Ethernet Splitter?

[Br3tt96]

So I’m moving into a new place for college with an Ethernet jack next to the desk. I’ve got my main rig, plex server, and a raspberry pi I’d like to run through a wired connection. I mean I could run the pi off the router, but the main rig and plex would like to keep in my bedroom away from my roommates. I’m unaware of how fast it is, but I’m assuming either 100mbps, 250, 400 or gigabit. The reason for the 4 options is because that’s what’s offered in the area from the local isp, so I’m not sure which it is. 

 

So is there a splitter that I could plug into the main jack and run my rig and 1-2 more off of it?

[RedAV8R]

It's called a switch

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704179&cm_re=switch-_-33-704-179-_-Product

[beersykins]

I'd roll a router if you want things in your own internal network.

 

A switch could work but you may get addresses that are accessible from the rest of the network.

 

Please for the love of god don't buy anything that says splitter on it.

[Br3tt96]

16 minutes ago, RedAV8R said:

It's called a switch

 

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704179&cm_re=switch-_-33-704-179-_-Product

 

8 minutes ago, beersykins said:

I'd roll a router if you want things in your own internal network.

 

A switch could work but you may get addresses that are accessible from the rest of the network.

 

Please for the love of god don't buy anything that says splitter on it.

So you just plug an Ethernet from the wall into the switch and then out from the switch to your stuff?

 

[RedAV8R]

Yep.

 

A Router will make things a bit more private for you, and won't run that much more.

 

Of course another option is getting more Ethernet ports on a pc and running a router in a VM.

[Br3tt96]

21 minutes ago, RedAV8R said:

Yep.

 

A Router will make things a bit more private for you, and won't run that much more.

 

Of course another option is getting more Ethernet ports on a pc and running a router in a VM.

I honestly have no idea how the network runs at my place. I’ll see Saturday, and can double check. I know my roommate said the router was garbage and I was like we could all pitch in a bit

[Alex Atkin UK]

I'd vote for router over a switch too.  If they have any sense, they will limit your port to only allowing one client anyway so a switch wouldn't work in that case.

[schizznick]

If you use a router, you will most likely be double NATing this could affect some applications/games. Using a switch is the simplest and cleanest setup. If you want to do actual routing you could set up a router w/o using NAT but that requires both the main router and your router having those options.

[Br3tt96]

1 hour ago, schizznick said:

If you use a router, you will most likely be double NATing this could affect some applications/games. Using a switch is the simplest and cleanest setup. If you want to do actual routing you could set up a router w/o using NAT but that requires both the main router and your router having those options.

 

1 hour ago, Alex Atkin UK said:

I'd vote for router over a switch too.  If they have any sense, they will limit your port to only allowing one client anyway so a switch wouldn't work in that case.

Yeah I've got no  idea how it's setup. I'm not sure if I have to deal with the apartment people or go through the isp myself. I know move in date is the 18th, and one of the guys had renewed his lease and is in the place. He didn't seem very tech savvy when I asked him questions

[Alex Atkin UK]

2 hours ago, schizznick said:

If you use a router, you will most likely be double NATing this could affect some applications/games. Using a switch is the simplest and cleanest setup. If you want to do actual routing you could set up a router w/o using NAT but that requires both the main router and your router having those options.

Yes double NAT is not great, but as they already cannot access port forwarding and the alternative is risking every client on an unknown untrusted network (meaning you have to REALLY trust your client firewalls), I think its the safer option.

 

You don't necessarily need a router that supports access point mode to have it work as one.  So long as you can disable the DHCP server, it will naturally act as one on the LAN ports.  I have used various dumb ISP provided routers over the years like this.  The only potential pitfall is if it enforces client isolation.

But ultimately, I wouldn't fancy putting my clients on an unknown network without a router firewalling it from the clients.