Internal PC Ethernet Switch??

Rich - N5ZC

I've been working on consolidating my station.  One of the things I'd like to get rid of is my Ethernet switch.

I'm curious if an internal Ethernet switch is available to install inside my pc like a pci card? 

Rich - N5ZC

dlwarnberg

You can get a multi port card but I've never heard of a Ethernet card acting as a switch.

David

Rich - N5ZC

Thanks David,

I may be using the wrong terms.  I have a 5 port switch that I would like to move into my pc so I'll one less box to worry about.

Rich - N5ZC

N6OIL

A quick search on Google http://www.ipcdevice.com/product/8-Port_Gigabit_Smart_Ethernet_Switch_Card_IEC-95X8/

Martin AA6E

The classic approach is to install a second Ethernet card. Then you configure your OS to route packets the way you want. Not for beginners... You could also operate your 2nd port with your radio as a private network (unrouted). This might have some performance and security advantages.

Alex_KM5YT

Greetings,
How about this:  keep your internet switch - don't dump the switching burden on your CPU
(even indirectly) - but find a way to command your switch to alter itself to the routing you want.
If you can't find a switch that does this directly, I suggest:
--- contact the OEM's techies to see if they have a trick.
--- find a switch that uses open-source control code and add or mod the command logic?
Alex/KM5YT

Mark WS7M

There are managed switches that can do this although they typically start to get expensive since they are really designed for IT departments to manage packet routing for their company.

Martin AA6E

The OP was looking to minimize his hardware.  The minimum solution is just a direct connection from PC to the radio.  But then there is no Internet.  If he wants Internet service, he probably has a router in the house.  What most of us probably do is to attach radio and PC (separately) to the home router -- or connect all three together with an Ethernet switch.  (Assuming no WiFi in the picture.)  You can make your PC behave like a switch if you add a second Ethernet card, but you have to do some OS magic.  The CPU load for a modern PC should not be a problem.

WiFi would let you avoid the extra switch box, but there is the extra problem that the Flex radio does not offer WiFi directly.  (Maybe Flex should support wireless networking on the next iteration?) You'd could use your PC with a WiFi connection to the home router and an Ethernet connection to the radio.  But you still need a little magic in your Windows configuration.

If you don't have a router, but directly connect your PC to a cable/DSL modem, you'd need the 2nd Ethernet port and make your PC into a router.  Or join the 21st century, and add a home router.

It's an interesting topic, but personally, if I had to worry more than 30 minutes about all this, I would just go with a small switch box.

73 Martin AA6E