Basic Networking Help 2

[rpbenito]

I am new to the networking scene and I have some simple questions to ask.

1) I have a Lynksys cable router, can I connect 4 computers to 1 hub and then connect the hub to the router? Will it work correctly, and if so how does it do the translations?

2) When should I use a hub and when should I use a switch?

3) Does anyone know of a good site or a good book that will get me going on how to run a decent network for a small business?

Thanks in advance for these questions, I know they are simple but you are helping me out a great deal.

Pat

 

[smah]

1) Yes
2)

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/networking/bridge_types.htm

3)

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/howto/

 

[rpbenito]

THANKS!!!!!

 

[ceh4702]

This is a pretty good site for Home Networking help.

http://www.homenethelp.com/

It is actually quite good and has a forum also.

A hub sends all messages to all people.
A Switch sends messages to the receiver only.
This causes less collissions and with TCP/IP if a collission occurs data has to be resent.

When you say a network for a small business, define the small business and how many PC's you want to network. For instance you can have everyone on the same network or you can split it up into sub-nets. You might not want other people able to see the Accounting people's data or personnel's data. A lot depends on how small you are and what kind of business you are going to run. For instance do you plan on running a Server and doing business on the internet or just netwroking computers, and sharing files, a printer, and accessing the Internet?

The size of the business and what you are doing may dictate whether you need a T1 line or a simple cable modem. Then there are phone switches for internal routing of phone messages etc. All depends what you are doing.

I have a small home network so I am not too knowledgeable about large networks requiring servres. Sometimes it may be wise for a smaller business to just use a service and rent server space for internet business like EDI, instead of buying your own gear. I know Earthlink has services like this. Other small to large companies also do server colocation and other things. With server colocation, you do not have to paying higher costs for the high bandwidth line that may require. If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.