Switch or Hub & AP efficiency

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Grant777

63 posts

Master Geek

#140621 15-Feb-2014 12:02

Couple of simply questions:

Is this 8 port switch really a switch or a hub technically speaking. ie is it inefficient in that it will send network data from each port to all the others?

Also is it inefficient to use an old router as an access point (compared to a purpose built AP) and also have wired clients hanging off it due to the fact that all data will be went everywhere or is it intelligent in figuring out where all the traffic goes?

RunningMan

8953 posts

Uber Geek

#987747 15-Feb-2014 13:19

It's a switch (as opposed to a hub). Using the (very) old terminology, you used to have hubs, and switching hubs. Switches have a degree of intelligence, and only send packets to the port required, meaning higher total network throughput.

You can re-purpose a WiFi router as an AP (most of the time). If it has a bridge mode rather than NAT, use that. If not, turn off DHCP assignment, give it a static LAN IP in the same range as your primary router, and connect everything to the LAN side of it - leave the WAN disconnected.

raytaylor

4014 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#988125 16-Feb-2014 10:05

It is a switching hub. That is a hub, but with the ability to switch packets to the correct ports, as opposed to a standard hub which you havent been able to buy retail for at least 15 years now.

Ray Taylor

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webwat

2036 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#988192 16-Feb-2014 12:58

Yup its a switch, it redirects packets instead of broadcasting them.

Some routers have an AP mode that acts as an Ethernet to WIFI bridge, and whether you use that or just turn off DHCP, make sure you change the router's LAN address first so that you can still access it without IP conflicts. So if your modem/router is 192.168.1.1 then you might change the wifi router's LAN address to 192.168.1.254 (or use .2 if you update the modem to avoid allocating the .2 address).

Time to find a new industry!

Grant777

63 posts

Master Geek

#988860 17-Feb-2014 13:18

Cool thanks, yes it was just that all the lights seem to blink in time together on the switch, but I was mistaken slightly.