Will this work?

[blackdragun100]

The router will be at my family computer and the switch connected to 2 of the 4 ports on the router and then the switch will be in my room with 3 more comps and my xbox connected. Will I be able to share internet connecton and files between all the computers and xbox?

specs for computers
family =win me email/chat and internet browsing
comp 1=win 2k pro game server
comp 2= win xp pro main gaming comp
comp 3= linux box

internet
|
|
4 port router--Family comp
|
|
16 port switch--xbox
|
comp 1
|
comp 2
|
comp 3

[Rugpriest]

As far as I know you can daisy-chain up to 3 hubs/switches from a router so therefore your layout will work.

I have no knowledge on how to set an xbox up to access the internet (dont like consoles ) but the others should be fine

[mbossman2]

shouldn't be a problem...as games hate latency, I would put the Xbox on the router and all the PC's on the external switch (1 less hop to add to the delay)

[blackdragun100]

Originally Posted by mbossman2 shouldn't be a problem...as games hate latency, I would put the Xbox on the router and all the PC's on the external switch (1 less hop to add to the delay)

But then id have a big wire mess cause id have one cable going from xbox to router and they are all the way across the house. And id have to run a wire from the family computer to my room with the switch. That would have too many cables going back and forth. hope i explaind that right

[Rugpriest]

I dont think it matters, a switch and a router both monitor network data and direct it only to the right place, tbh I dont think it would be noticable having 1 extra 'hop'.

[mbossman2]

that's ok...wire snaggles are a PITA. Mine was one of those "in a perfect world" suggestions

All devices add some lantency (which is one of the reasons why the 3-4-5 rule exists) and in a latency sensitive application (games, voice, video) it all starts to add up...best to limit that as much as possible...

[Rugpriest]

We strive....

Our network is a mess, there is 1 router and 2 switches (daisy-chained), 10 PCs. We have wires everywhere.

btw what do you mean by the 3-4-5 rule?

[mbossman2]

Originally Posted by Rugpriest btw what do you mean by the 3-4-5 rule?

actually (i always get i bassackwards), the 5-4-3 rule....

5 segments with 4 repeaters and only 3 segments populated. this is one of the original ethernet rules (now preety much obsolete, but does have its applications). No network could be "bigger" than this.