Router/hub question

[redly]

I have a 4 channel SMC router that I use as a firewall and a network hub. With TiVo taking up a couple of the outputs, I now need a 5th output for another computer. Is it possible to add a basic hub to one of the outputs of the router to expand the number of channels?

If yes, is it as simple as just plugging it in, or is there some configuration that needs to be done...and if so, what?

Thanks

 

[Nocturnal]

I think you would connect it to the uplink port, right?

 

[phisrow]

Doing so is no problem. You can either connect a standard cat5 from uplink on the router to a standard port on the hub(or uplink on the hub, standard on the router, doesn't matter at all). Or a crossover cable from standard to standard. It should, then Just Work. I think you may not be allowed to nest more than 4 deep, or something to that effect; but you don't sound like you'll run up against that anytime soon.

 

[randal]

I had always thought that it was 3 switches deep for Fast Ethernet (100baseT) and 2 hubs deep for Standard or FastEthernet. I could be wrong though -- I did a ton of googling trying to find the full 802.3u standard so I could make sure, but unfortunately it looks like getting ahold of the full document now costs money (thanks IEEE!). Many a website out there regurgitate a 4-hubs-deep scenario, but I find that a little deep.

 

[Kelemvor]

That's the whole point of a hub/switch is that you can just plug it into the network and give yourself more ports. It is best to have all your extra hubs connected diretly to the main router as opposed to a huge daisy chain of things linking together but it should work fine if it's just a couple. And just check the manual for which port to use as some of they use different connections. For my LinkSys hub I just plug the cable from my router into the UpLink port of the Hub with a plain old network cable and I'm good to go.

 

[SkunkApe]

i've got a question to go along with this...

Can I hook up a wireless router to the uplink port of my first router?

broadband->wired router->wireless router

the reason i ask is the same as redly asked above. i have 5 things that need access to the internet and my linksys router has only 4 channels. I'm also getting a PSP in the future and will need wireless access for that. That is why I wanted the 2nd router to have wirless functionality...

Will this work?

 

[bigjoe1975]

Just plug it in to the uplink port on the hub.
Yes to answer SkunkApe.