Networking the Network

Q: A few weeks ago you talked about connecting your old computer to your new one. My problem is that I only have one good computer monitor. What type of router, hub, or switch would I need?
A: Believe it or not there is a rather convenient, and at the risk of exhibiting classic nerd like behavior, I dare say cool solution. I say this because I recently set up a similarly styled network to the one that I believe that you are describing. In all honesty it was one of the determining factors in my selection of your query for this weeks article.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, I will give you brief understanding of what functions routers, hubs, and, switches perform so that you can decide which best fits your needs. Contrary to popular belief, router, hubs, and switches are not interchangeable terms. You may not want to invest in a hub or a switching hub, as they may not be what you need. Simply stated, a hub moves information through a series of nodes or computers until it reaches the one that it is intended for. Switches or switching hubs relay data or information directly to the node or computer that it is intended for. This may be fine for connecting two non-Internet access computers together, but if you have or plan on connecting the Internet to your home network, then routers may be what you are looking for.
Routers have the functionality of a hub and a switch, but it also has the added benefit of allowing you to share an Internet connection throughout your network. The thing to remember when choosing a router is to ensure that it is compatible with the type of Internet connection that you have at home. The majority of conflicts are between static and dynamic IP addresses. Static IP or Internet Protocol addresses remain the same. This means that your computer is given a number or address by your ISP and it is by this that your computer is recognized. Dynamic IP’s are assigned to a computer for a limited and predetermined amount of time, and change when that time has expired.
The problem is that not all routers support both of these types of IP addresses. Linksys for instance, does not support dynamic IP addresses. So if this were the type of IP address that you have, then this would not be the brand of router that you would want to purchase. You can find out what type of IP address that you have by calling your Internet Service Provider and inquiring.
Once you have that settled then you can purchase a digital KVM switch. A KVM or keyboard, video, monitor switch allows you to connect and operate multiple computers to one keyboard, monitor, and mouse. They are real space savers, and you can find them at local computer stores. Prices start at about $40 for a KVM switch for two computers.