Help With Setting Up A Lan Party

[Aogle2]

I have a 8 port TP-link router and a 5 port Linksys switch. I have about 11 people that are trying to get into a Minecraft server. How would I be able to set this type of network up. I also have a few other routers that are wireless. (Linksys, Trendnet) I'm fairly new to networking. I just know how to plug up the cables and understand the speed and Ping and Latency.... maybe.

 

[Marc030]

You could just use the wireless router and everybody would be able to connect.

If you have decent wifi covarage atleast.

 

If you wanted to use the router+switch you would have to connect your modem to your router, from your router a cable to the switch so you would have 8 -1 = 7 on the router + 5 - 1 = 4 on the switch = 11 so it could work both ways but it will be a cable mess this way.

[Christian]

I would just hook up one swtich to another. The problem with that however is that (i'm assuming they are 10/100 switches) you only get a 100Mbps connection to the other switch. So if 3 computers on switch 1 are trying to talk to 3 computers on switch 2, they will only have 100Mbps to share (basically will get 33Mbps each), in contrast to if everything was on a single switch, everything would have 100Mbps connection to each other. Though for a LAN party is shouldn't really matter. Same thing applies for gigabit.

[WALK3R]

use any 10/100 switch/setup there will be no speed loss or any ping issues. "gigabit is for people who want to move big things fast" buy yourself a cheap 24 port from ebay will help alot with your setup.

[Aogle2]

Thanks guys for your answers. 

[NetworkCowboy]

8-port switch to to the 5 port switch and that is all you need for a LAN. Noted though you will not have internet if anyone needs it.

 

Just like MLWALK3R said i suggest you buy a 24-port switch off ebay. You can find any older cisco models like a Cisco 3500 series for pretty cheap. 

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cisco-Catalyst-3500-XL-series-WS-C3524-XL-EN-Switch-/310654123405?pt=US_Network_Switches&hash=item48546dbd8d

[Judahnator]

Personally, im rocking a CISCO 3500XL (exact same as NetworkCowboy mentioned above), so i have no problems with LAN parties.

 

Here is something that may help you though:

you could convert the routers to wireless AP's and have only a certain amount of people on each AP (distributing the load).

 

This is a simple task, just follow these steps:

   1.   Reset the router(s) you will use for wireless to factory settings

   2.   Disconnect a laptop or desktop from your current network, and plug it into the router (wired connection required)

         IMPORTANT: Do not connect anything to the WAN port, or this will not work.

   3.   Connect to your router in a web browser (usually 192.168.1.1)

   4.   Change the routers ip to something like "192.168.1.2," and save the settings.

         You will need to redirect your browser to the new IP, dont forget.

   5.   Disable DHCP (if you dont the two routers on your network will try to assign eachother a different IP, not good.

   6.   Unplug the router from your computer, and plug the "port 1" (not the WAN port) into your main switch.

   7.   Reconnect to your main network, and make sure you can access BOTH of the routers.

         (Remember, the main switch is 192.168.1.1 and the other you set in step 4)

   8.   Now just repeat for every other router you want to use.

 

TAA DAAA!!! Your all done  :D

 

I am currently doing this on two routers to enhance my wireless network. I also use the wireless routers (now Access Points) in LAN parties. They have no problem supporting 5-15 devices total with little bandwidth bottlenecking. Latency also shouldnt be a problem, since your all withen a few "hops" from eachother.

 

Hope this helps

[NetworkCowboy]

I get 3500 XLs from work for free so that is what I use too!

[Judahnator]

Mine was free from when the school district was upgrading. Not the fastest switch in the world, but for free its pretty epic.

[NetworkCowboy]

Mine was free from when the school district was upgrading. Not the fastest switch in the world, but for free its pretty epic.

Oh yea they are still 100/mbps switches which is plenty for a LAN party.

[ProGearUk]

_{I know for a fact that even a tekkit server which sends more data than a minecraft server only sends about 40 kilabytes a second over the network which is nothing for a even for a 10/100 switch. There would be no problem with the amount of data being sent over the network.}