I guess we should start a new thread perhaps. My goal was to avoid giving people misinformation here when they ask for help. I certainly don't have all the answers, but in this particular post we've given out some wrong information. If I have offended you buitenhek I appologize, and hope you don't think I suggested you put your head up there. I'm simply on a quest for accuracy, and if I have provided misinformation, please help me get it straight so that everyone learns.
1. You need to be aware that cascading hubs/switches, etc., isn't an approved EIA/TIA-568B cabling method. Well, having a switch by the bathroom door for the vent fan is not an approved EIA/TIA-568B cabling method either. Why? Simply because the scope of the EIA/TIA-568B does not address this issue, nor is it concerned with how you cascade hubs. Cascading hubs will not provide you with a non-compliant EIA/TIA-568B installation.
2.Cascading hubs, switches or whatever is a great way to go with a few exceptions. You are limited to 5 segments and 4 hubs between end points. 2 of these hubs cannot be populated. Cascading hubs and switches are NOT the same thing. Hubs are ALL on the same collision domain, i.e. the all are on the same 'channel' and collisions, latency, etc. are a very big issue. Switches are NOT all on the same collision domain, so a collision on port 1 won't even be heard on port 12 or whatever. You cannot blanketly apply the same rules to both. I cannot find anything about the 5/4/3 rule that says 2 of the 4 hubs cannot be populated, and I believe this is incorrect.
3. To answer the question with a standards based solution, I refer to EIA/TIA-568B.1 (5.5) Backbone cabling distances. This section allows backbone Cat5e twisted pair to 90m, allowing for 5m patch cables at each end. This same length is allowed for any ethernet device between two points. If you wish to take the LAN port of your router and drive it 90m to your switch, that would be acceptable as well.
If I am in error, please let me know where, and I'd be happy to learn more about it.
It is only my opinion, based on my experience and education...I am always willing to learn, educate me!
Daron J. Wilson, RCDD
daron.wilson@lhmorris.com