How to connect a switch to share a network point

[Andie]

OK, really basic question here, but I've never done this before and I want to do it right!

I need to share one network wall (wired) point between two computers, after one of our existing network points went down (can't get it fixed, as classroom computers/networking is all under review). I have some switches around that we own but that are no longer needed elsewhere: Netgear FS108 and 3Com OfficeConnect Switch8. Can I use one of these to connect the two computers to the one wall point, and if so which would be best? And do I just plug them in and go, or do I need to do any configuring?

[rhyds]

Configuration depends on the switch, but usually it's a case of plugging the switch in to the wall socket and then connecting everything else and it all sorts itself. The only other issue is that with some older switches you had to plug the patch cable from the wall socket to an "uplink" port and press a button to enanble it to share, but i haven't seen that in a while.

[imiddleton25]

The other option is a rj45 splitter on each end.
I have used before and work fine.

I may have couple of spare if you would like to try it just PM me details

[powdarrmonkey]

Configuration depends on the switch, but usually it's a case of plugging the switch in to the wall socket and then connecting everything else and it all sorts itself. The only other issue is that with some older switches you had to plug the patch cable from the wall socket to an "uplink" port and press a button to enanble it to share, but i haven't seen that in a while.

On the FS108 you just plug in and go, no configuration or uplink to worry about.

[Andie]

The other option is a rj45 splitter on each end.
I have used before and work fine.

I may have couple of spare if you would like to try it just PM me details

Thanks for the kind offer. I'll have a go with the switches I have first at breaktime, but will PM you if that doesn't work!

[Andie]

Finally got this sorted today, only because I found I needed to order an extension cable and some longer cat5 cables to accomodate the switch and then ran out of time when I could access the classroom.

I used the OfficeConnect switch and it worked like a dream. Just plugged everything in and that was it. Thanks to those who helped.