Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Note
Theuplinkportonyourswitch(orhub)connectsthedevicetoarouterorgatewaydevicethat
provides an Internet connection for your network. When multiple switches are to be used,
they are usually connected directly to the router or gateway instead of chained (or stacked)
off each other.
Modern switches feature Auto-MDIX (automatic medium-dependent interface crossover)
ports that allow switches to be connected together using any of the ports, and without us-
ingspecial crossovercables. Olderswitches (orhubs)useduplinkportstoallow addition-
al switches to be connected.
Switch Placement
Although large networks have a wiring closet near the server, the workgroup-size LANs
found in a small office/home office (SOHO) network obviously don't require anything of
the sort. However, the location of the switch is important, even if your LAN is currently
based solely on a wireless Ethernet architecture.
Ethernet switches (and hubs) require electrical power, whether they are small units that
useapower“brick”orlargerunitsthathaveaninternalpowersupplyandastandardthree-
prong AC cord.
In addition to electrical power, consider placing the hub or switch where its signal lights
willbeeasytoviewfordiagnosticpurposesandwhereits8P8C(RJ-45)connectorscanbe
reached easily. This is important both when it's time to add another user or two and when
you need to perform initial setup of the switch (requiring a wired connection) or need to
troubleshoot a failed wireless connection. In many offices, the hub or switch sits on the
cornerofthedesk,enablingtheusertoseenetworkproblemsjustbylookingatthehubor
switch.
If the hub or switch also integrates a router for use with a broadband Internet device, such
as a DSL or cable modem, you can place it near the cable or DSL modem or at a distance
if the layout of your home or office requires it. Because the cable or DSL modem usually
connects to your computer by the same Category 5/5e/6/6a cable used for UTP Ethernet
networking, you can run the cable from the cable or DSL modem to the router/switch's
WAN port and connect all the computers to the LAN ports on the router/switch.
Except for the 328-foot (100-meter) limit for all forms of UTP Ethernet (10BASE-T,
100BASE-TX, and 1000BASE-TX), distances between each computer on the network
and the switch (or hub) aren't critical, so put the switch (or hub) wherever you can supply
power and gain easy access.
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