How to Connect Multiple Ethernet Hubs

Hubs are the simplest network devices used to connect multiple computers together. Hubs have no management capability and simply relay the data from the port it receives data to all the other ports. Hubs can be of three types. The simplest one is the passive hub. It requires no power as it does not amplify the signal. Active hubs do require a power supply as they do amplify the signal. The "intelligent" hub is an active hub capable of detecting basic network problem to provide better reliability.

Instructions

Hub With Uplink Port

1. Get enough standard network cables for your computers and one for two hubs.

2. Connect a network cable from the uplink port of one hub to a standard port of the next one.

3. Connect the computer to the free standard port of the hubs.

Hub Without Uplink

1. Get enough standard network cable for all your computers and one crossover network cable per two hubs.

2. Connect the crossover cable from a standard port of one hub to a standard port of another.

3. Connect your computers to the hubs using standard network cable.

Tips & Warnings

• Only chain-link four hubs together on a 10 Mbits network or two on a 100 Mbits network.

• Do not use crossover network cable for uplink-normal port connection or standard cable for normal port-normal port connection. It will not work.

References

• Dux Computer Digest : Hubs