Charlie Hoffpauir wrote:
On Sun, 05 Aug 2018 16:06:42 -0500, Charlie Hoffpauir
wrote:
I just had another thought... I suppose if I tried to connect the two
wired LANs together, it would take an ethernet port on each, so using
the 3 ports on the Hughesnet router would only give me one additional
port. Am I seeing this right? If that is the case, maybe adding the
new 5 port switch to the ASUS LAN would be the better way to go.
I'd appreciate comments.

My home system now accesses the internet via Hughesnet. I have the
Hughesnet router with an ethernet connection to my ASUS RT-AC66U
router. From there I am CAT5A wired to computers and TVs via wires
from both the ASUS and a 8 port Netgear switch (GS208). I have a few
handheld devices (phones, tablets) that connect wirelessly. Wireless
connectivity is such that there are two separate WiFi in place, from
the Hughesnet router, and from the ASUS router. For now, I'm using the
Hughesnet router only to connect ethernet into the ASUS, because
anything I connect wired (or wirelessly) into the Hughesnet router
doesn't see any device on the other LAN.
The question is, can these two separate LANs be joined so that any
device connected to either LAN sees devices in both LANs?
Another questions is basically do I have this system set up optimally,
or is there a better way to connect?
The reason for thinking about changing things is that I'm running out
of wired connections, using all 4 ports on the ASUS and 8 on the
Netgear switch, while 3 ports on the Hughesnet router are un-used. I
could add a 5-port switch alongside the Netgear switch, but adding it
only gains me a net 3 additional ports since I have to use one port on
the netgear to connect to one port on the 5 port switch. Using the 3
un-used ports on the Hughesnet router would be cleaner.

They make bigger boxes. 16 ports for $85.

https://www.amazon.ca/NETGEAR-Ethern...sl_6tivjumqs_e

It's $70 at Newegg.

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...82E16833122822

"I don't know what the ultimate throughput capability is on the
switching fabric, but I am able to do two separate transfers
between four machines and get about 870mbit on each transfer
simultaneously, with 9K jumboframes. Seems like it can do pretty well."

But I don't know if that's the best answer possible.
I'm just surprised at the price. At
that price, you will easily pay more for the
cables to fully populate the box, than for the
box itself.

Maybe someone else could comment on the possibility of
running the Asus as an AP, so that (maybe) there
would be one subnet for the whole thing ? I'm not
good enough at networking to know whether this
is the right answer. I don't have nearly this much gear.

Wifi Wifi
/ / 16
Hughesnet router ------------ Asus (AP mode?) --- 16 port switch --/--

I presume the reason both Wifi are turned on, is
for "whole house coverage" ? The Asus has sufficient
antennas, that you might be able to get basement
or attic coverage by angling the antennas.

HTH,
Paul