• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

hub , router, or switch?

A

Animefreak

Member
I need to setup a lan network to share printers and files between 3-4 computers and there is no need to share an internet connection. But i can't remeber which piece of connecting hardware to use, i thought it was either a hub or switch. If you can recommend one that would be good too...looking cheap with good quality and 100 mbps is not neccessary.
 
You could probably get by with a 10 Mbit hub, as the # of machines you're connecting is not that many. A better option would be a 10/100 switch, for future upgrades. Look for at least an 8 port, because you'll definitely find more stuff to connect to it than your first four machines... 🙂 If you look around here or PC Abusers you can probably pick up an 8 port switch for around $100...

Dave
 
A switch will be fastest, but if you don't play games and don't need any speeds faster than 10mbit, then go for a 4/5 port 10 base hub. They will be cheap and if you do decide to go faster in the future, you would only have waisted a small amount of money. That is versus paying a lot more money for a switch and never utilizing it and waisting you money
 
A switch will be fastest, but if you don't play games and don't need any speeds faster than 10mbit, then go for a 4/5 port 10 base hub. They will be cheap and if you do decide to go faster in the future, you would only have waisted a small amount of money. That is versus paying a lot more money for a switch and never utilizing it and waisting you money
 
Switches aren't that much more than hubs anymore... I would sugget a switch, they are a bit better...

You dont need a router, that would be for sharing an internet connection. You could add that later if you want. 10Mbps sounds nice, but the fact is that 10/100Mbps doesn't cost that much more that straight 10Mbps anymore... Get an 8 port 10/100 Switch, I just bought mine a few months ago, with coupon, and it was just over $100...
 
I would agree, get a 10/100 for future upgrades. Personally, I have overkill...heh heh 16 port 10/100 Bay Networks Switch....Cause you jes' never know! Hopefully be going to 1 Gig Cisco switch soon.....But for you, I would get a nice 5 port 10/100 hub for a couple 50 bucks and call it good. the difference is in intelligence. Hubs are dumb, just pass though all given traffic, where as switches and routers have more intelligence and can actually route traffic rather then transmitting traffic
 
Yours sounds like a SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) setup so a nice Netgear hub is the best fit. Let big companies get the Cisco and Intel equipment. The 8 Port Netgear DS108 10/100 is only about $75 right now.

IMO, along with a few others, I suggest getting a switch for a little more $$$. Go for something like the 8 Port Netgear FS108 for about $120. The small investment will save you one upgrade cycle and offer productivity gains. Right now I'm using a FS308 for home and will never consider a hub ever again.

Windogg
 
I can't agree more with the others. A switch will allow future growth and upgrade by providing scalability. You would definitely start to experience lag with more than 3 users on a hub.

That Netgear 8 port switch for $75 is a steal.
 
Onvia.com has the Linksys EtherFast 10/100 Switched Network in a box for $65 after rebate. It includes a 5 port 10/100 switch, 2 10/100 PCI NICs, and 2 15' cat5 cables. I think it's a good deal. 🙂 My kit also came with SyGate internet sharing software and a full version of Soldier of Fortune, though I don't know if this is in all the kits.
 
Ya, NetGear is good! Who owns them, isnt it Nortel? I think it is.......Well, if it is, Nortel rocks! They make good stuff, so does Cisco...But you should prolly get a 100/1000 switch, for fututre upgrades...🙂
 
8 port is ok for expansion but the five ports are four ports and an uplink so you can add another five port later if you need it and won't have wasted anything if you don't.
 
I could have sworn that Netgear was a Bay Networks subsidiary.....

But oh wait, Bay Networks was acquired by Nortel in 1998. Mergers.....
 
The Linksys kit Sukhoi referred to is an excellent one for the price. I paid just over $100 for
it 9 months ago and it has been really nice; easy to setup, install and configure and works well.

Good luck to you!🙂
 
Moonbeam, the 5 port Linksys switch is truly 5 ports. It actually has 6 ports on the back: 5 standard and 1 uplink. When the uplink port is in use it disables 1 of the standard ports, so you can only use 5 at a time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top