Router, Switch, Hub , Port fowarding, Could someone explain

[gil11542]

I have a 24 port 3Com 10/100 Baseline Switch (MD# 3C16465C). I have multi Computers hooked into it with DSL Service. I just installed a camera system and would like to access it from home. Is a Switch the same thing as a Router because I cvan find no info on fowarding ports with this switch, I have a router at home and have no trouble there. We have always had a problem with any type of remote connection to the office computers ( PC anywhere,remote desktop,ect...) never can get it to work. Please let me know if the switch is the problem, maybe I need a router instead but would like to know before I purchase one. Thanks for the help.

 

[nweaver]

Router "Routes" traffic from one network to another, for example, it routes from your small home network (192.168.0.0 network) to the ISP (live IP). Most routers (commercial grade) don't offer the switch ports their SOHO cousins do.

Switches connect devices on the SAME network together

Your 4 "LAN" ports on your home router are a "switch". The interface from the WAN port to the LAN is a "router"

If you can't get to the outside from your office, then you need to figure out you network, ask your admin.

 

[gil11542]

We are a small office, 6 computers. I am a HVAC serv tech there and have been for 15 yrs. I am the closes thing to an ADMIN they got. Not a real big town and we try to do as much in house as possible. I have done a little looking around and it seems a Swith is a lot like a hub, so I believe we will need a router between the DSL modem and the switch. What I need to be able to do is see survelance cameras remotelly. If I installed a router between the DSL modem and the switch and configured it to forward the port or ports that our camera software uses to act as a web server will that work or do I need to do away wiyh the Switch and get a hub?

 

[JackMDS]

May be this can Help.

Link to: AnandTech - FAQ. Hubs, routers, switches, DSL, LANs, WANs...?

Link to: Cable/DSL Routers - NAT, Ports, SPI.

In addition, this page might help in you Remote control Endeavour (It is written for VNC but the principles apply to most remote programs), http://www.ezlan.net/vcn.html

:sun:

 

[qaa541]

You have an unmanaged switch, and it is by no means a router. You are probably getting public IP addresses from your DSL modem, and so you need to look up the IP address your camera is getting and use that to access your camera from home. Same with using PC Anywhere/remote desktop and stuff from home to your office computers.

 

[gil11542]

Yea I looked at the AT info on router hubs and switches, that where I assumed a swith is like a hub. And we have looked at EZLAN as far as remote access and plan to use it in the event of needing customer info during after hours service calls. the computer we are using to run our shop cameras on is dedicated for that purpose only and the software we purchased has a web server built in so we should be able to type in an IP and username and PW and access the video feed. The EZLAN looks to be a PC anywhere type of control which would be helpful in accessing part #s and service history of customers during the hour that the office is empty.

*** I guess the question I need answered just so I am clear on this is If I purchase a SOHO router from BestBuy and stick it between the DSL modem and the Switch (hub) cofigure the router and foward what ever ports are needed for the video computer (Web Server) and the EZLAN program will it allow us to access what we need to. I think it will but I am a HVAC tech that plays with computer for a hobby and you guys do it as a job

 

[gil11542]

Originally posted by: qaa541
You have an unmanaged switch, and it is by no means a router. You are probably getting public IP addresses from your DSL modem, and so you need to look up the IP address your camera is getting and use that to access your camera from home. Same with using PC Anywhere/remote desktop and stuff from home to your office computers.

So do I need a router like I have at home, it seems what you are desrcibing isnt very secure at least with a router we would have some type of Firewall. If I can do it either way I would assume the router is more secure? Please LMK

 

[Doomer]

Just to clairfy a little, you don't access a computer thru a router directly, you access the router (or whatever device is getting a public IP from your ISP) and then have it forward to the computer / server you wish to access. You'll never get to a 192.168.?.? so from the outside, it doesn't matter what the ip addy of you camera system is. All that matters is that the router is forwarding to it.

 

[gil11542]

So Again If I purchase a SOHO 4 port router and install it between the DSL modem and the switch, call SBC to help configure the router, forward ports for whatever is needed will that work? this is how my home is setup but I have Cable and a hub anytime I have 5 or more computers hooked up behind my router