tiny router --> Big Hub?

Snowlock

Member
Jul 20, 2003
76
0
0
I'm running a small LAN with a host computer connected to broadband and running a DHCP server, this is connected to a 32 port hub which in turn has a WAP connected. I am starting to run into problems with the Host computer and the DHCP software (I think... it seems to be the only logical reason why random computers on the network can not connect to the internet at some times yet can at others... and yet they still stay connected to each other on the local system... if you can think of another reason or two drop a note)
So my solution at this point is to get a router. I would replace the 32 port hub but I would need something equally large, and a 32 port router is expensive even if you can find them.
So I was thinking of connecting a cheap 4 or 8 port router to the broadband, and then connecting that to the uplink on the hub. I am not too worried about bottlenecks on the link to the router as long as it is a 100 bps connection. My only real concern is that the router might not assign IPs for more than it has ports... will the little cheap ones assign a large number of IPs with their DHCP?
Also any advice on products to buy / where to find good prices on them would be nice. Thanx.
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,889
6,054
146
Any router will do, even a 1 port model. The price point for inexpensive routers is at 4 ports, though. You can hook the most crucial computers to three of the ports, and use the 4th to link to the hub.
What I mean by "most crucial", is the computers you will most likely be doing large LAN file transfers to/from.