Superhub : I've Run Out Of Ports

[chrispy2000]

I have connected to my VM Superhub.

1. PC
2. Tivo Box
3. WD My Cloud
4. Blu-ray Player

I am now thinking of getting a new TV which connects to the internet via ethernet cable. Problem is I've run out of ports. I'm not up to speed on networking but could I add a switch?

Any advise would be helpful please

[Kymmy]

Yep. Any gigabit switch will do, you'll lose a port on each device to connect them together but as 8 port ones are cheap you'll go from 4 ports to 10 ports.

[chrispy2000]

Thanks for your help

[jb66]

Most internet tvs have wifi now anyway

[Gavin78]

What is the purpose of connecting the Tivo box to Ethernet?

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by Gavin78

What is the purpose of connecting the Tivo box to Ethernet?

You can stream to another Tivo on your home network (but only certain channels). You can also use a mobile app to remotely control TiVo (e.g. RCX for TiVo), useful if you have a feed to an extra TV, but need a remote control function.

[Hom3r]

Get something like this

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/linksys-8-...t-switch-a62ny

just put your SH into modem mode.

It is a simple plug and play.

You might need to reboot some kit.

[Eeeps]

Originally Posted by chrispy2000

I have connected to my VM Superhub.

1. PC
2. Tivo Box
3. WD My Cloud
4. Blu-ray Player

I am now thinking of getting a new TV which connects to the internet via ethernet cable. Problem is I've run out of ports. I'm not up to speed on networking but could I add a switch?

Any advise would be helpful please

As others have indicated a simple Ethernet switch will provide the expansion you need.

Make sure you get a Gbit capable switch (don't pay more than £20 for an 8 port version or £15 for a 5 port).

Although unlikely to be a problem, you will find that you will have a bottleneck between the two switches (limited to 1Gb/s).

This can be an issue if you need to transfer data at this rate between more than two devices on separate switches.

(e.g. in my case I have a NAS that I use to store disk images of PCs. This process saturates a 1Gb/s link so I ensure the PC and NAS are on the same switch and don't use the uplink between switches).

Happy New Year,

Ian

[General Maximus]

I had the same predicament as you. I have got TV's, bluray players, sky boxes etc it different rooms around the house plus pc's etc. In each room I have got a 4 port or 8 port switch for the wired devices to connect to and the switch then connects to a router which serves as a wireless access point for the tablets, laptops and phones. As your network grows so does the demand and load so you need to start as you mean to go on and buy proper stuff from the get go. All my routers and switches are Linksys/Cisco. They cost a bit more but they get the job done and I NEVER have any problems streaming content from my NAS' or anything else. My shub is modem mode fyi, probably the most important thing to do if you want everything to work from the start. I have a network diagram somewhere:

[chrispy2000]

Thanks for all your replies. Something to look "forward" to doing in next few weeks

[General Maximus]

I forgot to mention, going back to the "start as you mean to go on" point, all my patch cables are belkin snagless cat5e and all my hdmi cables connecting the various media devices to the tvs are belkin gold plated cables. It is all a matter of perspective but I like to try and buy the best quality and best performing equipment so that if something goes wrong there is a very short list of what could be the cause. Like I said earlier, so far (touch wood) I have never had any problems with anything whatsoever. Oh and another thing, I put the shub in modem mode so I knew a proper router would be handling all the streaming and stuff and wouldn't fall over but one of the indirect benefits of doing that is that all the other devices such as TV's etc (think about youtube) get told to use google's dns servers by the router and not virgins (another big problem out of the way).

[progers]

I use one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-TL-S...8+port+gigabit

They also do a plastic cased one slightly cheaper although I think it's worth paying extra for the metal case

[Kushan]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

Get something like this

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/linksys-8-...t-switch-a62ny

just put your SH into modem mode.

It is a simple plug and play.

You might need to reboot some kit.

£35 is a bit much for an 8 port gigabit switch.

[Hom3r]

Thats why I said something like this.

I bought the model similar to this (flat sides) and only paid around £20.

---------- Post added at 15:21 ---------- Previous post was at 15:18 ----------

One option is to buy a PPPoE (IIRC) that allows to to power network devices, such as webcams, security devices etc.

I also would consider getting CAT6 cables or better, yes they are more expensive but you are making you network a bit more future proof.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by Hom3r

One option is to buy a PPPoE (IIRC) that allows to to power network devices, such as webcams, security devices etc.

PoE - Power over Ethernet.

PPPoE is what my router is using to send this towards the Interwebs - PPP over Ethernet.

Don't think PoE is necessary for this. Keep it as cheap as possible, TP-Link switches are fine.

I only use smart switches as I have legitimate uses for VLANs to keep work and home traffic separate until work traffic is in its IPSEC tunnel.

Unless planning to incorporate cabling into the walls worrying about future proofing it isn't really necessary. The upcoming 2.5Gb and 5Gb standards will be fine over Cat5e and reasonably priced 10Gb is grossly overkill for the foreseeable for home, as well as being far more expensive than a sub-£20 TP-Link gigabit switch.

EDIT: Also just FYI Cat6 isn't any good for 'future proofing'. Cat6a is where it's at for being able to run 10Gb.