A few new network setup questions

[Malystryx]

I am moving soon, and I plan on building a new and better network. I am connected through DSL, probably 256k/128k. I am planning on building a gigabit network btw. I am looking for a router, one that has NAT software specifically since switches doesn't have that. But I am also looking for something large like 12+ ports for lan parties around $100 maybe but it doesn't seem possible right now. So what im think is purchasing this D-Link GamerLounge Router, and maybe just use a 12 port switch for when a bunch of people come over to play game. But is it possible to connect a router to a switch and identify each other easily? I may have to use a crossover cable or something? Thanks for listening

 

[JackMDS]

About Giga : Peer to Peer Giga Home Networks (Current State at mid 2004).

Setting a Home Giga network.

And the end of this page: "Speed" (Bandwidth) expectation of Ethernet Home Networks using Windows 98/2000/XP.

:sun:

 

[Malystryx]

On the setting up a Home Giga network, I dont understand option 1 a whole lot, the one that looks like what I am looking to do is option one. I think is what its saying purchase a regular router, and a gigabit switch, connect the switch to the uplink port on the router, then connect the all the computers to the gigabit switch. But I don understand TCP/IP Stacking, like what it is or what it does. But, if I connect the switch to the uplink port on the router, then where am I to connect the DSL Modem?

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: Malystryx
But, if I connect the switch to the uplink port on the router, then where am I to connect the DSL Modem?

Where it is always connceted. The WAN port.

:sun:

 

[Malystryx]

but they usually dont come with 2 WAN/ uplink ports? so i would connect my switch to my router using just a regular computer port?

 

[Jon855]

The way I see it, you hook up your DSL line or whatever to the WAN and as for the switch just hook it up to a regular port. The lan will be easily shared within the switch, will work for games etc and Internet will still be accessible to everybody.

 

[Malystryx]

sounds sweet, just the way i like it, also, if i connect the computers to the switch, with the switch connected to the router, will the computers connected to the switch still get NAT and all? Thats also one of my major concerns. Since our DSL ISP only gives us to email accounts, that only means two computers here can be logged onto the internet, unless there is NAT...