I have just started a new job, fixing and ugrading pc's. My office has just one ethernet point, can I simply go out and buy a swithch/hub and plug that into the point in the wall. Or is it a bit harder than that?

Mant thanks

Tom.

Welcome to SAF.

It is not a dumb question. You should (techically) be able to just add a hub or switch, but it could depend on the setup of the companies network.

Do you have any corporate IT people? If so, check with them before doing anything. They might have a problem with adding anything to the network without their input.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, efabes!!

From what I can work out the network is just used to share an internet connection, broadband then a hub to send it to the clients, i think. It connects to a proxy also. I have all the settingd needed to connect a pc to the network, bit just wanted to make sure that I could use a switch to extend the network.

Thanks again,

efabes

Assuming you can use the same protocol, it should work fine.

what do you mean by protocol? I have the dns etc.

A protocol is kind of a "pseudo-language" used to describe how connections will work together ... a common one is TCP/IP (which stands for Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol). If they're all using the same protocol, then you'll be fine.

One thing to bear in mind is that if a number of PCs are sharing one connection, then they'll also be sharing the connection's bandwidth, thus the Internet connection speed will drop off for each PC the more you connect up to the same hub.

This is the configuration I use
A broadband modem connected to a 13 years old Pentium II 400, which is connected to a hub on which are connected other 3 desktops and 2 laptops.
All works fine, even when all are browsing the net together

Thanks for taking the time to reply

The network uses tcp/ip and I have all the ip's needed to connect. I should think I will need to hook up about 4 pc's at a time. This brings up another question (sorry). Could anyone suggest a good 5/8 port switch, the money is not a prob as work said they'd pay for it . When linking up the switch, do you have to run the patch cable from the wall to specific port on the switch or will any do? I've been to look at switches in the shops but there seem to be both types.

Once again thanks for all the help and sorry for any noob questions

Cheers

Tom.

Sorry I cannot personally recommend a specific switch, as my experience is limited to one Cicso.

You usually can use any port, but I can tell you that it helps to connect to the matching ports (1 to 1, 2 to 2, etc) in trouble shooting. You dont have to search for what is connected to what.