Help needed/ Questions

P_Noah · October 3, 2015

Since I'm not familiar with networking I thought I'd come here to ask for some help. I currently have only one available ethernet port in my dorm room though I'd like to connect more than one device to it (computer, game system, etc.). However, I'm not sure how I should go about doing that. I know there are splitters, which are highly discouraged, and switches. I'm not sure what I would need in order for everything to work. Whether I'd need a switch with an uplink port, if that even matters, etc.

Any and all help would be appreciated.

MatthewEnderle · October 3, 2015

Any regular router from walmart will work. Otherwise an unmanaged switch off amazon will work.

ALwin · October 3, 2015

Since I'm not familiar with networking I thought I'd come here to ask for some help. I currently have only one available ethernet port in my dorm room though I'd like to connect more than one device to it (computer, game system, etc.). However, I'm not sure how I should go about doing that. I know there are splitters, which are highly discouraged, and switches. I'm not sure what I would need in order for everything to work. Whether I'd need a switch with an uplink port, if that even matters, etc.

Any and all help would be appreciated.

Router or access point should work.

Bananasplit_00 · October 3, 2015

just get a switch or a router, anything will probably do just fine just make sure it can handle the speed and the bandwith

vanished · October 3, 2015

agreed

P_Noah · October 3, 2015

Any regular router from walmart will work. Otherwise an unmanaged switch off amazon will work.

Router or access point should work.

just get a switch or a router, anything will probably do just fine just make sure it can handle the speed and the bandwith

agreed

Alright, thanks.

Wombo · October 3, 2015

Since I'm not familiar with networking I thought I'd come here to ask for some help. I currently have only one available ethernet port in my dorm room though I'd like to connect more than one device to it (computer, game system, etc.). However, I'm not sure how I should go about doing that. I know there are splitters, which are highly discouraged, and switches. I'm not sure what I would need in order for everything to work. Whether I'd need a switch with an uplink port, if that even matters, etc.

Any and all help would be appreciated.

A router almost certainly won't work for you. It can, but this would require you setting up your own nat translation table and a few other things, I suggest staying away from this. You would be looking for an unmanaged switch, specifically an unmanaged switch that does not participate in spanning-tree. Almost any consumer grade unmanaged switch should work fine for you as these often come without any features, which is perfect in your situation.

You won't need anything special, you don't need uplink ports, you don't need vlans, you don't need a router. All you need is a basic unmanaged switch that has the desired number of ports. Just remember one of those ports will be plugged into the wall. So if you need to plug in 4 devices, you need 5 ports. You can most likely just go the cheap route and get 10/100 ports on the switch. However there are gigabit (10/100/1000) 4 port switches that are regularly available for well under $50.