OT... but a little networking knowledge desired

[Brian McKee]

On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 3:13 PM, Michael Comperchio <fazoogled at gmail.com> wrote:
> cable modem ----> switch ---> patch panel ----> wireless router?

Electrically it will work.  Practically it won't.

Your diagram really should be like this

modem --> switch --> user A
                             --> user B
                             --> user C
                             --> wireless router D --> user Y
                                                              --> user Z

In your suggested setup A, B, C and D all ask the modem for their IP address.
Problem is your cable provider likely only allows one or two IP
addresses per modem.

A router lets people 'share' an assigned IP using something called NAT
Network Address Translation, so Y and Z are OK if D gets an IP, but
someone's gonna lose.

What you want to do is buy a cheap router rather than a cheap switch -
it will ask for an IP and share it to everyone downstream of it,
including the wireless router.

What might be even better is to get a second wireless router. It won't
likely have enough wired ports so you may need a a cheap switch as
well and put them beside the cable modem.  That way people will get
which ever wireless signal is stronger, and still have the choice of a
cable where available.

Thus you get

Modem --> Router with enough ports A --> user J
                                                               --> user K
                                                               --> user L
                                                               -->
wireless router M --> user Y

                          --> user Z
or

Modem --> Router --> Switch A             --> user J
                                                               --> user K
                                                               --> user L
                                                               -->
wireless router M --> user Y

                          --> user Z
So you'd be looking at the price of a cheap router and a switch.

Note if you want J, K, or L to be able to get files or use a printer
attached at Y or Z you will have extra work to do.  Routers are 'one
way valves' in effect because of the NAT.

Hope that helps,
Brian

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