Small office networking?

the way that our network is set up is that we have a simple router with 5 ethernet outputs and wifi. we then have that hooked up to around 6 or so switches that each have around 5 outputs and might be connected to either another switch or a computer. Every so often however, when we plug one of our laptops into the swich, there is a connection error saying that there is limited or no connectivity. At that point, all of the computers on that switch go offline, and we need to restart the router.


1) is there a more effective way of networking our office


2) is there a way of "restarting the router" only to that switch so that we don't have to restart the whole network in the router settings (unplugging the switch doesn't always do it)


3) networking is ultimatly what I want to do with my career, are there some good resources to learn more

Small office networking?
Well, without knowing too much about your network, what I'd do is get a small 8-12 port switch an connect it to your router. Once that is done connect all "wired" pc's to that switch.





As for the wireless users, please limit the amount of people who use it to the people who absolutely need it. A personal router such as a Linksys WRT54G or comperable is not meant for such a high workload.





In an ideal environment, what I'd do is get a medium to high end personal router (or a business class router)(please make sure there is a firewall on that router), connect your internet connection and 8-16 port switch to the router, and finally connect a wireless access point to the switch.