Is this true that cheap router with switch hub ($200) ins't worth?

[gredodenda]

I'm in a situation where I must install LAN setup, but there are couple of problems.
Choosing Router with 8-port Switch hub or use ICS software.

I was going for Router with 8-port Switch hub, but someone who know much more than me told me that unless I buy expensive one it isn't worth it. (I was going to buy $200 Router with 8-port switch hub Linksys or Netgear). I'm only setting up 6 computers networked with DSL line.
The reason he insisted telling me was that $200 Router with 8-port switch does not distribute the data to each ports well and somehow it does not work well the way it suppose to be.

Is this true? If so then I'm going to either buy Router with 8-port switch hub or ICS software.

For all users of DSL line and Router with 8-port Switch hub,
can you tell me how your setup works with your Router with 8-port switch hub? is hub work as fast it suppose to be??
I really need to find out soon. Thank you

Sorry folks, I've made a mistake. It's a router with 8-port switch hub.

 

[Quickfingerz]

are you speaking of a router?

For 6 computers, i'd either go with a 8-port router or a 1-port router with a 8-port switch. Personally, i'd do the 8 port router thing. You'd want a switched hub because if all 6 computers are on tranfering lots of data on a hub can sometimes get slow.

 

[Tsaico]

I would stand by the switch and say it is worth it. My roommates and I have a an Intel buisness port 8port swtich (retailed at $385 a couple of years ago) and several IPs on one dsl line and it works great. We also used the 5 port Lynksis switch Workgroup series and it worked well too. But if you are only going to have one IP among your computers, then I would team your switch with a router too. And I can say that most people woud agree with me, ICS stinks and definitly is not where peeople would want it to be.
As a side note, I beleive you are thinking a switch and a hub are the same thing. They are not. Hubs are cheaper and get low performance, while switches can be cheap($100 or so) most are a good amount more than a hub. If you want to share files/dsl lines, definitly stay away from hubs and stick only to switches.

 

[xyyz]

it really depends what you'll be using it for... and if you need advanced features...

the linksys products are great for everyday use... I have the 4-port version and it's awesome.

something that is hardware based is almost always better than something that is software based... besides you wont need to keep the computer on all the time to have the other systems connect to the internet.

The person that mentioned hubs and switches not being the same thign is right on...

They aren't called switched hubs... they are either switches or hubs...

a hub is a layer 1 device while a switch is a layer 2 device... a switch segments a network by looking at MAC addresses... instead of broadcasting blindly like a hub does... a switch is good in keeping the network less congested.

 

[Wik]

I like using an old computer running Freesco floppy router. It works better then my Netgear router and has lots of features. Best part was it only cost me some old computer parts that were collecting dust in the closet.

 

[xyyz]

FREESCO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's it!!!!!! I've been lookin for that forever... where can i get it? www.freesco.org or something?

 

[Wik]

www.freesco.org

 

[BigDady92]

Your best deal on this is the sonicwall SOHO/10. It has only 1 Lan and 1 WAN port but it also has DHCP and stateful inspection on the firewall. It is one of the best for home users as it has logging, email, pager alerts, it has a fast processor to run it(faster the processor the faster applications will get a port assigned to it). Also does DHCP/NAT.

I have a friend that bought one and is happy as a lark with it. He bought it for $450 and with lifetime updates for it so all the newest attacks out there. It is a very nice box that does many things and easy to setup, use, and maintain (took us 10min to do. It woulda been less but we were thirsty and got something to drink )

 

[xyyz]

can you tell me where he got this for $450? private message me or something... i don't want to be the one that causes the thread to close.

i'm a sonic wall partner and even i don't get it for that price...

 

[xyyz]

hmmm thinking about this... I don't know if he needs that much security... NAT boxes are pretty decent, also if you enable it's ablity to block wan requests, it's like you aren't connected because you can't be pinged. You can pickup the single port linksys for about $100-$120... maybe an overkill in this guy's sittuation?

nonethless please tell me where your friend bought it so cheap... this is an ideal solution for my client.