switch to switch question

Hi, this is my first post here, so just wanted to say Hi to every one.

Next comes the question.

I'm helping out my wifes work with a networking issue, due to constraints of equipment and the design of the building, whoever networked the place did a real bad job. the layout is a dsl modem to a 24 port switch, this is the second floor. they have one more switch downstairs with 4 more ports, this is full, so can i add another switch just using the open ports on the big one upstairs for internet access and so forth or will there be any complications you can think of? Will any of the open ports work for this or will it require something special. By the way I am thinking of using the d-link DSS-5+ switch for this. Any help would be great and if you need me to specify something just say so.

Lets decide on some lets:

2nd floor switch = sw-2
Downstairs switch = sw-d
New switch = sw-3

You can connect sw-3 to either sw-2 or sw-d. It would be better if you connect it to sw-2, which appears to be a root in your topology. Most probably all you need is:

sw-3_____sw-2_____sw-d

While adding new switch, make sure you connect the straight ethernet cable to an Uplink port on one of the two switches. If you don't have an uplink port on any of the switches use a crossover cable instead.

Will it work? Depends. If there are any VLANs configured (which I doubt) on your switch, it might not work. Try changing ports if this happens or try to find out what VLANs are being configured.

I have many useful links to LAN/switching technologies on my website, which may help you.

Hope this helps.

personaly I would trash the 4 port switch and just put a bigger one in, if you uplink to the 4 port you could potentaily overload it as they are not very powerfull (yes I have seen this happen) I am not fond of d-link or linksys at this time in a corporate environment and would suggest a more suitable vendor ie.. cisco, (yes I know cisco owns linksys yet it is more soho not very scalable). you should connect to the main switch directly with each switch you add creating HOPs (switch to switch to switch) is not good practice unless using gigastacks or Gbics. Good practice when designing a new network is to build for 100% growth over a ten year span (nothing more frustrating then two months down the road buying another 4 port switch to add the new employee and a printer hehe).