Getting a Switch for LAN Parties

[Cawchy87]

I was looking at this Switch but wasn't sure if it would be good for LAN parties. I host quite a few and have been having more and more people. Lately we tried playing a LAN game of Command and conquer generals. The problem was that we could only play with the people that were on the router we were on. So only 4 people could play at a time. I made sure we were all in the same workgroup etc. We could all transer files to eachother and "see" eachother's computers. We could all join the same game (that i hosted on my computer). But once it started it said that the people who were on a different router weren't connected with us, thus not alowing us to play. I gave up trying to hook up router to router and we just played seperatealy. Any suggestions for this?

EDIT: we were all able to access the internet as well.

OR... If you don't want to read all of that...

Is this switch good? And can it be used for Playing LAN games? Link

Thanks for any input you guys have!

 

[Nothinman]

Generally any switch will do, network games don't generate that much traffic. I would probably go for something new though, switches do die eventually after a lot of use.

 

[n0cmonkey]

They'll all be about the same really. Look at some of the 24-port switches on newegg.com. They're quite a bit more expensive than the one you linked to (which is a hub, and the switches on newegg are $70USD +).

But for $1.99, that should do just fine.

 

[horhey]

Just a couple of questions how many ports are you looking for in a switch? 16-24-48?
Take a look at Dell the have a 16 port for $44 A/R and a 24 for $74 A/R right now.

Just thought i would point out 2 things the link to the switch at ebay is a 10baseT (10Mbps).
and

Originally posted by: Cawchy87
I gave up trying to hook up router to router and we just played seperatealy. Any suggestions for this?

Have may routers do you have? Did you try using a crossover cable to connect the routers together or did you use a straight through?

 

[Cawchy87]

Originally posted by: horhey
Just a couple of questions how many ports are you looking for in a switch? 16-24-48?
Take a look at Dell the have a 16 port for $44 A/R and a 24 for $74 A/R right now.

Just thought i would point out 2 things the link to the switch at ebay is a 10baseT (10Mbps).
and

Originally posted by: Cawchy87
I gave up trying to hook up router to router and we just played seperatealy. Any suggestions for this?

Have may routers do you have? Did you try using a crossover cable to connect the routers together or did you use a straight through?

Not sure what you mean by a crossover cable

 

[cmetz]

Cawchy87, how many ports do you need, and is everyone in the same game, or are there several going on simultaneously?

 

[horhey]

First some info.
Well what I mean was use one router1 as a router with DHCP enabled and Router2 as a switch DHCP disabled.
If you only need a few more ports. But if you need all 24 by all means I would by a 24 port switch.
Well if you wanted to hook up the two routers it would be something like this.
Cnnect your internet connection to the wan port on Router1. Then connect Router1(lan port) to Router2 with a crossover cable.(connecting it to the lan port with a crossover cable will use this router2 as a switch) Make sure that Router1 and router2 have different IP addresses and that there Subnet Masks are the same. Also router2 defualt gateway should be the IP of router1.

Example
Router1
IP 192.168.1.1
Subnet 255.255.255.0
Gateway Auto-from ISP

Router2
IP 192.168.1.1
Subnet 255.255.255.0
Gateway 192.168.1.1


Just make sure your DHCP uses a Different range so not to include the 2 routers IP addresses.

 

[horhey]

You could also you a straight through and go from router1 lan port to router2 wan port. The configuration would be a little different. Also I am un sure but I think you would need to make sure that the second router is not blocking any ports.

 

[Cawchy87]

Thanks for the help guys, but with 10 person routers being so cheap (ussully 8-10 guys here) i don't think i am going to try that router stuff. We all play the same LAN game, not internet games (which would work cause we all have access to the internet). Thanks all for your help, and mabye one day when i am board i will try that.

 

[Mellman]

Honestly 10Mbit hubs/switches are a waste of money IMHO. I started hosting 10 person lans years ago, and 10mbit was fine back then, but theres nothing like having 50+ people at your lan and having no problems with latency. Its great for file xfers too. A 12-16 port 100mbit switch is worth your money more-so then that 10mbit hub. Will you notice a difference with only 8-10 people, i'd say yes, but nothing thats going to make a difference. but that 100mbit will be nice for transferring those 600MB desert combat patches across the network to each computer (instead of downloading it separately)

just something to think about.

 

[horhey]

Originally posted by: Mellman
Honestly 10Mbit hubs/switches are a waste of money IMHO. I started hosting 10 person lans years ago, and 10mbit was fine back then, but theres nothing like having 50+ people at your lan and having no problems with latency. Its great for file xfers too. A 12-16 port 100mbit switch is worth your money more-so then that 10mbit hub. Will you notice a difference with only 8-10 people, i'd say yes, but nothing thats going to make a difference. but that 100mbit will be nice for transferring those 600MB desert combat patches across the network to each computer (instead of downloading it separately)

just something to think about.

Agreed.

 

[WobbleWobble]

What I would have done is use a router (for Internet access) and throw a larger switch (8, 16, whatever)behind it. Then hook as many people to the switch as possible and you'll have an instant LAN with Internet connection. You can use a router as a plain switch by disabling DHCP on it.

 

[Nothinman]

You can use a router as a plain switch by disabling DHCP on it.

Sorry but a router doesn't become a switch by just disabling DHCP, even on those little SOHO things from Linksys, NetGear, etc.

 

[Cawchy87]

Well, i got an 8 person and i guess i am sticking with it. Honestly, now it is faster to burn 600mb files and give them to the person via disc than it is to send. We will primaraly be playing C&C generals and i really don't see the lans getting bigger than 8 people. (Just by shere size of my basement!)