...and if you later decide you wanted to go wirless either configuration would support it.
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Which is better ? Splitting Broadband with router or server + hub. Benifits of each?
Hi Guys, I know I will get some good answers to my question so I am posting it in this forum.
My friends are setting up a network in their house. There is much debate about the set-up of this network.
The main purpose of the network is to split a broadband internet connection 3 ways.
Which would be better:
Using a separate SERVER + HUB combination. Internet to server, then to hub, then to computers. The server will have a firewall etc etc. Is the server hub combination equivalent to a router?
OR:
Using a single ROUTER, split the internet to the 3 computers.
They also want to share printers, and files across this network.
Any suggestions, or improvements to either of these ideas?
Thanks for your help
PS, NO WIRELESS :)
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Answers
As an alternative to the above you could get a router/switch assembly and you'd be all set... Most modern
routers are configurable to a certain extent and the setup is fairly easy. Also, the router takes little power,
is quite small and could be put somewhere out of sight if desirable. The switch part works like any switch and
gives you your network backbone for printer sharing and such.
A server solution is a yet more refined and configurable solution, but basically the same; the server would
provide routing, DHCP etc, just as a router does albeit with enhancements.
/RID
I'd go with a DSL/Router/Switch.
Reasons I would NOT chose Server/HUB
1) HUB shares bandwith.
2) Server takes some time to configure, draws more power and is overkill for the task
3) Servers can have more problems (harddrive failure)
4) Servers & Hub costs more. New PC $350 New Hub $20... New DSL Router/Switch $160
5) Router/Switch is just plain Easier; not much software to get in the way.
6) Easy to implement
Reasons I would chose use a server/HUB:
1) Want to learn more about managing IP traffic and port security
2) Want to have hastles in envrionment and get frustrated initially (Learning Curve)
3) Need a file server in the environment.
4) Want to Log traffic and activity of each user and the sites they go to.
5) Want to have more "work" over time.
Personally, I have experimented with this, and it definitely depends on how you use the server. I used to have dial-up, so using a server and hub took little resources, and the second NIC wasn't that hard to install. However, when I made the jump to broadband, it was an entirely different ball game. Because the server wasn't dedicated to just sharing the Internet connection, it made a huge difference in how fast the other computers could get on the Internet. Personally, I'm satisfied with my router, because it takes the resource burden off the server. If your friend(s) are willing to buy a separate computer and use it as a dedicated server, then that's definitely the way to go. However, if they don't want to spend that much money, then a router is definitely a better idea.
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by: jar3817Posted on 2003-08-28 at 09:22:51ID: 9241879
I'd say it all depends on their skill level. Personally I run a linux server + separate switch for my home lan. This allows me to configure every aspect of the network. For example you can give priority to certain types of traffic over others. That way you can still browse the web painlessly when 6 computers are sharing files over the net with kazaa. Stuff like that. But stuff like that takes quite a bit of knowlege about the server os and networking and other stuff. If you just want to have a network that functions with no maintenance, I'd say go with the little cable/dsl router.