Hub or Switch or router for internet sharing??

[Cancerman]

Hi,
I currently own a LinkSys 5port hub 10mbps. it's really slow when sending files across to my other computer, and it will slow down my Internet connection (I'm sharing my DSL with that hub, and I thought it'll be enough since my DSL is only 1.5Mbps)
Now I'm thinking of getting a 10/100 mbps hub or switch... but which one to get? Hub or Switch? I heard switch won't cause collisions (my hub has a lot of collisions...)
I've thought about that Router for cable/dsl but I'm not sure if it's good or not. I'm using Sygate and a P133 as a server to share my DSL. so I don't think I'll need a router... or will a Router be faster? and be able to support Netmeeting, ICQ, News Reader, IRC and other internet softwares?

Please help!! thanks in advance!

Cancerman

 

[jmcoreymv]

I would personally get a switch over a hub because the price difference is minimal. I am using an Rt311 router and I like it alot more then the software solutions, but thats really up to you.

 

[BCYL]

The router will give you additional security because of the built-in hardware firewall, and one of your computer does not have to be on all the time. But if you are satisfy with your current setup and don't wanna spend the money to get the router, it's good too. But I would definitely get a switch over the hub, especially if you have a couple of computers connected to the network.

 

[Cancerman]

I know that Router will give your more security, but as we all know Firewalls tends to give problems to programs like ICQ, my Favorite game Q3... and many other apps.. do you guys have any troubles with these stuff at all? is it hard to configure? The reason why I don't want a router is just it might be too much trouble to setup.. and I fear that it will not support the software that I use all the time..

Let me know Thanks!

Cancerman

 

[Wik]

I have the Netgear RT311 and a 5 port switch. I got the switch for 46 bucks and put my hub in a box in the corner. I have not tried my router with Quake 3 but it works great with Unreal T and Half-Life and KingPin. Also ICQ 2000 works fine with it also. Easy to set up. Took me less then a minute to get connected to the net with the RT311. I heard the Linksys has some problems and the D-link has a security hole.

 

[JackBurton]

I've got a 4 port Linksys Cable/DSL router (10/100 which also asks as a switch) connecting my server and two PCs. I also use another Linksys Cable/DSL router but it is the 1 port version. Now this router I simply use it as my firewall (it does a pretty dang good job too) and that is it. It is connected to my server and runs to my DSL modem. As for the 4 port Linksys I'm using it as a switch, it gives me GREAT up and down load speed (file transferring at about 60Mbps). As for DSL, I get the same download speeds on BOTH of my PC as I would if I simply plugged ONE machine straight to the DSL modem.

 

[Cancerman]

Woo.. really? that's nice! but how about setting up? have you tried using netmeeting? can you both recieve and send calls?

I'm having troubles with ICQ with my Sygate setup.. can't send file to my friend if he/she is behind firewall as well (if only I'm the one who's behind firewall then it's fine)

60Mbps for file transfer? that's really impressive... maybe I should go to OfficeDepot or Bestbuy... and get one of those Linksys or Netgear and try it out.. if it doesn't work.. I'll return it : P

Thanks for the input guys!

Cancerman

 

[JackBurton]

I'm not sure about ICQ or netmeeting, but I use AOL Instant Messanger (well my wife is the one that uses it) and DialPad for my phone calls. AIM works just fine but I did have to forward some ports to get DialPad to work. Before I forwarded the ports I could only talk, and I couldn't hear the other person, but after the adjustment everything works fine.

Ok, when you say you are using Sygate (which is a proxy) are your machines hooked up to a server (which is running the proxy), then from there it goes out to the net? If so your going to need a switch (or hub) to connect your worstations to the server and then from the server you'll have to set up your firewall. Your Linksys or Netgear will not act as a firewall if you are ONLY using it as a switch. Now if you just plug all your machine into the router then hit the net from there then ya, it is working as a firewall. Now the way I have mine set up, since I'm using a proxy on my server, I have to open the ports on my proxy THEN forward the ports on my router to the server. If you haven't done this before it might sound kind of confusing but just ask if you have ANY question.

 

[Cancerman]

Hi JackBurton,
can you do me a favor? Have you use www.hottelephone.com? it's a PC to home telehone service.. I wonder if it'll work with a linksys router... This is like my most frequenly used internet phone...

if it does work.. is it hard to set all those ports?

>Connecting through a Firewall
>If you have a Firewall, you must enable access in the Firewall to >allow communication with our gateways. The ports are the standard >H.323 ports. Perform the following configuration settings at the >Firewall.

>Open all Firewall TCP and UDP ports over 1024 for both input and >output, for all IP addresses of remote gateways that are authorized >to communicate with the local gateway.
>In addition, perform the following operations.

>H.323 Ports
>Open the following Firewall ports for both input and output.

> TCP UDP
> 1720 1717, 1718, 1719

>RTP Ports
>Open the following Firewall ports for both input and output.

>UDP
>For 1 E1 4000 - 4400
>For 2 E1 4000 - 4800
>For 3 E1 4000 - 5200
>For 4 E1 4000 - 5600


Thanks..

Cancerman

 

[Piano Man]

Canerman, if you are planning on only 1 person using programs like Netmeeting and Quake3 at a time, then the Linksys should work fine. But after that, you are asking for trouble due to the limited port mapping of the Linksys. I sugget a UMAX/MAXGate Ugate router if you want a lot of options in properly setting up a network that will allow multiple users to use those programs at the same time.

 

[Cancerman]

hi Piano Man,
That Ugate 3200 seems to be a very promising piece of equipment!! they even offer to host Domain name, I've two domain names.. maybe I'll get that and I can host my Own site on my server... not a bad idea.. but the price is a bit more expensive.. like $100 more is it really worth it? are you using one? Actually I only have 3 computers hooking on to the dsl I've... is that Ugate is like a bit over kill? (however, I sometimes have friends here to use my line for playing Q3 online..)

O one more thing.. my ISP (earthlink) doesn't seems to like people sharing DSL. to be more exact, they do not allow people hook up the DSL Modem directly to a Hub/switch uplink port and use the same line. For a Router, is it different? will my ISP know that I'm hooking it up to a router and share the line with other computers? For my current setup, I don't think they know as they didn't bitch about it yet.

EDIT: Just went to Check out the manual of this Ugate 3200, actually it doesn't seems to be ALL THAT Impressive. They said it'll host your domain name.. (what I thought is they'll let me host my own www.???.com) But Nope.. instead it's just like those IP forwarding stuff... ???.Ugate.net..... Who wants that?
Also, the features with Ugate is more or less similar to Linksys's What's the Big difference?

Please let me know!

thanks


Thanks for the help!

Cancerman