GoFuckYourself.com - Adult Webmaster Forum - View Single Post - Does anyone know how to use a computer as a router?

TFCash · 04-27-2001, 02:29 PM

Let me relieve some of the confusion.

A router does a number of things for you a) you can plug in multiple wan connections. i.e. I have both 6mb/s DSL & a Cable connection. With my Linux router I can make them bond together to give me faster access, or if one of them goes down I don't notice due to the fact that the router reroutes my data stream

A switch and a hub are pretty much the same in terms of function, both allow you to connect multiple machines and devices together. Now many of the units that have been mentioned also have a fire wall and a dhcp server built into them so that you can protect yourself from the net with the fire wall, and share the one connection with multiple computers with the dhcp server without effecting any of the machines on your network.

I would recommend that you spend a couple extra dollars and get a switch versus a hub, for the simple fact of the speed difference. A switch is a two way flow of data, and each port has 100Mb of pipe to flow in. Many of the 100 hubs are symmetrical, or one way flow, in other words data only flows in one direction at a time. With a hub you also share the 100Mb pipe with all the computers on your little network. It's also nice if you backup your machines across the network, or share a printer you will notice a considerable difference with the switch. Like I said you won't pay that much more, maybe $40 at the most. Just my 2cents

Tim

[This message has been edited by hardcorehosting (edited 04-27-2001).]

04-27-2001, 02:29 PM
TFCash Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 1,738	Let me relieve some of the confusion. A router does a number of things for you a) you can plug in multiple wan connections. i.e. I have both 6mb/s DSL & a Cable connection. With my Linux router I can make them bond together to give me faster access, or if one of them goes down I don't notice due to the fact that the router reroutes my data stream A switch and a hub are pretty much the same in terms of function, both allow you to connect multiple machines and devices together. Now many of the units that have been mentioned also have a fire wall and a dhcp server built into them so that you can protect yourself from the net with the fire wall, and share the one connection with multiple computers with the dhcp server without effecting any of the machines on your network. I would recommend that you spend a couple extra dollars and get a switch versus a hub, for the simple fact of the speed difference. A switch is a two way flow of data, and each port has 100Mb of pipe to flow in. Many of the 100 hubs are symmetrical, or one way flow, in other words data only flows in one direction at a time. With a hub you also share the 100Mb pipe with all the computers on your little network. It's also nice if you backup your machines across the network, or share a printer you will notice a considerable difference with the switch. Like I said you won't pay that much more, maybe $40 at the most. Just my 2cents Tim [This message has been edited by hardcorehosting (edited 04-27-2001).]