Linksys 8-Port Workgroup Switch [SOLVED]

[Neal ManBear]

I got a Linksys EZXS88W 8-port workgroup switch today. I'm used to using a router. I know nothing of switches. So, as you might guess, I have a problem.

It has 8 ethernet ports and one uplink port. The problem is that I can only get connected with one computer at a time. Every attempt to connect with the other computers fails, unless I delete this connection. Then I can connect one of them, but I can't reconnect this one.
Another oddity is that I have to change the connection from the modem when I change which computer I connect. That is, I have to connect the cable to a different port.

Anyone have experience with these things? Got any ideas how to deal with this odd behaviour?
 

[ThirdOfSix]

Neal,

I am not sure from your post just what your network configuration is.

I am guessing that it is small and that this switch handles all of your computers and is connected to a modem with a single ethernet output.

If so, do not attempt to use the "uplink" port on the switch.

That is only used when using another switch to expand the total number of ports.

At this stage, I would connect the modem and all of your computers to the other ports on your switch.

Then I would power down everything. Now first power up the modem, then the switch, and then each of the computers.

If you replaced a router with this switch, be sure that your modem is set up to be the DHCP server.

That is assuming that you do not have a separate network server hung on your network which performs that function.

If you continue to have problems, you should probably post under the network section of the forum.

[Neal ManBear]

Neal,

I am not sure from your post just what your network configuration is.

I am guessing that it is small and that this switch handles all of your computers and is connected to a modem with a single ethernet output.

Correct. 5 connected. 3 waiting to be repaired and connected.

If so, do not attempt to use the "uplink" port on the switch.

Tried it already. Bloody useless for my set up.

That is only used when using another switch to expand the total number of ports.

At this stage, I would connect the modem and all of your computers to the other ports on your switch.

Modem is connected to port 1. Comps to ports 2 and up.

Then I would power down everything. Now first power up the modem, then the switch, and then each of the computers.

That is the procedure I used.

If you replaced a router with this switch, be sure that your modem is set up to be the DHCP server.

That is assuming that you do not have a separate network server hung on your network which performs that function.

I hadn't thought of that.
No network server here.

If you continue to have problems, you should probably post under the network section of the forum.

LOL I thought I had. Guess I'm tired. Moved it over. Nodding over the keyboard, so I guess I better go take a nap.

Thank you, ThirdOfSix.

[T6]

something that you should verify is that the cable connected form the modem to the switch can be different to the others you have

it could be a cross patch(not sure if that is the name in English), basically verify that all the devices are using standard 568A or B, some modems come with B and some routers won't see the difference but switches will

my cablemodem is connected identically to yours, modem goes in port one, not in the uplink port if it has one(that port is most times only to connect two switches), in the port one

in port two and three i have one pc running winxp and the other, my machine with pclinux/winxp(not used in weeks)

be sure to identify port one, sometimes none of the ports are numbered

sometimes you have to disconnect the modem before you turn on the switch, the modem get confused and leave you with no internet connection, this happens with some modems, specially whit modems that ask for a user and password to connect to internet

if you have a modem that requires to enter a user and password to connect to internet, could be useful to recreate the connection and adding the info again with the new setup(old setup was using a router isn't?)

some switches could have a interrupter to set the port one to work with a modem or to act as a normal ethernet port, verify if it has one and if you have the manual on what mode should be to work with the modem

[Was_Just19]

I have used an 8 port switch in the past.
It has 9 ports ......  8 for PCs  and the 9th termed "up-link"

The uplink port I connect to one of the LAN ports on my router. PCs connect to the other 8.

What it does is give extra ports to connect to ....  passing all signals to the router which issues LAN IP addresses and so on.

If it does not work, without any changes to configuration of your router/PCs/LAN then I would wonder if it is faulty.

Of course there is something else you may need to check out ......

is your router limited in any way?
most can be set to a max number of connections .......  maybe yours is?
I have used this setting in the past to limit connections to the router.
Modify it if that is the case ...... 

regards.

[Neal ManBear]

So then, does the switch require a router connection to work properly?

[Was_Just19]

So then, does the switch require a router connection to work properly?

No, but in your situation it may ....  depends on what it is used for and how things are set up.

Look at it this way.
Each router contains a built-in Switch. The router is capable of serving approx 253 computers, but it only has four ports.
By adding an extra switch to one of the router's ports more ports are available to connect PCs. So instead of having just four available port if you connect an 8-port Switch (or hub) to one of the routers ports you then have 11 ports available for PCs (4-1+7=10). EDIT: One Switch port disabled when using uplink to connect to router.

