Can you run two PC's from one network outlet

[gloriousglenn]

I have an office that has a wall mounted network outlet which I can plug in only one cat5 cable.

 

Is there a way of splitting this (or any other way) so that I can run two PC's on the same network?

 

Cheers

Glenn

[ChrisH]

Buy a small switch and stick it on there.

[plexer]

Yes you can buy cat5 splitters or make them yourself.

 

Not recommended as it breaks cat5 spec but it can be done.

 

If you can wait until after tomorrow I'll have a pair of splitters you can have.

 

I'm having some extra points put in to removed the need to use them.

 

Ben

[SYNACK]

The issue with splitters is that because it limits each link to two pairs rather than the usual four it will drop back to the 10mbit standard.

 

This means that each pc will only run at 10Mbits in half duplex (the pc can only send or receive at any one time not both at the same time). This will break streaming media and other such content as it has to take a break from receiving the video to send an acknowledgement back to the server.

 

I would definatly recommend the small switch if these stations will see any significant use.

[mac_shinobi]

Buy a small switch and stick it on there.

 

agree on a mini / small switch , a lot easier and more reliable.

[gloriousglenn]

I tried a switch that didn't seem to work, hence I posted on here. Now it could be that the switch is duff, but I'm open to any suggestions.

 

Ben,

 

Unfortunately I don't have the means or budget (the MoD are tight!) to get extra points fitted and the extra PC in the office is more of a nicety as apposed to a necessity so I would never be able to justify the expence.

 

The user has waited this long without access to the network so a little while longer won't hurt her!!

 

Many thanks for your help.

 

Glenn

[Ric_]

If your switch (at either end) doesn't have auto MDI/MDIX ports you will need to use a crossover cable to connect the mini-switch to the RJ45 socket on the wall.

[SYNACK]

I tried a switch that didn't seem to work,

 

It is probably an older switch that does not have automatic MDI/MDX switching.

 

You may need to use a crossover cable to connect it to the network. The switch may have a port or little switch marked uplink that will also do the trick with a standard cable.

edit: I must improve my typing speed

[gloriousglenn]

I have just had a look at the switch and it is fact a 5-port hub! It does however have an UpLink socket which was connected to the network outlet via a cat5 cable.

 

I think I'll look at getting a switch and giving it a blast!

[plexer]

Glenn: I have a pair of splitters you can have for free

 

100mbit only uses 2 pairs of a cat5 cable anyway so why does splitting one 4 pair cable into two 2 pair connections result in 10mbit?

 

Ben

[plexer]

If you'd read all the notes then:

 

Wires marked ** are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for 100Base-T4 networks (using any combination of category 3/4/5 cables and MAY be for Power-over-Ethernet see below)) but are not required for 100Base-TX (using cat 5/5e ONLY cables) and CAN be used for other purposes e.g. telephony but, .. beware .. read this FAQ and our LAN plus Telephony article before you wire your entire neighbourhood for surround sound.

 

Ben

[plexer]

Synack: Where did your post go?

 

Ben

[SYNACK]

Glenn: I have a pair of splitters you can have for free

 

100mbit only uses 2 pairs of a cat5 cable anyway so why does splitting one 4 pair cable into two 2 pair connections result in 10mbit?

 

Ben

 

I was thinking of lower grade cable where the extra pairs are used.

[plexer]

Fair enough

 

Ben

[laserblazer]

If you us a switch make sure they know not to turn the power of or unplug to run the kettle.

[gloriousglenn]

Ben,

 

I've PM'd you.

 

Cheers

Glenn

[MkII]

I heard you can use two pairs of wire within a single cat5e cable but only over very short distances reliably, the crosstalk being excessive.

[maniac]

I have a few areas in my school where I do this because of a shortage of network outlets, and I've never had any noteable problems. A normal 100mbs connection over cat5 cable uses only the Orange and Green pairs in the cable, which means if you wire the plugs cleverly, you can get another entirely seperate connection utilising the Blue and Brown pairs in the cable.

 

It's not ideal, but it does work. I've made up my own 'two into one' patch leads to use for the few connections I have where I've done this, they look neat and work fine, however I wouldn't recommend using them if at all possible. (although it's marginaly better than using local switches in my opinion.)

 

I've also done a similar thing for telephones where we only have one available network point for a telephone and PC, as a normal phone only requires a single pair of wires, usually the blue pair. I do get ocassional problems with these, as the telephones seem to create more interference along the cable, so the switch sometimes throws up errors on the data. Again, this is only where there was no alturnative.

 

Mike.

[gloriousglenn]

Would I be able to use the 5-Port hub that I've found with a crossover cable?

[PEO]

I have a 24 port switch sat on my desk for the exact job. works a treat

[Niraj]

yea the hub will work with a crossover.... not the best option though....

 

Im sure you can get a 4 port switch for around £20, but for a inbetween the hub will work

[neilenormal]

We have one of these 5 port hubs. Be careful that sometimes the ports are mutually exclusive, ie that it will work as a hub on all five ports but if you want it to uplink to the cat5 point on the wall you may have to use the uplink port but leave port 1 0r 5 blank/empty. The ports are often marked with a bracket symbol linking them. If its an old hub you may well need the crossove cable mentioned earlier rather than a straight one

Neilenormal

[speckytecky]

Recently I purchased a couple of D-Link 5 Port 10/100 Unmanaged Ethernet Switchs from Misco http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=236063&CatId=2733 £6.99 each Plus VAT and Carriage. They work a treat.

[dbrown]

I also use a cheap D-Link 5 port switch - fine: and I can use 4 m/cs on the 1 skt.

But before I got this I used a spare NW card to add a second card to the existing machine. Bridge the two cards and link the second machine with a Xover cable. It worked.