can i use a router as a switch?

[alfa147x]

I need a switch for one day and don't want to go buy one. i have a 5 port switch already but i need a few more ports...thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

Wireless Router as an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

 

[alfa147x]

This is our plan as a class to play UT the last day after finals.

3 people on my class have a 5 port switch = 15 computers.
Theres 24 of us = 24 computers.

24- 15 = we need 9 more ports.

most routers have 4 ports on the back. can we use them as switches?
say that there are more of use with routers than switches.

 

[nweaver]

turn off DHCP
Uplink from LAN port to LAN port....

each "Router" gives you 3 usable ports (One port taken by the uplink)

 

[alfa147x]

i put this diagram together real quick:
http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/172/untitledwl1.jpg

the circles are the computers.
the number after the word router\switch is how many computers i can hook up.

is there a better way to hook them together or is that fine?

 

[alfa147x]

if i turn the dhcp off what assigns the ip's?

or should one of the routers DHCP be turned on???

 

[alfa147x]

also one of the switches is a gigabit.

 

[jlazzaro]

that diagram is accurate..no way around diasy chaining them together.

at least one router will have DHCP enabled. Gigabit switch shouldnt be an issue.

 

[spyordie007]

Just to clarify, the 4 ports on the back of your routers are a switch. Most SOHO router/switch combos cannot do both from the switch ports. If you connect like you have diagrammed it's really not much different than daisy chaining regular switches together.

As was mentioned it's probably a good idea to have some device handling DHCP so you don't have to manually configure each computer, however it's not required.

Although to be honest I'd rather run out to the store and buy an extra switch or two rather than deal with the extra headache of setting it up as you proposed. It would probably take less time and would be easier to troubleshoot.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: jlazzaro
that diagram is accurate..no way around diasy chaining them together.

at least one router will have DHCP enabled. Gigabit switch shouldnt be an issue.

sorry my question was that is there a place in the diagram best for the higher speed switch?

 

[spyordie007]

Originally posted by: alfa147x

Originally posted by: jlazzaro
that diagram is accurate..no way around diasy chaining them together.

at least one router will have DHCP enabled. Gigabit switch shouldnt be an issue.

sorry my question was that is there a place in the diagram best for the higher speed switch?

Wherever you are 😉

It doesn't matter otherwise, if the neighboring switches don't support Gigabit it's just going to negotiate down to 100Mb.

 

[alfa147x]

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/761/untitledfl3.jpg

 

[alfa147x]

and what best ports should i open for unreal tournament ?
or is it possible to open all of them because its not connected to the internet?

 

[jlazzaro]

you're going to be using these as straight Layer 2 switches...no need to worry about opening ports.

 

[alfa147x]

or would this be more efficient ?
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/111/untitledgd4.jpg