# How can I create a 6 port ethernet switch with BotBlox hardware? **URL:** \ **Category:** BotBlox Hardware\ **Tags:** gigablox-nano\ **Created:** [May 1, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://forum.botblox.org/t/how-can-i-create-a-6-port-ethernet-switch-with-botblox-hardware/216 "2024-05-01T00:09:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![botblox\_admin](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.botblox.org/botblox_admin/32/1_2.png) [@botblox\_admin](https://forum.botblox.org/u/botblox_admin)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 12:09am UTC](https://forum.botblox.org/t/how-can-i-create-a-6-port-ethernet-switch-with-botblox-hardware/216/1 "2024-05-01T00:09:27Z")
_– Copied from a customer query –_ I am looking for the Ethernet switch port. Do you have option for 6 ports? I don’t need PoE. I’m interested in BB-GGN-A-1 Do I need to worry about common-mode voltage and do I need capacitors? ---
**Author:** ![josh\_elijah](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex027/user_avatar/forum.botblox.org/josh_elijah/32/568_2.png) [@josh\_elijah](https://forum.botblox.org/u/josh_elijah)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2024, 12:13am UTC](https://forum.botblox.org/t/how-can-i-create-a-6-port-ethernet-switch-with-botblox-hardware/216/2 "2024-05-01T00:13:38Z")
If you only need 10/100Mbps ethernet, then you have a few options Option 1: Chain two [BB-SWB-E-1](https://botblox.io/products/small-ethernet-switch)together using a four pin molex picoblade cable. This would use up a port on each board, and the connection between the two ports would be a bottleneck, but it would leave you with 8 available ports. The advantage of this approach is that it is cheap. The disadvantage is the bottleneck between both boards. Option 2: Stack two [BB-SWR-G-1](https://botblox.io/products/rugged-ethernet-switch) back to back to form a 10 port switch. This would not consume a port on each, and also would not result in a bottleneck, but it is more expensive. If you need 1Gbps ethernet, then you have a few similar options. Option 1: Use a [BB-UBS-B-1](https://botblox.io/ubiswitch-module-3-x-10gbase-t-8-1gbase-t-switch/) + [BB-UD1-B-1](https://botblox.io/ubiswitch-baseboard/). This would give you 8 x 1Gbps ethernet ports. Note that these ports can also run at 10/100Mbps. This approach is the simplest but it is more expensive. Option 2: Connect two [BB-GGB-C-1](https://botblox.io/products/gigablox-small-gigabit-switch) together using an 8 way Molex Picoblade cable. This would use up a port on each board and leave you with 8 ports; as before the port connection between each board would be a bottleneck. This approach is cheap but as mentioned, uses a port on each. (You could do the same with [BB-GGR-C-1](https://botblox.io/products/rugged-gigabit-switch)). With respect to your second question. All our boards contain transformers, apart from BB-GGN-A-1. If you are using BB-GGN-A-1 with your own baseboard design, then yes you need to consider whether the downstream devices need transformers. BB-GGN-A-1 contains series capacitors already, so you can connect it to any voltage mode PHY. If you are connecting it to a current mode PHY, then you’ll need to ensure there is a transformer on that PHY. Most devices that use current mode PHYs also contain transformers on their end, which would work with BB-GGN-A-1. Below is a link that contains some useful information regarding the difference between a current and voltage mode PHY. > **[Notion – The all-in-one workspace for your notes, tasks, wikis, and databases.](https://botblox.notion.site/W5500-a18d97b6f51b4b4cb1c50da54b8b62fc)** > > A new tool that blends your everyday work apps into one. It's the all-in-one workspace for you and your team