I am a computer tech but I'm just getting into higher end networking with admittedly less training than the next guy (specifically on networks). So I'm at a loss now that one customer has asked that I purchase all necessary hardware for their new internet connection. They have been using their neighbor's T1 line but are switching to their own incoming internet from a Wimax connection. What I'm trying to determine is whether or not I need a router and a switch or just a switch (and for that matter which switch is considered an industry standard). Could someone shed some light on this since it seems like switches bascially act like routers. I'm admittedly less informed than I should be. Help please!

A router's main purpose is to assign IP addresses. IP address as I'm sure you know are what logically connect computers. A switch's only purpose is to physically connect computers. If the Internet service provider will provide more than one IP address, you can just use a switch. In that case, all the computers connected to the switch would be assigned publicly routable (visible from the Internet) IP addresses. If the ISP provides only one IP address and/or you want to share files securely between computers, you will want a router. Then all the computers connected to the router will get a non-publicly routable IP address from the router, and the router will use the one IP address provided by the ISP to provide internet access. If none of that made sense to you, get a router. -Ryan Adams http://RyanTAdams.com

It made perfect sense. Can I use something like the Sonicwall product to act both as a router/firewall? It seems like lots of networking guys around here use that product. Thanks for your prompt/helpful response.

How many computers are you planning to connect? Any router provides a pretty decent inbound firewall due to its basic operation. If you want more advanced control, you might look into getting a Linksys wrt54gl and putting 3rd party firmware on it. -Ryan Adams http://RyanTAdams.com

A router's main purpose is to assign IP addresses. IP address as I'm sure you know are what logically connect computers. A switch's only purpose is to physically connect computers. Not to be rude but you're off base here. DHCP assigns IP addresses. A router's main purpose is routing traffic. Today's switches can operate at layers 1, 2 and 3. So, if you purchase an L3 switch, it can also route traffic. I'm talking enterprise level equipment here. I suspect you're talking about low-end SOHO type equipment. If you are, you should say so to avoid confusion because there's a world of difference between a SOHO "router", and I use the term loosely, and a real router. There's very little comparision between the capabilities of the two. A SOHO router really is nothing more than a switch (usually a 4 port) with NAT, DHCP and a firewall built into it. Question for the OP: What type of equipment are you looking for, SOHO or enterprise level? If you're not sure, then know that it will depend on number of clients, complexity of network and type of network connection (ie: xDSL/cable, T1, T3, fiber/copper) If this is a small environment using xDSL/cable, then you'll likely want a SOHO router and a switch (unless you're going to have 4 or less clients, in which case a SOHO router with 4 ports will do the trick). If you're using a highspeed connection (xDSL/cable) then you'll likely find a single IP service will be cheaper in the long run than paying for multiple IP's. So in a case like this, a SOHO router makes the most sense. Pay for the cheaper service (get as high a bandwidth package as possible mind you) and use the SOHO router's NAT to allow all clients external access. In the long run, it's best to use a private Class subnet (say Class C - 192.168.0.0/24) for your LAN clients anyhow. If you only have 8 or 10 clients, a decent 16 port unmanaged switch will fill your needs nicely. If you're not doing any VLAN tagging you really have no need for an enterprise level switch. Can I use something like the Sonicwall product to act both as a router/firewall? It seems like lots of networking guys around here use that product. Certainly you can....or a D-Link or a LinkSys. I've used D-Link and LinkSys here at home in the past (never touched sonicwall so can't comment on it) and am presently using a 2wire combo unit provided by my ISP when I upgraded to a higher bandwidth package a while back. When looking to purchase equipment your main considerations should be: a) Features (does it have all you want, will it do the job you need it to?) b) Budget (can you afford it?) c) OEM support (in case of technical trouble)

First: thanks for the fantastic feedback. This has been very helpful. Based on your advice and some internet learnin' I think I've narrowed down my devices to a netgear switch and a netgear vpn firewall. They were relatively inexpensive and I don't need any gigabit connectivity for now. I'll probably throw in a wireless AP down the road as well. I'm servicing a medical office with an incoming Wimax connecting (3 down and 1/2 up). The office will eventually have a totoal of 11 computers. It will include a 2003 server running come clinical software. As best I can tell, the netgear firewall box I purchased includes DHCP. I'm still crazy ignorant on what NAT actually is and does so I'm not sure whether I need it or not. Because of the sensitivity of information in the office, I did want to go with a slightly beefier firewall box though I'm aware that standard home-user routers have decent firewall capabilities. I do have a few clarifying questions: 1) Could you define the acronym SOHO? 2) What is NAT? (I sort of get it conceptually but I don't understand application or how to "manage" it; when and where is it appropriate?) 3) Can you explain what an unmanaged switch is comapred to a (presumably) managed switch? Thanks again!

SOHO is small office/home office When you have a small network set up, you have one publicly routable IP address. When data is sent to or received from other computer son the Internet, it is to/from this IP address. For example, if you visit a web site from any one of the computer son your network, that website will see all those requests coming from one IP address. Each computer has to have a unique IP address though. One the "inside" of your network, the DHCP server gives each computer a non-publicly routable IP address. For example, one computer will have the IP 192.168.1.1, the next will have 192.168.1.2, etc. NAT, or network address translation, is the technology that allows data coming from the Internet (Again sent to the same IP no matter which computer requested it) to end up at the right computer on your network. An unmanaged switch is basically a device when you plug your Ethernet cables into and it just works. There is no configuration, and you can't change settings for it. A managed switch is a switch that can be modified in some way. For instance, on a managed switch, you could set it so that all ports run at 100mb/s exact port 3 which only runs at 10mb/s. -Ryan Adams http://RyanTAdams.com