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Question : Simple question - connecting multiple switches to router to increase internet bandwidth
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Hi there! For some reason, this is escaping me.
I am doing a total network overhaul tonight. We have close to 100 users on 6 different switches, most of them 10/100. Right now each switch has a cable connecting the uplink port of that switch to a port on the "Main Switch". All of the servers are also connected to that Main Switch. One cable connects that Main Switch to a 24 port, 100 Mbps SonicWall Pro 1260 Router.
Tonight, I will be replacing these switches with 4 Dell PowerConnect 5324 switches (24port, all gig), connecting the uplinks of these switches to a 5th PowerConnect 5324 switch, and will "team" 8 cables to go upstairs, connecting to a 6th PowerConnect switch in the "server room", allowing for an 8Gbps pipeline from the main switch to the "server switch".
With our current setup, and with the overhaul tonight, we still have that one 100mbps cable going from the main switch to the router, therefore, all 100 users are sharing that one cable for internet access. My question is this: can I connect a second cable from each of the 4 switches that our users are connected to, and connect them directly to the router? If I were able to do this, a max of 24 people would be sharing a 100Mbps cable to the router, instead of a max of 96. Or would this create a loop?
Also, is my overhaul plan feasible?
Thank you very much for your comments and suggestions...
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Answer : Simple question - connecting multiple switches to router to increase internet bandwidth
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You would have to have 2 seperate network ranges to do this and you would add aditional complexity to the network. I do not think you would see enough bennefit to outweigh the cost in the long run. Besides what is the internet link anyway if it is not over 100Mb what is the point of feeding the router more than the slowest link?
Thanks scott
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