stupid networking question

thick_guy_9 · 07-06-2005, 06:57 PM

guys,

I happened to find a switch and a router on an auction site for roughly the same price.

If I pick up the router, I am thinking it will be a better deal (Cable/DSL Wireless-Ready Router). But I do not have a DSL/Cable (meaning Broadband??)
connection.
Q: Can I just connect about 3 computers using a router?

or do I have to go for the switch as I have heard that the router comes with built-in hardware firewall.

I would appreciate an answer, rather than a "yes" or a "go for it".

THanks

tangle · 07-06-2005, 07:15 PM

The router acts like a switch or hub on the internal network. The only difference being that it has an internet port that you would connect to the cable/DSL modem. I would go for the router because it has wireless capibilities.

The firewall on the router is for the internet port. It will not firewall each PC on the internal network.

killerbob · 07-06-2005, 07:38 PM

The router has another major advantage: the built-in DHCP server would mean you wouldn't have to worry about configuring the network stack to communicate between the machines.

ringwraith · 07-06-2005, 08:11 PM

You say you do not have cable or dsl. I assume that means you have dial up? I don't think you can plug a router into a dialup modem unless they have changed them in recent years. I haven't used dial up in some time, but when I did I used one box to control the modem, set it up for internet connection sharing and then connected the other boxen with a switch.