Router / Switch Choice
-
I come to you with a hardware question (cause I've been lurking for some time and I like the atmosphere here). I know, you (and I) are mostly code monkeys, but I'm in need of a new router / switch and I don't know a decent hardware forum. So, I ask you, do you know a router / switch with the following capabilities:
- Modem capabilities
- WiFi capabilities
- At least 4 LAN cable connectors
- USB port(s), preferably which support printer and hard disk network sharing
If you do not know a switch that can do all of this, what recommendations would you give me. It's for a home network with 2 desktops and 2 laptops. We're planning on connecting the printer and external hard disks to the switch. Already thanks!
KenBonny wrote:
# Modem capabilities # WiFi capabilities # At least 4 LAN cable connectors # USB port(s), preferably which support printer and hard disk network sharing
I haven't had much luck and either has anyone I worked with in getting all in one devices like this to work completely or for very long. A humble suggestion might be to separate the print sharing aspect and hard disk network sharing to a print server so you can fix that or work on that without completely affecting your whole network. I seem to, personally, be going through a lot of routers with wifi capability lately, because of what I suspect is brown outs and power surges. Putting these devices on an UPS could help with the longevity issue. Print servers used to have extra wired ports in the back too or wifi capabilities. I have a wifi printer now and personally find that to be pretty awesome. Wells that's my 2 cents worth. ;P
That's called seagull management (or sometimes pigeon management)... Fly in, flap your arms and squawk a lot, crap all over everything and fly out again... by _Damian S_
-
I come to you with a hardware question (cause I've been lurking for some time and I like the atmosphere here). I know, you (and I) are mostly code monkeys, but I'm in need of a new router / switch and I don't know a decent hardware forum. So, I ask you, do you know a router / switch with the following capabilities:
- Modem capabilities
- WiFi capabilities
- At least 4 LAN cable connectors
- USB port(s), preferably which support printer and hard disk network sharing
If you do not know a switch that can do all of this, what recommendations would you give me. It's for a home network with 2 desktops and 2 laptops. We're planning on connecting the printer and external hard disks to the switch. Already thanks!
-
I come to you with a hardware question (cause I've been lurking for some time and I like the atmosphere here). I know, you (and I) are mostly code monkeys, but I'm in need of a new router / switch and I don't know a decent hardware forum. So, I ask you, do you know a router / switch with the following capabilities:
- Modem capabilities
- WiFi capabilities
- At least 4 LAN cable connectors
- USB port(s), preferably which support printer and hard disk network sharing
If you do not know a switch that can do all of this, what recommendations would you give me. It's for a home network with 2 desktops and 2 laptops. We're planning on connecting the printer and external hard disks to the switch. Already thanks!
Most WiFi routers will do what you ask, excepting the part about hosting a USB printer. If it's convenient for your setup, I'd connect the printer to one of the PCs, enable Microsoft File and Print Sharing on that PC, and share it with the rest of the network. Then you can use a cheaper router to connect the network. I suspect that part of the problem people report about sharing printers directly over a wireless link is due to the lack of any active print server capability in the router. A Windows PC comes with that function built in, along with a print spooler for buffering print jobs.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
-
Have not you just described the standard features of every router / switch ? :-D Do you want to connect it to the internet ?
Yes, I want to connect it to the net. Brand names that you think are high quality are appreciated.
Rage wrote:
Have not you just described the standard features of every router / switch ?
Not really, a lot of routers or switches I've encountered have some of those functions, but sometimes don't function as a modem or don't have printer or file sharing support.
-
Most WiFi routers will do what you ask, excepting the part about hosting a USB printer. If it's convenient for your setup, I'd connect the printer to one of the PCs, enable Microsoft File and Print Sharing on that PC, and share it with the rest of the network. Then you can use a cheaper router to connect the network. I suspect that part of the problem people report about sharing printers directly over a wireless link is due to the lack of any active print server capability in the router. A Windows PC comes with that function built in, along with a print spooler for buffering print jobs.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Roger Wright wrote:
and share it with the rest of the network
That's so '80s. X|
-
I come to you with a hardware question (cause I've been lurking for some time and I like the atmosphere here). I know, you (and I) are mostly code monkeys, but I'm in need of a new router / switch and I don't know a decent hardware forum. So, I ask you, do you know a router / switch with the following capabilities:
- Modem capabilities
- WiFi capabilities
- At least 4 LAN cable connectors
- USB port(s), preferably which support printer and hard disk network sharing
If you do not know a switch that can do all of this, what recommendations would you give me. It's for a home network with 2 desktops and 2 laptops. We're planning on connecting the printer and external hard disks to the switch. Already thanks!
Here a good site for networking question http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/[] There are plenty of routers with USB port(s) but as far as I know, all of them are pathetic in files sharing. 2 to 5 mbits transfer rate is very commun. If your usage is light, they may do the job, but a NAS is a better option for file sharing Vince
-
I come to you with a hardware question (cause I've been lurking for some time and I like the atmosphere here). I know, you (and I) are mostly code monkeys, but I'm in need of a new router / switch and I don't know a decent hardware forum. So, I ask you, do you know a router / switch with the following capabilities:
- Modem capabilities
- WiFi capabilities
- At least 4 LAN cable connectors
- USB port(s), preferably which support printer and hard disk network sharing
If you do not know a switch that can do all of this, what recommendations would you give me. It's for a home network with 2 desktops and 2 laptops. We're planning on connecting the printer and external hard disks to the switch. Already thanks!
a network-capable printer makes life so much easier...
-
I come to you with a hardware question (cause I've been lurking for some time and I like the atmosphere here). I know, you (and I) are mostly code monkeys, but I'm in need of a new router / switch and I don't know a decent hardware forum. So, I ask you, do you know a router / switch with the following capabilities:
- Modem capabilities
- WiFi capabilities
- At least 4 LAN cable connectors
- USB port(s), preferably which support printer and hard disk network sharing
If you do not know a switch that can do all of this, what recommendations would you give me. It's for a home network with 2 desktops and 2 laptops. We're planning on connecting the printer and external hard disks to the switch. Already thanks!
The atmosphere smells like nerdy, geeky, closet developer stank... (And yes, I include myself in this)
-
I come to you with a hardware question (cause I've been lurking for some time and I like the atmosphere here). I know, you (and I) are mostly code monkeys, but I'm in need of a new router / switch and I don't know a decent hardware forum. So, I ask you, do you know a router / switch with the following capabilities:
- Modem capabilities
- WiFi capabilities
- At least 4 LAN cable connectors
- USB port(s), preferably which support printer and hard disk network sharing
If you do not know a switch that can do all of this, what recommendations would you give me. It's for a home network with 2 desktops and 2 laptops. We're planning on connecting the printer and external hard disks to the switch. Already thanks!
I have been looking to change mine again, (Belkin N1 seems to drop wireless every 24Hrs or so and needs a reboot to fix), netgear before that started playing up also after about 9 months. Thinking about a Draytek this time, probably one of these or similiar http://www.draytek.com/user/PdInfoDetail.php?Id=96[^] Looks like it does everything you ask, but have not any experience with it to comment if any good or not.
Dave Don't forget to rate messages!
Find Me On: Web|Facebook|Twitter|LinkedIn
Waving? dave.m.auld[at]googlewave.com -
Roger Wright wrote:
and share it with the rest of the network
That's so '80s. X|
-
The atmosphere smells like nerdy, geeky, closet developer stank... (And yes, I include myself in this)