need help setting up a very simple home network configuration

[phinds]

I'm probably asking something has been asked before but since I don't know anything about networking I don't even know the right buzz words to do a good forum search.

I have what I think is a very simple network need, like this:

network diagram.jpg

One person told me the box with the question mark just needs to be a switch, another that it needed to be a "firewall router", and another that it needed to be BOTH a switch and a firewall router, and another that it needed to be "managed switch".

I've looked all those up but being totally new to networking I find it all very confusing.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Gator]

What is the overall objective for your laptop and desktop?

 

[phinds]

Sorry, I should have been more clear about what it is that I am really trying to do. I want the laptop and desktop to be able to see each others hard drives, or at least one of them each for ease of file transfer, but I don't want the guest computers to be able to see any of that.

 

[Gator]

It depends on how isolated your guest network needs to be and if your ISP gives you more than 1 public IP address.

If its ok for your network to access the guest network but not visa versa, you can get by with just another router. Setup first router as guest network then connect your laptop and desktop to the second router.

Here are a few links to help out.
Create an isolated network using one ISP connection and modem | LAN-Tech Network Management
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91791-multi-router-network-configure.html?filter=[2]=Networking%20Internet

 

[phinds]

Thanks. I'll check out the links. So I take it a switch is either a bad idea or just not needed?

As far as I know, the ISP only provides a single IP address, and yes, I want my network to be able to access the guest network but not the other way 'round, although that's not crucial. Big thing is I don't want the guest network to be able to access anything on my network.

 

[Gator]

Thanks. I'll check out the links. So I take it a switch is either a bad idea or just not needed?

As far as I know, the ISP only provides a single IP address, and yes, I want my network to be able to access the guest network but not the other way 'round, although that's not crucial. Big thing is I don't want the guest network to be able to access anything on my network.

Correct, the switch is unnecessary.