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General discussion (archive)Networking a small business (need some feedback)(8 posts)(8 posts)
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Posted February 08, 2012
Hey guys, since my dad's company will be expanding a bit, an overhaul of the network will be required.

Currently we have 4 PCs that are all connected to a router. The optical internet cable goes directly to that router, and the router acts as a DHCP. On one PC we have 2 printers attached. And on another we have 1 printer attached. They are all working correctly, the printers are shared, and every PC can use every printer.

Since one or two more PCs will be added in the coming few weeks, and the router only supports 4 devices, the networking will be modified a bit.

Can you please tell me how thhe network will perform better? Should I add a switch that connects to the router and then connect half of the PCs on it (or all the PCs)? Or should I add a router and connect it to the router, and do the same?
Posted February 08, 2012
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kavazovangel: Hey guys, since my dad's company will be expanding a bit, an overhaul of the network will be required.

Currently we have 4 PCs that are all connected to a router. The optical internet cable goes directly to that router, and the router acts as a DHCP. On one PC we have 2 printers attached. And on another we have 1 printer attached. They are all working correctly, the printers are shared, and every PC can use every printer.

Since one or two more PCs will be added in the coming few weeks, and the router only supports 4 devices, the networking will be modified a bit.

Can you please tell me how thhe network will perform better? Should I add a switch that connects to the router and then connect half of the PCs on it (or all the PCs)? Or should I add a router and connect it to the router, and do the same?
You'd end up cheaper with a switch, so you'd go ISP -> router -> switch -> PCs/printers (if they can be network attached).

If you get another router you'd only be able to use it as a switch any way, so the money investment wouldn't really bring anything to the table.
Posted February 08, 2012
Buy a 16 port switch, connect all the PC's and any of the printers that can be networked to the switch, then connect the router to the switch as well. None of the PC's should be connected to the router.

That's going to be the easiest and simplest solution. Additionally if you can I would pickup some small print server appliances so that you can connect all the printers directly to the switch, that way you don't have to share it through one of the PC's.
Posted February 08, 2012
If you are using Windows, Netgear "ProSafe" switches are very good for this. They are not full-up smart switches, but they have setup capabilities beyond those of a "dumb" switch and can do things like port mirroring for troubleshooting.

(I say Windows, because Netgear has shortsightedly written their switch management application to be Windows-only. So you need at least one Windows PC.)
Posted February 08, 2012
There is one reason to get a router not a switch. It will let you set up a DMZ, which works like this:

net - modem/router - DMZ - Router - LAN

In the DMZ you can place server(s) that you want people to be able to access from the internet, without compromising the internal LAN. If this is something that is useful now, or something that you want to have capability to expand to, get a router.

Otherwise just get a switch. Also, it doesn't matter if you connect the devices to a combination of the router (LAN side) and the switch, it will all work fine, but if your router is only 10/100 you may want to get a gigabit switch and move everyone to that.
Posted February 08, 2012
Thank you all for the replies!

I will consider all options, but I guess buying a good switch, connecting all computers to it and then it to the router seems the easier way. Will just have to figure out the physical connection and location, since it is very possible that some of the PCs (two, I think) will be moved in the next room.

A simple drill in the wall should do the trick, I guess.

EDIT: I'll write back once I start the 'operation'.
Post edited February 11, 2012 by kavazovangel
Posted February 08, 2012
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_Bruce_: There is one reason to get a router not a switch. It will let you set up a DMZ, which works like this:

net - modem/router - DMZ - Router - LAN

In the DMZ you can place server(s) that you want people to be able to access from the internet, without compromising the internal LAN. If this is something that is useful now, or something that you want to have capability to expand to, get a router.

Otherwise just get a switch. Also, it doesn't matter if you connect the devices to a combination of the router (LAN side) and the switch, it will all work fine, but if your router is only 10/100 you may want to get a gigabit switch and move everyone to that.
Good point about the DMZ, but you can also use one of the ports on an existing gateway for a DMZ (even the cheap ones usually have a DMZ configuration), or you can even get a switch with Layer 3 capability (Netgear models ending in "TR", for instance) for much finer control.

Usually, using a switch for all wired connections gives you a much better switch than the stupid little switches built into gateways.
Posted February 08, 2012
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cjrgreen: Good point about the DMZ, but you can also use one of the ports on an existing gateway for a DMZ (even the cheap ones usually have a DMZ configuration), or you can even get a switch with Layer 3 capability (Netgear models ending in "TR", for instance) for much finer control.

Usually, using a switch for all wired connections gives you a much better switch than the stupid little switches built into gateways.
Firstly, the manufacturers who refer to the port forwarding they perform on simple routers as 'DMZ' need to be stabbed. Possibly in the face.

Yes a good Layer 3 switch can do a DMZ, most routers cannot. It is also much more complicated for someone who isn't a networking person.

Finally I have not really noticed any real problem with the inbuilt switches unless you are doing something really fancy or very heavy loads. For the sort of application described here I would be surprised if it was an issue.
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General discussion (archive)Networking a small business (need some feedback)(8 posts)(8 posts)
(8 posts)