[TriLUG] Network Cards

[Mark Turner]

Andrew Perrin wrote:
> Your simplest bet is probably to buy a cheap hub or switch -- you can
> probably get a 5- or 8-port 100MB switch for under $25 online.  Then use
> its uplink port to connect to one of the ports on the router.
> 
Yep. buy a hub or switch and connect it to your router. Easier than 
configuring your mailserver as a router, IMO.

> Note that if it's a hub, this is as far as you can go (if I remember
> right); there's a limit to the number of "hops".  Switches are different
> because (IIRC) they reproduce the signal, thereby "resetting" the
> allowable hops.

Well, close! Due to timing rules, Ethernet has a cable length limit of 
100 meters. A switch extends this limit, a hub does not.

A "hop" usually refers to a router, and is another thing entirely. :-)

A great tutorial on Ethernet:
http://www.ethermanage.com/ethernet/10quickref/ch1qr_16.html

-- 
   Mark Turner, N4JMT   Siteseers Inc.
   www.markturner.net   Open Source Solutions
                        www.siteseers.net