kony I think you have refined my understanding of this. I be looking for a switch now. thx.

--
George Hester
_______________________________
"kony" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message news:jb8bf1ldg34p1btmv46dhb0opci9antus0@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 07 Aug 2005 04:47:34 GMT, "George Hester"
> <hesterloli@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> >OK what is a switch and how would it attach to the router?
>
> They filter and forward network traffic. Essentially, in
> simplest terms for your use, plugging a switch into your
> router is the equivalent of the router having more ports.
>
>
> >Does it go in one of the port openings which then has more port openings which the machines then hook into?
>
> Yes
>
>
> >The trouble is each port opening has an IP address.
>
> No, each machine does. If you plugged them into a switch,
> they will still either receive DHCP configuration from your
> router or retain their otherwise-assigned IP addresses the
> same as if any/all were directly connected to the router
> (actually it's the router's integral switch) port.
>
> >Would a switch having more that one port have trouble with IP address coming out of one port on the router?
>
> No, you can even daisey-chain switches. Don't think of a
> port having an IP number, it is the host that just (happens
> to be) connected to that port that has the IP number and
> thus, so long as it's connected in your local lan still, the
> rules for it having (whichever IP number and however it got
> it) remain the same.
>
>
> >
> >I have just gotten a Hub but I think I'll ask about this seperately.
>
> That's fine, use the hub instead since you already have it.
> The difference is that the hub doesn't do the filtering, it
> broadcasts traffic on all ports instead of only the one
> route to the destination. That can be a performance problem
> when several systems are connected and simultaneously
> "needing" high throughput but for your purpose it will work
> fine.
>