Two hubs on a switch

[xwb]

I need to expand my network. It currently consists of one hub and one switch. The hub and switch are connected by an uplink. Is it OK to connect another hub to the switch one one of the other ports? Doesn't matter if it is slower, as long as the machines can see each other for occassionally sending messages/files. Network usage isn't heavy.

Both hubs will be connected by the uplink but only one will be on the uplink of the switch. The other will be on a normal port. Does anybody know if this configuration will work?

 

[rodrunner79]

It should work as long as the IP assign to the Normal port is static.

 

[karlisi]

Yes, you can connect to switch as many as you need HUB's. And I reccomend to use switch instead of HUB, they are not so expensive now.

About ports - connect switch's normal port to HUB's uplink port or switch's uplink port to HUB's normal port if you are using normal (not crossover) cable. Most newer switches have port autonegotiation, they are without dedicated uplink ports and you can use which port you want for uplinking.

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Karlis
ECDL; MCSA

 

[xwb]

Thanks for the info.

 

[theo1881]

yeah, would always recommend another switch for performance issues if you can do it !

Laters, phat, headshape

 

[xwb]

What is the advantage of connecting uplink to uplink rather than uplink to port? The documentation always says connect uplink to uplink but it never tells you why. For peace of mind, does anyone know why?

 

[G0AOZ]

One reason maybe that on some switches you can group certain ports into a trunk for faster throughput.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[karlisi]

OK, I will try to explain, sorry for my english.

When two network devices communicate transmitted signal from one device must go to receiver in other device. Connector wiring in PC and in switch do not match, where in switch is transmitter output in PC is receiver input and vice versa. Both these ports are connected with straight cable where wiring in both ends match. As you can easily see signal from transmitter goes to receiver.
If you connect two switches with straight cable plugged in normal ports, transmitted signal from one switch will go to other's switch transmitter, not receiver, and it will not work.
So, you should use crossover cable where some pairs are crossed to lead signals to right targets, or use dedicated uplink port on one of switches where receiver and transmitter wires are exchanged as in PC's network port. If you connect two uplink ports with straight cable it is the same as connect two normal ports and nothing will work.
Newer swithes have built-in capability to change port type depending of what type the connected port is. In these switches there is no dedicated uplink port.

There is some reading about wiring
you can always connect two hubs or switches together

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/networking/port_expand.htm

How can I get two HUBs to link up using a straight cable?

http://www.eusso.com/FAQ03/nway/faq_nway.htm#Q04:

What does the Uplink feature on a router, hub, or switch do?

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/FAQ-27-General+Networking-0.php#160

What´s the difference between a crossover cable and a straight cable?

http://support.dlink.com/faq/view.asp?prod_id=915

===
Karlis
ECDL; MCSA

 

[xwb]

Thanks for the explanation