[NTLUG:Discuss] Switch Question

[Kipton Moravec]

I am helping out at a small assembly shop.  The place has a server and 
about 16 computers.  8 are networked together and 8 are not.  The test area 
for example has one computer on the network and 4 not on the network.  The 
machine setup area has 3 non-networked computers within 6 feet of each other.

The Server is next to a 10/100 16 port switch.  The reason the other 
computers are not on the network is because running the wires is a pain 
because of the high ceiling (the wires run across the drop ceiling) and it 
is a little over 100 feet of wire from the switch to each of the two areas.

Most of the computers have 100 MB cards, but some of the ones that are not 
yet hooked up have 10 MB cards in them.

What I think I want to do is keep the server switch and add another switch 
in the test area and another switch in the machine setup area.  These two 
mini-switches will hook into the 16 port switch.

The network is not very busy.

I remember reading here not too far back that it was a bad idea to connect 
switches to switches.  But I do not remember the details.

So the question is what is the down side of hooking the two areas the way I 
propose? (The mini switches have uplink ports). If the switches should not 
be chained like that what is the other method of using 1 wire to connect 
two areas together?  It seems overkill (to me) to have two extra routers. 
Is that the preferred solution?

To make it more interesting, they also own another building across the 
parking lot.  How do you connect the two buildings together? They have not 
expanded operations into there yet, but I do not think it will be long 
before they do. The buildings are only about 100 feet apart in the back but 
the server is near the front of the main building, so it may be a 300-400 
feet of wire from server to middle of the second building. Any ideas?


Kip