Need more Ethernet ports

I have a lynksis wireless router and it has 4 Ethernet ports to connect to the Internet. I need a total of 8. What should I get rather than getting a new router?

 

Agreed, a switch is the easiest way to share networking. I like Gigabit switches as they aren't too expensive, and if you only use one or two connections to the router and let the switch do the rest, almost all of the PCs can communicate with each other at a much higher speed than the router can achieve.

 

Why do they call it a switch? Can I run all ethernet at once or does it switch between ones that Arent being used. Can u explane how it works please. Thais for the great feedback!

 

A switch is nothing more than an interface, with no software that runs on it like a router, it has the ability to send data from any of its ports to any other, but only sends data where it is needed, unlike a hub which sends everything coming in, to every other port out, whether it's needed there or not. A switch is a 'plug in and forget' network device, whereas a router has a control panel that allows configuration and options. A router is required to connect to a modem (whether internal or a separate device), but a switch is all that's needed to connect PCs together, and is my preferred choice, as it is the only typical way to get more than 4 output ports, and assuming you buy a gigabit switch, you get Gigabit network speeds.

 

Is it hard to install. Do I have to mess with the computers ip addresses or anything like that? I need my TiVo ps3 xbox 360 and 5 computers to all have Internet at once. Saying that is the switch still my best option? Thanks again.

 

You take it out of the box, plug it in and off you go, it really is that simple

 

I see quite a few. what is the difference is the cost. why are some very expensive and some are cheap and look to me like they do the same thing.

 

Well, 100Meg connection ones are very cheap, Gigabit ones are more expensive. They go up in price with the number of connectors, and the other difference is ProSafe like ones cost more, but since that's only really a high-grade network security thing, you don't need it.

 

ok one last question. if i get the 100meg one will that affect my internet speed or just file transfering between computers. i need my internet to still be fast as possible.

 

Nah, it won't affect your internet speed, simply because your internet speed will be nowhere near 100 Megabit. The typical broadband connection speed is between 1 and 20 Megabits, very rarely above that, and remember, 100 Megabit applies to every port individually, it doesn't have to be 'shared' between everyone like your internet speed does.