I need some advice.......Hub/switch...

[BiggerBrother]

I need to package the following solution within one case.

The case will contain 2 or 4 ethernet devices, each of which needs one ethernet connection to the network. It will also contain all the relevant psu for each.

My problem is that a user may well want 12 of these cases linked to each other, and i'm not sure if i can daisy-chain the network switches, or if they all need to radiate from one central location. What I would really like to achieve is an ethernet socket into the box, connected to a switch. Then, from this switch, has two of my devices, and a further ethernet socket, so that if the user need it, they can daisy chain to the next case, in the same rack.

Is this even possible, and if so what do i need to purchase to achieve it?

Also, I have been told that I need a switch rather than a hub, and this seems to work better. What is the difference between these two products?

Thanks for any advice, but I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to network hardware.

BB

 

[fs483]

I'm not entirely sure what you want but it sounds exactly like a large switch will do. You can get switches with 4/8/16/24/48 ports all within one "box" with it's own power supply. A 48 port switch is probably the best solution for maximum connections by they are pretty pricey. A new Cisco 24 port switch cost 1500$ canadian and a used one runs for 900$ CDN. Other brands like DLink or SMC will surely cost less. You can even get cheaper ones with less known name brands but always depending on the realiability you are willing to put up with, I suggest with name brands.

anthony