A few networking questions

[alfa147x]

1)What would be the advantage of having a separate wired router, wireless AP, and a switch?

The idea just came to me

2) When using an old computer as a NAS would better performance / data transfer be seen with multiple NIC hooked into 1 wired network ?

3) why is it not possible to use a PCI wireless card and a old computer and have that as a wireless AP ?


Thanks
~alfa147x

 

[bluestrobe]

You can't just put multiple 10/100Mb NICs into any computer expect NICx3=300Mb Combined bandwidth. That takes specialized/commercial grade hardware a lot of times.

 

[ScottMac]

Well:

1) Modularity can be a good thing, you can update the various components independently and fine tune the network according to your needs.

2) Yes, however, as mentioned above you need a NIC that supports "Teaming" and a switch that supports "Teaming" to create the logical single channel. IF you just add multiple links, you'll get an L@ loop, broadcast storm, and a shutdown of the entire system ... either from immediate overload, or a safety function kicks in and kills the connections.

3) You can. It's done in Linux and offers a wide variety of options.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: ScottMac
Well:

1) Modularity can be a good thing, you can update the various components independently and fine tune the network according to your needs.

Would this be a good idea for a home network?

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: ScottMac
Well:

1) Modularity can be a good thing, you can update the various components independently and fine tune the network according to your needs.

Would this be a good idea for a home network?

Not when you consider standard home routers are basically a router, switch and access point in one... for under $50.
Buying them separate will greatly increase the complexity of your network and cost more.
Unless you really want to tinker, stick with your standard run of the mill Linksys, Dlink, etc. router.