Configure Router as Switch

How to configure router as switch?
Most likely you will ask this question if you plan to expand you home network, and you have only extra Ethernet router but not switch. At the same time you try to make use this extra router if possible without paying more on extra switch. Well… It’s pretty simple to get it done, keep on reading.

As you can see from 2 examples below, we can use second Ethernet router to expand existing wireless network or Ethernet home network, so that you can connect more computers to your network. Please note that first and second routers must be located on same network, because the second router just acts as a switch, not router anymore.

Ok. Let’s start to configure second router as switch.

1) Connect first router’s LAN port to second router’s LAN port by using a crossover cable. If one of the routers supports auto MDI/MDI-X feature, you can use either straight or crossover cable. Remember, don’t make any connection to second router’s WAN or Internet port.

2) Ok. Now assuming your first router's LAN IP is 192.168.1.1 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0, and then this will act as gateway for entire network (including the computers that connect to second router). If you would like to enable DHCP, then just enable the DHCP setting on first router and it will act as DHCP server for entire network (you don't need to enable DHCP on second router anymore). As an example, you can enable DHCP with IP range 192.168.1.2-250, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, gateway 192.168.1.1, DNS servers 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 on first router.

3) After talking about first router's configuration, proceed to log on to second router’s configuration page, then give this router an IP by configuring an IP and subnet mask under LAN setting. The IP that you configure should be located on subnet same with first router's subnet and this IP is not being used by any other device. If you have configured first router’s LAN IP and DHCP setting as shown in step 2 above, you can easily configure second router with LAN IP 192.168.1.251, 192.168.1.252 or 192.168.1.253 and subnet mask 255.255.255.0.

4) After that, don’t enable DHCP or any other settings on second router. If you have enabled DHCP or other settings, disable them. Finally SAVE all the settings. And now your have completed your mission of making second router as switch.

5) If you have computer that is configured to obtain IP automatically, connect it to other LAN port of this new "network switch", then it should be able connect to network, ping router IP and access to internet.

Copper cable wiring from CAT-5 to CAT-7

For several years, the standard cable used for home theater systems and computer networking with copper wire continues to be CAT-5 wiring. It is now dealing with the purpose of being considered old-fashioned, with a brand new standard emerging of CAT-6. Where on earth does that leave CAT-7? Basically, it is as leading edge as you can get within the field. From old to new, CAT-5 to CAT-7. What are the differences and similarities? Let’s take a closer look.

The Simple Answer: 

CAT-5 is rated to 100M 

CAT-5e is rated to 350M 

CAT-6 and CAT6e is rated to 550M or 1000M depending on your source 

CAT-7 is supposedly rated to 700M or presumably 1000M

If you’re establishing a home theater system, CAT-7 and CAT-5 wiring will offer similar benefits. There are obviously a few differences, however–something to be expected because of the newness of CAT-7. Either of these two, however, will work for the one who wants good quality sound.

In lots of homes throughout the nation, the old-fashioned TV room continues to be substituted with the house theater. The TV and audio system are set up so the family can have maximum enjoyment from their movies, sports, and favorite Television shows. To properly install your home theater system, you need to understand what it is set up–which means you need to know how to have it correctly wired.

There are a few possibilities for you for wiring you home entertainment system. Because we’re concerned with CAT-5 and CAT-7 here, we’ll only discuss those which involve those cables. The benefits for either of these is that they’ll offer optimum system performance, plus you can keep your video source at a long way out of your television, monitor or other output device.

You can use your CAT-5 and CAT-7 wiring with three types of distribution systems: Ip address (or IP, distributed via a USB port), RF and Analog. You can use CAT-5 and CAT-7 coax cables for any of those distribution systems. For the purposes, the real difference between CAT-5 and 7 may be the distance that you could run the cable but still achieve optimum results. You can run CAT-5 coax cables up to 100 meters from the output device; you are able to run CAT-7 as much as 1000 meters away.

Both CAT-5 and CAT-7 may be used to deliver video for cable TV (sometimes with a CATV amplifier), Internet data and telephone. Many of these are distributed through similar cabinets. CAT-5 and CAT-7 delivers video for example CATV , telephone, and data. All these is shipped via similar cabinets. There are many advantages for using CAT-5 or 7. Price is one of the main ones; the video for either of these standards is affordable and price efficient. That is because the cable eliminates your need for purchasing extra coax cables. It is also simpler to configure the video than it could be should you have had several splitter amplifiers and taps and coaxial combiners. The body will maintain a superior signal quality, because video distribution via CAT-5 or CAT-7 utilizes active RF video hubs.

When you are deciding how to wire your home video system, just make sure you have carried out your homework in advance, to make sure you are earning the very best choices. You might decide to go with CAT-5 wiring or with CAT-7. Indeed, you may decide to go with some combination of these two. But regardless, make sure you pick what matches with your needs as well as your budget. There are many web sites to find the information you need to determine what’s going to best help you create the ultimate home entertainment experience.