[thaumasiotes]

> when assignments are due, we often run out of ethernet cables. I had just mentioned I would bring a switch with me the next day

As I understand it, a switch will solve a shortage of ethernet ports, but will make the cable problem worse by requiring one extra cable. What's the purpose of the switch here?

[laughinghan]

I think they mean out of ethernet-cables-that-are-usable-to-get-network-access. So there's loose cables aplenty, but a shortage of cables that work in the sense of the far end being plugged in, due to a shortage of ports.

From the perspective of a student walking into the room with their laptop, that's a shortage of cable-ends that they can plug into their laptop to gain network access.

[randogogogo]

Either way, I'm surprised port security isn't enabled in an educational environment like this.

[tomjen3]

Why should it be, or even be detectable if OP attaches a switch? Afaik, those don't even have different MACs and even if they do, it is unlikely that the university has all the students laptops MACs.

[andykx]

Switches have MAC addresses.

[leetrout]

It probably is and they just don't know or the policy is lax enough to allow it but triggers an alarm in OIT.

[singlow]

Running out of cables may actually mean running out of ports. Spare cables with no place to plug in are useless.

[taneq]

They might have people in a couple of different rooms, and plenty of short Ethernet cables but not enough long ones. So a switch allows them to run one cable between rooms and use a bunch of shorter cables within the room.

[24gttghh]

I'd presume anyone bringing a network switch with them to class would also have some Cat5e kicking around. Otherwise, what good is the switch doing them?

[anoncake]

So bringing a switch solved the cable problem because the cables were in the same box?

[24gttghh]

Sure? lol

[greggman2]

switches route traffic to other machines on the same switch lowering network congestion between those machines and the rest of the network right ?

[robohoe]

Yes. They also minimize the broadcast storm domain.

[AnIdiotOnTheNet]

...no they don't. STP will help prevent broadcast storms, but a switch does nothing in and of itself to stop them.

[Enginerrrd]

shorter total cable length and a less cluttered environment?

[gberger]

Sure, but that doesn't solve the problem of shortage of ethernet cables

[m12k]

If the shortage is not of cables in general, but of cables that are long enough to reach the current connection point, then a switch would help.

[wlesieutre]

Maybe they have plenty of short cables, but not enough long cables to get to each person from the main network switch.

Adding a switch closer to you means multiple people can share the one long cable.