switch or routler question

[chuckieland]

hi, just wondering
i currently have cable internet connection. and it is supply internet to 3 computers and a notebook via 5 port hub and NIC with Wingate 3.05.
I have some relatives that is going to move into my house, which will add 2 more computers and 1 notebook.
with just cable do i have enough connect for all the computer to have fun (note: 56k is not fun)
SO HERE COME THE QUESTION
IF I ALSO GET ADSL, AND A SWITCH OR ROUTLER.
DO I GET COMBINE SPEED OF CABLE AND DSL?. Ie. say cable upload is 40K. DSL is 20K. with switch or routler, I get 60K upload????
second. Does Switch or Routler come with hardware firewall right?( does that mean i can dump Zonealarm2)
and if i do get a switch or routler. is there any point to keep the hub?

 

[chuckieland]

up
need answer

 

[pm]

A switch is an improved version of a hub. It reduces the amount of contention on a network by directing packets only to where they need to go. So, think of a switch as an improved hub.

A router connects your LAN with the rest of the internet. It doesn't really have a firewall but has a limited form of security built in that's almost as good as a firewall if you aren't running any services on your end (like a web site or a game server).

Can you link two routers going over two different networks together to improve bandwidth? I'm not sure. I would think, yes, but it seems like it may not really work if I think of the practicality of how it would work. Anyway, I don't know. Ask in the Networking Forum.

Personally, I would just dump the cable modem and upgrade the ADSL service to a higher bandwidth bracket.

 

[chuckieland]

ok