, netgear If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

February 25th, 2011	Top \| #13
Johnny Paul Reed Smith Joined: January 2004 Location: Happy Valley Posts: 4,869 Reputation: 2369 Power: 173	Re: Expanding my home network.. Originally Posted by LordOfLA Anything by cisco, juniper, netgear I echo this 100%. Paul Reed Smith.

March 1st, 2011	Top \| #14
fitz *XPista7eopardix Joined: April 2004 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 4,028 Reputation: 2947 Power: 168**	Re: Expanding my home network.. Cisco/Juniper might be overkill for a home network. Netgear has some decent SOHO switching. I suppose it depends on what your needs are. Very hard to give a good recommendation without stating needs and budgets.. from earlier in the thread, I'm assuming you don't need any managed type switches or layer 3 capability.. so, you're really looking for just a basic SOHO switch - which is why I say Cisco/Juniper are probably overkill. Hee-hee! Evil makes my buttocks tingle.

March 2nd, 2011	Top \| #15
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Expanding my home network.. He asked for good switches If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

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March 2nd, 2011	Top \| #16
fitz *XPista7eopardix Joined: April 2004 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 4,028 Reputation: 2947 Power: 168**	Re: Expanding my home network.. Originally Posted by LordOfLA He asked for good switches well, Technically he asked Originally Posted by failurbydesign Whats a good switch to use? Which implies (at least to me) "what's a good switch to use [for my situation]?" rather than just a blanket, open-ended discussion type question like "what are good switches in general?" **note: just giving ya a hard time Lord Hee-hee! Evil makes my buttocks tingle.

March 2nd, 2011	Top \| #17
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Expanding my home network.. I'd have no issue dropping one of these on my desk: EX2200 Ethernet Switches - Ethernet Solutions - Juniper Networks I might have to question one of these however... EX8200 Ethernet Switches - Modular Ethernet Solutions - Juniper Networks If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.