Internet Gateway and Routers

[Rediranch]

I know a small business that wants to go to a cable internet connection, share the connection, and also have printer and folder sharing.

What is an Internet Gateway (http://www.dlink.com/products/broadband/di707/) , and what is its use?

I know that a router can take care of file, printer, and internet connection sharing, but I only see 4 port routers, and the business has 5 machines.

If they were to use routers only, would it go like this ==> Cable modem to 4 port router, three machines on it, 4th port goes to uplink on 2nd 4 port router, then other machines on it.

If that is the way to use two routers, what do you do with the 2nd routers settings, make it automatically get ip like the local machines, and then it gets assigned a local ip from the 1st router?

Thx

[Midknyte]

A gateway is basically an entrance to another network. Your router acts gateway node between your network and the internet. thus it is an "internet gateway".

i think you're confusing a switch and a router. a switch is what gives you interconnectivity to your computers or printers. a router "routes" data from one network to another. You can get combination router/switches which basically house the two different hardwares into one box. You can add another switch to the uplink on the back of the router/switch, but you shouldn't add another router. The dlink you mentioned is a router with a 7 port switch.

Linksys also makes an 8port switch/router.
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=23&prid=155

[Rediranch]

This (http://www.dlink.com/products/broadband/di704p/) is the router that I use at home. It enables me to share my internet connection between 4 machines, and also to share printers and files.

Is what I'm using considered a router/switch combination? It is what I based the topic on. I'm betting it is, and thx for the clarification between the three (router, switch, router/switch combo).

Now, about the first thing you said.

"Your router acts gateway node between your network and the internet. thus it is an "internet gateway". "

So an internet gateway, like one I linked to at the top of this thread, is a router, plain and simple, routing the internet.

So, to do what I need, hence your link, is a router/switch combo, such as I have at home. (I know, you said this before, but I want to make sure I understand it).

Thx

[Midknyte]

here's the description right from the link you sent:
D-Link Ethernet Cable/DSL Internet Gateway w/ Built-In 4-Port Switch + Print Server Function

You have a router with a built-in switch and a built-in print server. The print server is also a separate module. I refer to this as a combo unit. sorry for the confusion there. You basically got 3 different things in one box, a router, a switch, and a print server. Pretty spiffy. You can buy them separately or in a combo. it doesn't make that much difference.

You definitely want to get a router with a built-in switch. I think the one you mentioned in the original post should be fine.
D-Link DI-707 Ethernet Cable/DSL Router with 7-Port Switch
For Home and Small Business Gateway

The DI-707 is a combo unit. DLink is just using a lot of terms to try to make it sound like it is more than that.