On Jan 18, 2006, at 5:15 PM, Dan Crutcher <dcrutcher at loumag.com> wrote:
> I have two computers in a room that has only one Ethernet connection > to my LAN. I want both computers to be connected to the LAN. I also > happen to have have an unused Linksys cable/DSL router, which I'll > call Linksys B. > > If I plug in the Linksys B router, run the Ethernet cable to one of > its ports and run Ethernet cables from two other of the Linksys B > ports to the two computers in the room, will they be able to access > the network? > > Does it matter which Linksys B ports I use for either the cable from > the network to the router, or for the two cables to the two > computers? The Linksys has 6 ports: one labeled "WAN," one labeled > "UPLINK" and four unlabeled ports. > > Does it matter that the LAN that is being connected to is currently > being provided NAT services by an identical Linksys router, which > I'll call Linksys A. > > Do I have to access the Linksys' web interface -- on either A or B -- > to change any configuration settings? (Such as turning off NAT on > Linksys B?) > > Essentially, I want Linksys B to serve as a "dumb" router on the > network to give me more Ethernet access points in that one room. Dan, A multiport router is basically a router and a hub. If you avoid the WAN port and observe proper connections you can use it as a simple ethernet hub. The "Uplink" port is a regular LAN connection with its polarity switched to be a "crossover" port. You use it to connect a hub to another hub without having to use a crossover cable. That is the one you would typically connect to your LAN. Plug your two computers into the other ports. If you do use the uplink port the port next to it will not be able to be used. They are usually the same port, but wired differently. That's why a 4 port hub may have 5 ethernet jacks. (The reason the "Uplink" port worked for you is that more recent Macs have ethernet ports that sense the polarity of the ethernet connection and auto-configure to work with what it's connected to, crossover or otherwise.) You should turn the DHCP off so it won't create confusion on the network, but other than that you don't have to change any settings on the router. If I make it to the meeting on the 24th I'll have a bunch of stuff for the swap meet, including several plain old vanilla hubs that you can choose from. j. -- Jonathan Fletcher jfletch at newmediaconstco.com | The next meeting of the Louisville Computer Society will | be January 24 at Pitt Academy, 6010 Preston Highway. | The LCS Web page is <http://www.kymac.org>. | List posting address: <mailto:macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu> | List Web page: <http://erdos.math.louisville.edu/macgroup>
