So I'm cheap...

i'm not even sure what you're asking. sorry ;)

What I mean to say is: How does a network hub connect cables. I know that a crossover cable is simply swapped wires in a cable, but what does a hub do? Does it just wire cables together or does it electronically do something. The internet has been a poor source of information on the topic thus far. BTW, thanks for any help, or responses.

I'm curious about why you'd BUILD a crossover cable, when you can simply get one at OfficeMax, Circuit City or some place like that.

i think it's just natural curiosity. i think there must be something involved because a switch hub is much faster.

Natural curiosity is about the best way to explain this. I NEED to know how things work. It's just how I am. I took apart my first computer, a Packard Bell. I broke most everything in my dads office when I was young, and that's just one of my passions.

Anyways. Ivan, I see that you mentioned a switch hub. Is that basically a router? I have read up on the two and am pretty sure that the only difference between a hub and a router is that a hub mindlessly repeats packets, while a router traffics them to the appropriate recipient. Based on this, I thought that maybe all a hub really does is patch together ethernet cables. Basically, a bunch of wires in a box with no real alteration of the signal. Am I warm?

A crossover cable allows two computers to talk to one another. If you wanted to transfer files between two towers directly, a crossover would work. As you are aware, a hub will also suffice.

A hub is essentially a small box which all information runs through. Computers plug into it, and the hub becomes both an input and output device. For example; if you wanted to send a file to another computer, computer A sends info to computer b via the hub. Upon receiving information, the hub checks each computer to verify which is computer b. Upoin finding it, the information is finally sent out.

A switch is like a hub, but only smarter. It acts a central intellgence unit, managing packets from various computers. However, unlike a hub, which probes every computer to find a match, a switch remembers where computer b is, and can send the information out quicker without a process of trial and error.

A router does everything a switch does, plus a few extra features. In addition to processing traffic betwixt machines, the router also handles IP addresses. If you are a dsl or cable subscriber, you are given one IP for your entire houeshold, regardless of the number of computers you may own. If you connected a cable modem to a switch, each computer would share the same IP address afforded to you by the your ISP. If you connect to a router, the router pretends to be a computer and assumes the master IP address. Any machine that connects to it receives something of a virtual IP address. When various computers access information on the web, the router seperates the seperate requests, sends out the requests using the master IP, and when the information comes back, the router sends the information along to the appropriate computer.

This is, at least, my understanding of the three devices and how they work. Though, I admit, I may be wrong. .

Judging from the explanation, I believe that constructing a network hub would prove to be impractical or fruitless. I do feel more educated though :wink: .

I built a little server/router/mail-server doohicky with an old text based dist of LInux. It took a good 8 hours, but in the end I felt much more comfortable w/ linux.

It may seem like a useless waste of time, but its a great way to get used to command line, which is also in osx, and is perhaps the best starting point to becoming a real geek.