What connecting device do you use for a small LAN? For two or more connected network?

Answer 1

Router, switch or hub.

Answer 2

I always use a router, but then most of the LANS I deal with are internet connected and the router makes that easy. You can use a standard switch but you will have to set IP's for each machine.

All depends on whether you want internet connection or just a Local Network. Either device is available and inexpensive.

Answer 3

For my last few small LANs I've used Apple's Airport Express. I love the ability to plug in my stereo and move my printer off of my desk. Airport Express is also great if you don't know a lot about setting up networks. The interface is desktop-based (i.e. you don't have to remember any IP addresses to make a change), and the settings are understandible to most humans. As an added bonus, if I went to a friend's house that didn't have wireless, I could bring the Airport Express with me. You don't need a Mac to use it, either.

Answer 4

I used Linksys Etherfast 4 port Cable/DSL router in the past for two Macs. We could connect LAN and share the cable modem for the internet, without any third party software to configure.

Answer 5

in the experience that your desktops the two have an ethernet card what you want is a definite Ethernet cable... a crossover cable. This cable routes the transmit pair from one card into the acquire pair of the different card... and vica versa. With which you do no longer want a router or hub, even nonetheless it basically works for 2 desktops element-to-element. in case you ever pick to connect >2 desktops then use worry-free (no longer crossover) cables from the ethernet ports on the desktops to the ethernet ports on the linksys. you may desire to verify the desktops the two have IP addresses interior an identical selection - in the experience that your linksys allocates IP addresses then the two would be distributed ones interior an identical selection. be careful in the experience that your linksys allocates an identical subnet as your wifi... simply by fact then your wifi equipped notebook would be very at a loss for words approximately the place that's meant to deliver information and could no longer relatively consult with the different pc or the wifi. in the experience that your wifi makes use of 192.168.a million.something then use 192.168.a hundred.something addresses on the linksys or on the crossover cable. even nonetheless, equip the two desktops with wifi and use the wifi router to connect the desktops jointly.

Answer 6

Either a router or a switch.
I suggest either Linksys or Netgear brand.
Netgear will be easier on the pocketbook, but I find Linksys to be a tad bit more reliable.

Answer 7

A switch unless you want to manage which traffic goes where, in which case you'd want a router.

Answer 8

A four port hub would do