using a linksys BEFW11S4 router as a hub?

Question

Currently we have DSL with the Qwest modem that acts as a DHCP router. We took a RJ45 cable to the back office where I plugged it into a Boca Net 16 hub and plugged in the computers we wanted to use. They all could acquire a network address and worked but the speed was 10 Mbps and I was wanting to use the Linksys because it would go 100 Mbps. After reading some posts, I plugged in the source cable from the Qwest router to a plane port (not the internet or source port) and put other computers on the remaining 3 ports but none could acquire a network address. I had changed and disabled the dhcp on the linksys also and rebooted the computers, still nothing.

Any ideas or help. I am currently back on the boca and it is working great, just slower.

Thanks for any help.
Allen

I tried putting the cable into the WAN port and disabling the DHCP but still can't acquire a network address. Still works fine with the BOCA but thank you for the suggestion.

I did buy a 8 port 10/100m fast ethernet switch, but when I plug in the cables, the source into the uplink and the remaining computers into the other ports, it still can't acquire network addresses. I used the TL-SF1008D switch but still have the same problem. Why does the Boca Net 16 work and the others don't? Thank you for the help. Allen

Answer 1

The Baca Net 16 Hub is, well a Hub. It is not a switch and does not have layer 2 functions, so it like using a wire with a lot of taps to hook up your equipment.

If you haven't got it figured out then I would scratch everything and start from the beginning. First thing I would do is draw a diagram and have an action plan. Then implament that plan and stick to it.

Hope you get your network running.

Answer 2

Plug into the port labeled uplink on the linksys from the DSL router. Turn off DHCP on the Linksys. All should be well from there. Verify the little light on port 4 of the Linksys router.

Explanation : there is a transmit pair and a recieve pair in an ethernet cable. For correct connection the recieve from one device must meet up with the transmit from the other. Switches are opposite from PC's as far as transmit and recieve placement. If you plug a switch to a switch the transmit is connected to the transmit and the recieve is connected to the recieve. Some switches can compensate for this some can't. Beware not to plug anything in to port 4 when you are using the uplink port.

EDIT-
You mention that you have tried multiple switches and none work. But a hub (dumb repeater) works perfectly. Did you verify link light at both ends when you hooked it up as above? Have you tried assigning an IP address manually on one of the affected machines and pinging the router? As far as nesting switches together it is not a problem out to 3 deep.

EDIT 2
I am sorry, I should have read a little closer before editing my answer. I was not speaking of the WAN port but the port to the right of port 4 the uplink port. It is the same as port 4 with the tx and rx pairs switched around. Check the link lights after you plug in to make sure that you have connectivity. The WAN port will not pass DHCP inbound so that wouldn't work.

Answer 3

I'm afraid the right answer is this is a bad setup!

First of all, never connect two routers together unless you absolutely need to because the configuration will become much more complex. The most common thing that can happen is for the two routers's to have an IP address or the DHCP servers could be using the same IP ranges.

Some routers have a bridge mode. That and only that could make it behave similarly to a hub.

Answer 4

if your router is set on your pc by the wth ethernet cable and its a bulit in wireless router, you dont need the hub all the other computers will run off wireless cards & wireless usb adapters all with there own network id and wpa -security key you can have 250+
pc's run off one router on a wireless network