It is also possible to connect a bunch of PCs, with static addresses set up, to the ports of a hub or Switch, and they will be able to find each other -----  provided they have IP addresses in the same range of course.

From reading your first post, it seems like you are setting up a PC with the connection set as if it was connected directly to your modem.
It is very likely in this case that your modem will only allow one PC or device to connect at any time.
When you use a router, it is the device that connects to the modem, and the PCs that are connected to the router then take LAN IPs, and the router "routes" their communication through the single connection to the modem.
My ISP will allow me to connect at least two devices, but that requires setting up.

As you did not make clear what your intention was I cannot be certain what would be best for you .......  but I suspect what you intend is that you can connect more than 4 PCs to the internet at any time.

If that is the case then connect the Switch (from its uplink port) to one port of the router with a standard cat 5 cable, and that gives you 11 ports for PCs.
Set up the NICs to accept their IP addresses from the router (DHCP) and all will be able to connect to the internet and to each other.

Just for clarity:  The difference between a HUB and a SWITCH is in how the communications are managed. In a HUB all communications are sent to all ports of the Hub and the correct PC will accept them.
In a Switch the communications for each PC is sent to its own port only .....  consequently there is much less traffic 'noise' being sent around the LAN.
A bit basic, but it explains the main difference I think.

regards.

[Neal ManBear]

Thanks, JohnBoy. Thanks, ongoto. That was the info I needed.

[ThirdOfSix]

Neal,

Just so that everyone is on the same page and not giving you conflicting information, it would help a great deal if you told us what modem you are using and whether or not it has network address translation and DHCP server built in. Also who your ISP is might help. If you were using a router with multiple ports that you outgrew due to shortage of ports, it would be nice to know what make and model it is.

I am on Qwest with an Actiontec modem which does have NAT etc but only one Ethernet port. Therefore, for me, just adding an eight port switch gets me everything I need. I did eventually end up bypassing the internal stuff on the modem and added a router between it and the switch in order to get more advanced capabilities and WiFi using aftermarket firmware in the router.

If you had a working system with a router that just did not have enough ports, you could put it back as it was and just add your switch to it.

Where things get interesting is that the uplink ports vary in how they actually work from one manufacture to another.

Sometimes you need a crossover cable between the modem and the router or switch and sometimes you don't, it depends on the devices being connected.

You said that you have five computers connected and three that will be connected. If that is the case, you probably should put the router back in the system along with the switch or you will be short one port. The Linksys switch shares circuitry between the uplink port and the Ethernet port next to it. You can not use both at the same time. Therefore, since the switch connection to the modem uses one of the eight ports, that would leave you with only seven usable ports for computers and printers.

Also, it is  nice  to have a spare port on the switch for when friends drop by with a computer that they need help with.

[Neal ManBear]

Neal,

Just so that everyone is on the same page and not giving you conflicting information, it would help a great deal if you told us what modem you are using and whether or not it has network address translation and DHCP server built in. Also who your ISP is might help. If you were using a router with multiple ports that you outgrew due to shortage of ports, it would be nice to know what make and model it is.

The modem is a Scientific Atlanta 2100, supplied by my ISP, Comcast. I can't find any info on it other than that the company has been bought by Cisco. The router is a Netgear WNR834Bv2 Wireless "N" 4-port with built in firewall and DHCP server.

I am on Qwest with an Actiontec modem which does have NAT etc but only one Ethernet port. Therefore, for me, just adding an eight port switch gets me everything I need. I did eventually end up bypassing the internal stuff on the modem and added a router between it and the switch in order to get more advanced capabilities and WiFi using aftermarket firmware in the router.

If you had a working system with a router that just did not have enough ports, you could put it back as it was and just add your switch to it.

Did that. Now I have modem > router > switch > computers.

Where things get interesting is that the uplink ports vary in how they actually work from one manufacture to another.

Sometimes you need a crossover cable between the modem and the router or switch and sometimes you don't, it depends on the devices being connected.

You said that you have five computers connected and three that will be connected. If that is the case, you probably should put the router back in the system along with the switch or you will be short one port. The Linksys switch shares circuitry between the uplink port and the Ethernet port next to it. You can not use both at the same time. Therefore, since the switch connection to the modem uses one of the eight ports, that would leave you with only seven usable ports for computers and printers.

Also, it is  nice  to have a spare port on the switch for when friends drop by with a computer that they need help with.

I'm up and running now. Thank you.