Is a DSH-32 a good hub/switch for a LAN party?

[K1LLuM1NaT1]

I am starting my own LAN party, and I was curious as too if the D-Link DSH-32 32 Port hub 10/100 would be a good choice for a network device. I know that hub's aren't good for LAN's, but is this hub better because it features an integrated switch? Does this mean it will perform better than an average hub on LAN? Please give me a professional or equal to professional opinion on this, telling me why/why not to use this hub.

 

[Fencer128]

Switches and hubs are two different things. It used to be the case that switches were a lot more expensive than hubs - not anymore.

Tecnically speaking, hubs have shared collision domains - whereas switches don't. This means traffic flows through your switch more easily than through a hub.

See if you can pick up a 48 port unmanaged (ie basic netgear, linksys, SMC, etc) switch. Stay clear of hubs if the price differnece isn't too great (and it most likely won't be).

Good luck,

Andy

 

[K1LLuM1NaT1]

Well it says this has an integraded switch, does that mean anything? I also have got someone to sell me this for $125 shipped with 20 25' cat5 cables, and the cat5 could sell for about $100 by itself, lol. Should I do this, or go with a switch? Opinions, please. I'm on a tight budget, but not horribly tight.

 

[K1LLuM1NaT1]

Yo, anyone?

 

[K1LLuM1NaT1]

🙁

 

[Fencer128]

OK, checked out the specs. It is a hub, but with a single 10/100 switched uplink (for connecting to other network devices, the internet, etc).

If you are going to run on all 32 ports simulataneously - and each computer connected to the port may have to communicate with any/all of the others - then I reccomend you go for a swich and not a hub.

Having said all of that - the deal you're getting is very good, so maybe that will swing your decision.

Cheers,

Andy

 

[K1LLuM1NaT1]

thanks. bump for any other opinions?

 

[thorin]

Switches and hubs are two different things. It used to be the case that switches were a lot more expensive than hubs - not anymore.

DSH is a unique device it's a hub with built-in switch (hence DSH = DLink Switched Hub)

K1LLuM1NaT1 I have the slightly older and smaller DSH8 and it performs great at LAN parties (I've hosted 2 or 3 a year and had it for 3yrs).

Thorin

 

[Fencer128]

DSH is a unique device it's a hub with built-in switch (hence DSH = DLink Switched Hub)

Maybe I'm getting this all wrong - but from the specs of this that I've seen on the web it's basically a hub. It has 32 hub ports. It also has a switched up-link port, but that doesn't really make it a switch, or unique - it just means it performs better when you daisy chain it with other network devices.

If a hub will do you then this will do you. But it's not a switch, and if you needed one of those because of the type and amount of traffic you're generating - you'd need a proper switch.

Cheers,

Andy

 

[K1LLuM1NaT1]

up

 

[Macaw]

Rule #1 of LAN Parties: Never use a hub. As soon as someone starts leeching someone else's MP3 collection, your games will be hosed.

It's cheap and easy to network every PC with a switched port.

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: Macaw
Rule #1 of LAN Parties: Never use a hub. As soon as someone starts leeching someone else's MP3 collection, your games will be hosed.

It's cheap and easy to network every PC with a switched port.

So you have everyone disable their network shares and burn CDs if tranfers need to happen during gaming.

Obviously a switch or router is the "best" solution but the DSH32 will be just fine for what he wants as long as it's used with a little common sense.

Thorin

 

[tweeve]

if your lan party has 6 people or less then you might be able to get away with a hub but it will be SLOW, I run 3 switches at my house 2 five port and a 8 port and I can still have lag when some one decides to take someones MP3 collection when they are on a diffrent switch. Plus I run everything in Full Duplex mode.