Switch vs. Hub in a Multinode Network

[BDawg]

Currently, I have a 10mbps hub as the backbone for my network with the following items:

Mac Server : Private IP
Unix Server : Private IP
Router : Private IP

Unix Server : Public IP (NAT)
PC : Public IP (NAT)
Network Printer : Public IP

Will a switch work with all of this stuff event though it contains 2 different subnets?

How do you set up the switch to recognise other protocols besides IP, such as AppleTalk and Lexlink (printer)? Is any of this possible, or should I stick with hubs?

 

[CTR]

A Layer-2 switch does not need to be configured to ignore Layer3 protocols. It can't help it. Your switch is segmenting your network into separate collision domains, but they are still in the same broadcast domain. It will work just like your hub, except faster. Win/win.

 

[BDawg]

So when I buy a switch, do I need to look for anything?

Will I need to buy another IP, or does that not matter?

I can set it up for different collision domains? How does the switch's IP fall into that mix? Does the switch multinode?

 

[TonDef]

Give some more details about your setup. Are you saying that the PC and Unix server which have public IP addresses are _both_ running NAT? What for? How many IPs do you have? There might be a better way to set all of this up, you just need to break down the setup a little more for us...

 

[spidey07]

As CTR said. A switch will separate your collision domains bring much faster performance. That handles segmentation at layer1.

Any decent switch with support for multiple VLANs will support as many broadcast domains as needed. Exquate a broacast domain with a single IP network. One and the same. That handles segmentation at layer2.

I'm curious that you have other problems though. Are you saying that on a singular hub you have hosts with a public IP address and you also have hosts with a private IP address. If so those are two separate networks running on the same physical cable. This is generally not supported and will cause you broadcast problems down the road.

Get a switch.

spidey.

sorry for spelling..too much sushi and sake

 

[BDawg]

Well, I have 3 computers, a printer, and a DSL router hooked up to 2 MDI linked 10BT Hubs.

The Macintosh has a private IP (204.116....) and serves as my mail server.

The Unix Box has a private IP (204.116....) serves as my web and DNS server. In addition, it has another nic with a public IP (192....) that runs NAT for my PC

The PC is used for gaming and has a public IP (192....) for outside access through the Unix's NAT.

The printer has an pubilc IP (192....) which is used soley for IP based printing.

The DSL router of course has a private IP.

So in total, I own 2 IPs and have made up others for NAT. So in a sense, I do have 2 subnets. In the future, I was also planning on enabling IP multinoding on the Mac so I can IP file share with it.