Here's the situation. I have a non-gigabit Linksys router with four 10/100Mbps ports. Here's how I have things connected:

 

ROUTER connection:

WAN port: connects to cable modem

10/100Mbps port #1: connects to PC #1 (home network)

10/100Mbps port #2: connects to PC #2 (home network)

10/100Mbps port #3: connects to media player device

10/100Mbps port #4: connects to Unraid server (not yet built)

 

Do I need to buy a 10/100/1000Mbps (gigabit) switch and connect things like so:

 

ROUTER connection:

WAN port: connects to cable modem

10/100Mbps port #1: connects to port #1 on the switch

 

SWITCH connection:

10/100/1000Mbps port #1: connects to port #1 on the router

10/100/1000Mbps port #2: connects to PC #1 (home network)

10/100/1000Mbps port #3: connects to PC #2 (home network)

10/100/1000Mbps port #4: connects to media player device

10/100/1000Mbps port #5: connects to Unraid server (not yet built)

 

Does this setup make sense? Will PC #1 and #2 properly have access to the Internet through the router? Will port #1 on the switch act as an "uplink port" that allows switch connections #2-8 internet access? This is confusing to me as switch photos I've seen don't appear to have anything like an outgoing "uplink" like port. Also, do I need some sort of special "crossover" cable somewhere in the mix?

 

I don't have experience dealing with switches and I don't want to unnecessarily spend double purchasing a gigabit router when I can connect a gigabit switch to my 100Mbps Linksys router.

 

Thanks.

You have it exactly right.

You have it exactly right.

DocBlock, thanks for commenting. I added a few more notes to my original post, so I just want to run this by you just in case your response was prior to my edit.

 

The switches I've seen have 8 ports. When I connect switch port #1 to router port #1, will switch ports #2-8 suddenly all have access to the Internet through switch port #1 and the router? Will switch port #1 automatically convert to a sort of Internet gateway for switch ports #2-8? Also, does a "crossover" ethernet cable need to be connected somewhere in this setup? Thanks.

Think of it like a power strip. You'll plug port #1 "upstream" and all the other ports will magically figure out how to tap into that ability.

 

Ethernet is designed as a sort of "client/server" architecture. Routers and switches are servers, and computers are clients. When you want to connect a PC to a switch, you need a regular cable. When you want to connect a PC to a PC, or a switch to a switch, you need a crossover cable.

 

However, starting 5-7 years ago, companies started making "autodetecting" ethernet ports. Today, you'd have a hard time finding a switch that isn't auto detecting. So crossover cables are no longer necessary, as the switch will automatically cross the port instead, if necessary. This feature, if you're concerned, is usually called "Auto MDI-X" or "MDI-I/MDI-X" but I wouldn't sweat it. It's become so common that it might not even be on many switches feature lists anymore.

 

The one thing I would look for in a switch is the ability to use jumbo frames. This isn't something you'd take advantage of today, but jumbo frames allow for more efficient gigabit throughput. Someday, when your network is 100% pure gigabit, you could consider turning it on. Or not. But either way, jumbo frame support shouldn't add to the cost of the switch. It's just something to look for while you're shopping.

I should add that the uplink port you're looking for is pretty much outdated. Older switches had this. It was the "crossed" port, which prevented you needing a crossover cable. Uplink ports were never necessary, provided you had the proper cabling.

You have it exactly right.

DocBlock, thanks for commenting. I added a few more notes to my original post, so I just want to run this by you just in case your response was prior to my edit.

 

The switches I've seen have 8 ports. When I connect switch port #1 to router port #1, will switch ports #2-8 suddenly all have access to the Internet through switch port #1 and the router?

Yes

Will switch port #1 automatically convert to a sort of Internet gateway for switch ports #2-8?

It will be used a part of the route to the outside world.... it, in itself, is not a gateway, your router is.  It is just how to get to your router.

Also, does a "crossover" ethernet cable need to be connected somewhere in this setup? Thanks.

1000Mpbs ports usually do not need a crossover cable, ever.  100Mbps ports need them if connecting a PC directly to another PC without going through a switch.  In everything you've described, and in all the descriptions I gave, no crossover cable is needed.

Thanks DocBlock and Joe L. Now it all makes sense.

Here's the situation. I have a non-gigabit Linksys router with four 10/100Mbps ports. Here's how I have things connected:

 

ROUTER connection:

WAN port: connects to cable modem

10/100Mbps port #1: connects to PC #1 (home network)

10/100Mbps port #2: connects to PC #2 (home network)

10/100Mbps port #3: connects to media player device

10/100Mbps port #4: connects to Unraid server (not yet built)

 

Do I need to buy a 10/100/1000Mbps (gigabit) switch and connect things like so:

 

ROUTER connection:

WAN port: connects to cable modem

10/100Mbps port #1: connects to port #1 on the switch

 

SWITCH connection:

10/100/1000Mbps port #1: connects to port #1 on the router

10/100/1000Mbps port #2: connects to PC #1 (home network)

10/100/1000Mbps port #3: connects to PC #2 (home network)

10/100/1000Mbps port #4: connects to media player device

10/100/1000Mbps port #5: connects to Unraid server (not yet built)

 

Does this make sense? I don't have experience dealing with switches and I don't want to unnecessarily spend double purchasing a gigabit router when I can connect a gigabit switch to my 100Mbps Linksys router.

 

Thanks.

What you described will work perfectly.

 

You might be able to make use of one or two more of the 100Mbit ports on your existing switch though, and save a 1000Mb/s port on the "switch" for future expansion.  You can do that by not moving anything that itself does not have a 1000Mbps port.    You can therefore probably leave your existing media-player-device where it is on your existing router.  Unless it is a very recent device, it will only have a 100Mbps port on it.    In the same way, if either of your PCs is slightly older and does not have a 1000Mbps network card, you can leave it connected to the router and not move it to the switch.  I've actually got one of those ports feeding a 4-port 100Mbps switch behind an equipment rack in the theater (nothing there needs 1000Mbps).  

 

I personally have my network set up the way I'm describing.  The router has 4 100Mbps ports on the LAN, one to the Gigabit switch, and three others to slower devices on my LAN (actually, one feeds a 100Mbps switch I described previously).  I have a 8 port Gigabit switch, and it is used by the rest of stuff on the LAN.