Router question 1

[Mac2118]

I hope this is a quick question. My company is running out of ports on it's routers. I believe there are only 2 open spots left. The powers that be want to create a few more spaces for offices, that means more computers, where there's more computers, we need more network connections.

Is it possible to hook up a router to a router? If I remember right, it is, but I wanted to check and be save before I go and jump into planning things. I believe there is going to be around 5 new connections, so I was thinking about getting a linksis or cisco 10 port router to plug into the main router to make more connections.

If this is not possible, or if there is a better way to go about this, please let me know.

 

[jimbopalmer]

A router SEPERATES networks, do you WANT to seperate users?

I suspect you want a switch.

http://images.dlink.com/products/DSS-16+/DSS-16+_diagram.jpg

does this look like what you want?

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=71&sec=2

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[lhuegele]

Yes, what you want is a switch, not a router. Get a switch with enough ports for your existing users and future users. The switch would then be the only other device plugged into your router.

Good luck,

 

[picohat]

Yep..Get a network switch and connect it to the router, then add new computers to the switch.

Expanding Network by Using Network Switch

Have fun...

 

[Mac2118]

thanks guys! that helped out alot!

 

[skip555]

get a 16 or 24 port switch and run everything off the switch with a single connection to the router

 

[Mac2118]

We already have 2 24 port switches in the back half of the building. it's being connected to the router up front through a fiber optic cable.

is it possible to run a patch cable from the output of one of the switches that we have back in the back to another one? I asked around, and we only forsee approx 7-8 people, so I was thinking of a 16 port switch just in case other computers are added later on down the road

 

[jimbopalmer]

Yes you can attach switches to switches. Best practitce is to attach all switches to one master switch attached to the router.

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[lhuegele]

With our unmanaged switches, we like to use fiber to cascade them together, but if you don't have that ability then you can cascade them together as you describe (new switch takes up a port on the old switch).

If your new switch is going to be more than 300 feet from your existing switches, you might run into problems, other than that, you should be fine.

Good luck,

 

[Mac2118]

it's giong to go right beside them in the panel

 

[lhuegele]

Yes, you should have no trouble connecting the switches together with an ethernet cable then.

Good luck!