About routers, hubs, and switches

#1 Macworld

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Posted 27 December 2011 - 12:31 PM

Post your comments for About routers, hubs, and switches here

#2 JerryMusser

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Posted 27 December 2011 - 12:42 PM

Love this 'short and sweet' approach. Thanks!

#3 jonyo

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Posted 27 December 2011 - 01:04 PM

It used to be that consumer level switches were quite a bit more expensive than hubs, and with streaming video and that sort of high-bandwidth stuff still in its infancy, the less effecient packet transport (ethernet packet collisions basically) wasn't a giant problem for the home user, so people wouldn't pay the extra cash for a switch. However, nowadays when I go into a consumer tech warehouse place like Fry's, I see only switches, and have a hard time even finding a hub. Since a switch now costs about the same as a hub used to, and there's no difference in how you hook up one or the other or how they'll sit within your network topography, there's no reason to ever get a hub anymore unless you have a specific need for one. (In my experience, the main reason for a hub is to insert a machine that's going to do packet sniffing of everything going along the wire for low-level troubleshooting purposes.)

#4 BradPDX

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Posted 27 December 2011 - 01:21 PM

There is no reason to use a hub anymore. They have almost disappeared from the marketplace, and with good reason - they are far less efficient that switches, as switches virtually eliminate the possibility of packet collision and loss.

A modern, unmanaged 5-port gigabit switch is easily had for less than $50. Don't look back. If you really want to do something "hubby" like packet sniffing, use a managed switch and dedicate one port to that purpose.

#5 macskier

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Posted 27 December 2011 - 01:46 PM

I am a techie and understand DHCP, distributing addresses, etc. But, the link from Mac Central implies the article would help the non techie understand how to use or setup what may have been under their tree.The article does not do either. It does, however provide links to articles that will.

#6 fibercut

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Posted 27 December 2011 - 06:36 PM

I wouldn't use a hub, I would use an automatic Gigabyte Switch. This way you will avoid IP collisions that are present in Hubs.

This post has been edited by fibercut: 27 December 2011 - 06:38 PM

Cutting fiber for everyones need

#7 Maverick513

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Posted 27 December 2011 - 07:07 PM

There is no need to use hubs these days. Switch becomes cheaper. And you will get a better network with switches instead of hubs.

#8 JWAUpNorth

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Posted 28 December 2011 - 04:29 PM

I think the question asked was not addressed, 'mustbjones' has a single ethernet drop and wants to connect multiple devices. The short answer is, purchase an inexpensive ethernet switch for that room. Connect the single drop to the switch and then connect away to your hearts content with your TV, computer, Sat receiver, BlueRay, game box and AppleTV.

#9 Sailor123

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Posted 02 January 2012 - 07:24 AM

Ok, I have a question perhaps a techie can answer. I have a router from the DSL provider, and connected to it are lots of ethernet cables going places, a couple switches with more cables going places, and my Mac wireless Extreme which I think might be set up as a bridge, which I think means the wireless devices get their IP from the DSL router rather than the Extreme...am I right?
And if so, can I still use the ethernet ports on the back of the Extreme to hook up more devices or switches?

#10 T007

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Posted 02 January 2012 - 11:37 AM

Sailor123, on 02 January 2012 - 07:24 AM, said:

Yes, I am connected similar. with the Extreme in the bridge mode there is no problems.

#11 cdwininger

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Posted 02 January 2012 - 12:20 PM

One other thought. My TV is not anywhere near where my computers and network router is located. However, I am running the TV over the house electrical wiring. There is an inexpensive device you can get that plugs into an outlet near the router, and one that plugs into an outlet by the TV. So easy.

#12 tenmiler

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Posted 02 January 2012 - 01:11 PM

cdwininger, on 02 January 2012 - 12:20 PM, said:

I have a Linksys Powerline Network Kit I'll sell you because IT DOES NOT WORK. It will send signal, sure, but if you're sending TV quality signal over it, you're hosed. I learned this from my blue ray device hooked up to it, different room, and the buffering that is required caused me to yank it out of the wall and forget about streaming TV quality data for now. Likely going the switch route, WIRED.

Don't do it.

This post has been edited by tenmiler: 02 January 2012 - 01:12 PM

#13 n781lc

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Posted 09 January 2012 - 03:17 PM

Chris, you may have covered this in previous articles, but, if part of the house (lower floor in one area) isn't receiving the Airport Extreme signal very strong how can it be "boosted?"

Cable comes into Modem> Firewire to Airport Ext.> firewire to iMac. WiFi > Printer, iPad, Macbook.

Particularly slow when using iPad.

Greatly appreciate all your articles.

Ed

#14 Chris Breen

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Posted 09 January 2012 - 03:44 PM

n781lc, on 09 January 2012 - 03:22 PM, said:

Chris, you may have covered this in previous articles, but, if part of the house (lower floor in one area) isn't receiving the Airport Extreme signal very strong how can it be "boosted?"

Cable comes into Modem> Ethernet to Airport Ext.> ethernet to iMac. WiFi > Printer, iPad, Macbook.

Particularly slow when using iPad.

Greatly appreciate all your articles.

Ed

The iPad has less robust range than some other Apple devices so it can be a problem. I have a similar setup. I wound up running Ethernet cable from my AirPort Extreme downstairs to another Extreme upstairs and extended the network with that second Extreme. You could do the same with an AirPort Express Base Station.