I need a recommendation for a hub

[Rickten]

I'm getting a T1 connection but there is only one connection (one jack). I have two ip addresses for two computers but only one jack. So you see my problem. I know I need a hub. Should I go for a switch type hub. Or should I go for a hub like the Linksys one that can also function as a router, for possible future needs when I only have one IP address.
So basically

if I get a router can I still use it as a basic hub with two IP's or will it only let me use one IP address?

if I get a switch for a hub that doesn't have the router feature will I get better performance compared to the router type hub?

 

[blstriker]

A switch will be faster than a hub and since they're not much more expensive, I'd go for the switch.

However, a router is also a good choice because most home dsl/cable routers have built in switches inside. And yes, you can use the router as a swtich if you want.

However, home dsl/cable routers are only capable of using one of the IP numbers from your host, but you can share that one IP with several comptuers using the router.

If you want, you can use the router as a plain switch with two IP addresses, but you won't get any of the router functions.

You can use that extra IP address later if you choose to run a server or something. And you get the firewall/nat protection of the router. I'd go for a router.

Did I confuse you enough?

 

[Rickten]

if both computers are using the internet at the same time, will there not be less bandwidth for each computer if they are sharing a single IP address through the router as opposed to each computer having its own IP address.

also if I do choose to get a router and use two IP addresses thus turning off the router feature will I lose firewall protection.

 

[CTR]

When you are surfing the web, your traffic is very "bursty" and therefore you won't notice any degradation on either PC. But if one of your PC's is pulling down a big ftp transfer and maxing your 'net connection while the other PC is trying to surf, you will definitely notice it.

Please clarify exactly what kind of connection you are getting. I doubt you have a T1 running to a jack in your house, so let's figure out exactly what you've got and then I'm sure someone can make some more intelligent recommendations for you. Is it an ethernet drop that you can plug into directly from your PC?

 

[guaraguao]

----------------------------
if both computers are using the internet at the same time, will there not be less bandwidth for each computer if they are sharing a single IP address through the router as opposed to each computer having its own IP address.
----------------------------

No.
No matter how many IP addresses you have, it's all going through_the_same_pipe. So, it'll be maxed out at the same speed no matter what.


----------------------------
also if I do choose to get a router and use two IP addresses thus turning off the router feature will I lose firewall protection.
----------------------------

Yes, you will.
Something worth trying, however, would be to buy a dirt-cheap hub, and utilize it as a DMZ (DeMilitarized Zone).
Into it you would plug in 3 things.
1-uplink to your connection
2-uplink to your router
3-whatever server you feel like running.

In this fashion, your router would get one IP, and computers plugged into that would be behind the firewall while still having internet access.
Your server would get it's own ip address as well. it would, of course, _not_ be firewalled. But you could rest easy knowing that if it *did* get hacked, the hacker would be no closer to your secured lan than he was before.

I would do this myself, except my ISP only gives me one IP.


good luck,
Sebastian

 

[Rickten]

I am living in an apartment next year at college instead of the dorms. The apartments have two dedicated T1's for the entire complex. They just recently made this upgrade and were basically to cheap to install more than one ethernet jack in each room even though they know that people would be sharing rooms with roomates. They told me that I can have two IP addresses one for me and one for my roomate but that getting two computers connected using one jack was my responsibility.

This is why I ask the question of should I use a router.

And yes I personally download massive files off the internet daily (ftp, irc, etc), so I don't want to slow down my roomates connection if it can be avoided. If it can't be avoided well than too bad for him.

 

[moolman]

Hey,
If that's what you are going to do and since you are a poor college student, go with the ghetto hub for $20 and split it that way. Forget the switch and router, not worth the money.

Alex

 

[Dark]

You would better go with a switch. Difference in price is so small anyway. You can get a netgear 5 ports switch for 54$. Avoid hubs.