How to Add a Gigabit Switch to Your Network

If the router from your Internet Service Provider only has a few ports then to upgrade your wired network you need to add a Gigabit Ethernet switch. Here is how to do it, plus a few tips and tricks.

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#garyexplains

[richretrotech]

Useful for not just newbies. It’s made me take a look at a switch I have ‘in the middle’ in the office a bit and can’t see on it anywhere about its speed. I have a feeling it’s reducing the speed of everything in the office!

[andrewtelford]

Excellent introduction...it describes the operation and setup of an "unmanaged" switch which needs no manual configuration. If you are buying a switch, the cheaper unmanaged switch will usually be fine.
No need to buy a more expensive managed switch unless you require features like VLAN, quaility of service management, or power over ethernet. FWIW a managed switch in its default configuration will usually work just like an unmananged switch.

[petermainwaringsx]

I've made up several CAT 5&6 cables which means you only need to drill a small hole to run the cable through. The weak point is the quality of the crimper you use, so a LAN tester is essential. In the UK cable, plugs, crimpers and testers can be bought at a local Toolstation or Screwfix.

[test]

Nice tips. Does people still use hubs? How about PoE ports for security cameras? Perhaps another episode on cables would be cool e.g. cat5, 6, fibre, shielding, pin outs?

[byronwatkins]

Readers should note that this will NOT affect the speed of facebook, netflix, google, or any other www presence. This will only affect the speed of the local network -- between two computers, a computer and a file server (NAS), or between a computer and a printer.

[pete-the-nete]

Careful over minimum cable length:

International standards - ISO 11801 and EN 50173 / 50174 are your friend. Typically 1m is the minimum for a direct link, but if you’re connecting to patch panels (i.e. the end to end cabling has 3 or more connections) the minimum patch cable length is 2 metres, with a minimum length of 15m for structured cabling, and an extra 5 metres for any structured cable run from an intermediate point, such as area distribution.

[sunfoundermakereducation]

Added some new knowledge points. Thanks.

[DNGx]

Can you connect a switch to an Ethernet port in your wall? My router is downstairs and I have two Ethernet ports in my room, but they’re both currently being used by my cable and television. I’d like to add an unmanaged switch so I have more LAN ports accessible in my room, but don’t know if this is possible.

[nighthawkgaming]

oh you have the same switch i do, so quick question i have 2 pcs 1 is a big win10 pc and my other is a smaller pocket sized pc thats on win 11, now i have a network bridge set up on my main pc so i got wirless bridged to eathernet then from the eathernet to a switch and then to my smaller pc and i have remote desktop working over it so they are connected but im seeing that the small pc isn't getting any internet connection from my main pc. any tips you have for me?

[alexlandherr]

I use a TP-Link SG-105 switch for my desk since I have several Raspberry Pi:s and my desktop machine. One Ethernet cable that comes out of the SG-105 goes into another smaller switch for a few more Pi:s.

[JohnPMiller]

Also, the brilliant people who design networking products have made it so that slower devices can still connect at their maximum speed to faster devices. A 100 Mb PC will connect to a 1 Gb (1000 Mb) switch port at 100 Mb, so you can update devices over time.

[mentalplayground]

Power comment is so real, hahah Good one Gary :)))

[viazel]

If plugged into the provider do I still have a secure connection? I don't like Wi-Fi!
Thank you!

[peupeuguy]

I’m noticing significant speed reduction using, modem, and a router individual set up, is that normal ?

[waynehendrix]

Being from the US, I always assumed that a "rooter" was a pig looking for truffles. Maybe English pigs are different.

[mlt]

Connecting a switch is the easy part, my problem is even with file sharing turned on, passwords turned off and users set to everyone my household computers still ask for user IDs and won't share my movies. Half my computers don't even show up under network. I've tried just about everything in the past few years and just can't get them to communicate with each other. When I do get one working it loses connection a day or so later.

[androidios]

I have the same Huawei router, it was a bargain back in the day.

[jespencer]

You should have mentioned power line extenders?

[vetricara]

The modern computers don't have ethernet they only have hdmi . No use with this giga ethernet