we're moving stuff around and well have 3 rooms with computer stuff that will need to be connected and my dad wants to put a switch in one room so he only has to run 1 wire that is possibly already run. my problem is that i've never had to use a hub or switch and i don't know if it's more than just plugging it in. since my computer will be one of the things plugged into the switch, that's where my concern lies.

 

-----signature-----

plug & play. if the switch has an uplink port, you'll need to read the directions about that if you're chaining them together but that will be an odd scenario.

if you have 3 rooms, can set up the router in room1. if the router has enough ports on it, run a wire from router to room2 and a wire from router to room3. if not enough ports, run a wire from router to a switch in room1, then run a wire from switch1 to room2 and from switch1 to room3. in room 2 and room3, if you need more ports, stick another switch on the wire and plug your devices into that.

unless you are working with a very old switch, there's really no way for it to not work right out of the box without having to read anything

 

-----signature-----

Make sure you get just a switch or hub though if you get a gateway it'll make thing more complicated and easier to mess up... typically they are a little more expensive too.

 

-----signature-----

well router and modem are in room 1, switch will be in room2 and all the things in rooms 2 and 3 will plug into the switch. my dad is being a little bitch about running two cables from room 1 to 2. like some how the act of 2 cables together is just too much for him to handle. 1 cable is totally fine though. o_O

 

-----signature-----

If you have an existing wire a switch or hub is easier than running new wire. If you have no wire then 2 wires is easier (maintenance, upkeep, costs, etc) to use than running a wire and adding a switch. That said with parents, as with clients, it is often easier to just nod your head and do what they want.

 

-----signature-----

Probably not worth mentioning, but I'll be Mr. Obvious anyway - Have to be sure the computers/router/whatever is being connected by the switch have the same IP range.
Like 192.168.1.x.

So if your router is 192.168.1.1 for example and your computer is hard set for 192.186.10.5, they won't connect.

Like I said, probably obvious, but there it is anyway. Would be a silly thing to happen that can mess-up your network and cause headaches.

 

-----signature-----

i only ever change the last digit of the ip address when i force them. like my computer is 192.186.1.100.

 

-----signature-----

Your router certainly supports DHCP, if it's not an antediluvian model.
If that's enabled (should be by default), all your computers on your network will automatically have correct IP addresses.
The switch itself is usually totally invisible and you just have to plug it in for it to work.

 

-----signature-----

well that's all i was worried about. my router is a sensitive little bitch, much like comment i won't say.

 

-----signature-----

This. You really only need to worry about configuring a switch if you have static IP addresses or need to filter ports.