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Linksys 8 port switch @ Wal-Mart - $10 clearance

Boze

Boze

Senior member
Title pretty much says it all, 8 port workgroup switch by Linksys for $10. I remember seeing these for $20 at Office Depot and I asked the stocklady and she said there are 14 more left. Seems pretty hot to me
 
Originally posted by: Baked
Wow, that's a hot deal. Too bad I have to drive an hour to get to the nearest Wally World.
Click to expand...

Give it a couple of weeks--you'll have 3 near you. :roll: 😀
 
Switches expand a network, routers connect one network to another.... Routers can assign addresses and switches cannot.
 
Not necessarily -- I ran a simple home network for years with just a switch. You just have to assign all the internal IP addresses manually, or set up one of the computers to be a DHCP server. Of course you will also have to configure one of the computers to be a router to the Internet. It's pretty easy with whatever OS you have (under Windows, it's "Internet Connection Sharing"), but you will need two network cards (one inward to the internal network, and one outward to the Internet, i.e. the cable or DSL modem).

Basically it just depends on how technically oriented you are and how much effort you want to put into it. It's really not that hard, but routers are usually "plug it in and it works" simple. Using a switch obviously requires effort and knowledge on your part above and beyond what a router would require.

BTW: This is pretty hot, thanks OP, I'll check my local WalMart.
 
Originally posted by: Boze
Title pretty much says it all, 8 port workgroup switch by Linksys for $10. I remember seeing these for $20 at Office Depot and I asked the stocklady and she said there are 14 more left. Seems pretty hot to me
Click to expand...

What is hot, the computer hardware or the stock lady?
 
Not really Tex. I am not very good at elborating, so may be some one else can explain it better than I. Or just go to wikipedia and search your little heart out.
 
Well, yes, the router will do many things for you automatically that the switch will require manual settings to set up.

But I'd say the analogy is more like the difference between cooking a meal yourself and going to a restaurant.

If the term "IP Address" raises a question mark over your head or gives you the willies, you definitely want a router.

A technically-oriented person with decent knowledge of networking could have a router-based home network set up in 10 minutes and the switch-based network in 30 minutes. A non-techie would take 30 minutes with the router and at least several hours with the switch.
 
I doubt this deal will be at any other walmart. It's a local markdown price and not a corporate rolled out markdown.
 
Originally posted by: slashbinslashbash
Not necessarily -- I ran a simple home network for years with just a switch. You just have to assign all the internal IP addresses manually, or set up one of the computers to be a DHCP server. Of course you will also have to configure one of the computers to be a router to the Internet. It's pretty easy with whatever OS you have (under Windows, it's "Internet Connection Sharing"), but you will need two network cards (one inward to the internal network, and one outward to the Internet, i.e. the cable or DSL modem).

Basically it just depends on how technically oriented you are and how much effort you want to put into it. It's really not that hard, but routers are usually "plug it in and it works" simple. Using a switch obviously requires effort and knowledge on your part above and beyond what a router would require.

BTW: This is pretty hot, thanks OP, I'll check my local WalMart.
Click to expand...

what sucks about this if i remember correctly is that your router computer has to be on all the time if you want the network to stay up.
 
Switches are GREAT for home networks -- or at least they CAN be if you have enough computers.

A switch cannot replace a router, but it CAN work WITH a router to give you more ethernet ports.

If you have more than four computers, then you need a switch. I have my main computer, my hobby computer, my wife's computer, and the NAS box. There are no free ports left.

If I had that deal near me, I would jump on it. Keep in mind that a $10 switchs can be found every now an then--if you don't mind sending in a rebate. But $10 with no rebate is pretty darn toasty.
 
Originally posted by: totalcommand

what sucks about this if i remember correctly is that your router computer has to be on all the time if you want the network to stay up.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is true. Although the "network" will still stay up when the router computer is off (i.e. computers on the network will still be able to share files, etc.) the internet connection will be lost when the router computer is turned off.
 
The humble ethernet switch.

The heart of any LAN PARTY! Have a bunch of firend over and experience the bliss of latency free gaming. Plus its a cool social thing to ad to gaming. Start small, in your garage! Grab some beers and have a BBQ between the fragging.
WOOOHOO!
 
Originally posted by: texasfury
What's the difference between a switch and a router?
Click to expand...

The strict defination of a router is just a two port device for connecting two networks together, but most of today's routers also incorporate a 4 port switch too. A switch is just a hub that can isolate traffic between ports to improve performance by avoiding collissions (I think).

Glendor...

 
hub/switch work at different layers. Hub=dumb switch=smart. Switch knows what computer is connected to what port.
 
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