switches - 101
hi,
i just bought a switch... and I am uncertain .
my full prices linksys used to have an upload link... remember how there were two # 1 ports..
correct or not, i would plug my internet connection there.. and the other ports would then use this switch to connect to the net.
i just bought one on line from ebay... there is no uplink port.... my connection from the wall to any port seems to work and share the internet with other devices connected to any port.
i am just confused...
does this mean it shares all connections are there any distinction from one port to the next?
how does the flow of traffice travel in a switch?
i wish there were a brand.. unless we consider made in china the brand :)
i just bought a switch... and I am uncertain .
my full prices linksys used to have an upload link... remember how there were two # 1 ports..
correct or not, i would plug my internet connection there.. and the other ports would then use this switch to connect to the net.
i just bought one on line from ebay... there is no uplink port.... my connection from the wall to any port seems to work and share the internet with other devices connected to any port.
i am just confused...
does this mean it shares all connections are there any distinction from one port to the next?
how does the flow of traffice travel in a switch?
i wish there were a brand.. unless we consider made in china the brand :)
ASKER
so my $9 switch.... is it entirely possible that it makes no difference what port my wall connection goes to..? and what port my device which needs to share that connection is connected to?
can there be no distinction, for it does seem that way.
can there be no distinction, for it does seem that way.
For any modern switch (say in the last 8 or 9 years or so), the ports are autosensing. There is no port for uplink since the ports internally can connect correctly.
So your older switch had (say) 5 ports: 2 # 1 ports of which one was uplink. A newer switch would have 4 ports and you would have all the same capability and function because of the autosensing ports.
... Thinkpads_User
So your older switch had (say) 5 ports: 2 # 1 ports of which one was uplink. A newer switch would have 4 ports and you would have all the same capability and function because of the autosensing ports.
... Thinkpads_User
That is correct, it does not matter which port you plug the cables into, as long as exactly one of them is an uplink (more than one by mistake can cause weird things to happen). Everything will be properly detected and work the way you were intending for it to work.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Switch ports connect to a "backplane". This ensures that a gigabit switch can provide gigabit to each port. This compares to a hub, where available bandwidth is shared between each ports.
Higher end switches have stacking ports, or uplink ports (usually SFP) rather than copper. This allows for a variety of media types.