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Linksys auto-sensing 10/100 hub vs Linksys switch. Which to get for small network.

Eug

Eug

Lifer
Essentially all I want to do is share the Ethernet line (DHCP) in my office with my main office computer, a Mac, and a notebook.

The Linksys EFAH05W 5-port hub and the Linksys EZXS55W 5-port switch are only about $13(CAD) different in price. Just get the switch?

Any problems with either?
 
I would go with the switch, for the fact that each port has its own dedicated bandwith. On a hub the bandwith is shared between all of the ports (ie: 5 port hub @ 100mb/s = 20mb/s per port under a full load vs 5 port switch @ 100mb/s = 100mb/s per port under a full load). Even though a switch has dedicated full speed bandwith to all of the ports the uplink in your office will still be shared. Having said all of that, I would still recommend the switch. If you are transfering files between your 2 pcs, you still can access the network with your Mac w/out a slow down.
 
Thanks. I just found out there's a rebate on the switch, which actually makes it cheaper than the hub. Go figure. Almost a hot deal. Get a 5-port switch for US$50.
 
if youre only using the hub/switch to share a cable modem it doesnt matter.

even though each port has it's own dedicated bandwith, you will still wait on your cable modem. that may not be the best description so think of it this way: each port is an on-ramp for the freeway, but all the cars want to get off at the same exit (your uplink, cable, dsl, etc.). you will still be limited to the speed of that one exit, or port of your uplink.

but if you do filesharing while others access the internet, etc. than a switch will offer marginal improvement.

go with the switch if its marginal price difference.
 
see if you can pricematch staples.com with whoever you want to buy from... i always do.. got a 5-port linksys switch for 15 bucks!

and on linksys rebates, it doesn't make a difference where you buy it from and their rebate processing is faster than others.

-S
 
$50 seems awful cheap for a 5 port switch. Be sure that it is 100mb. If it isn't the 10/100 hub will be a better deal as long as you aren't doing major file copies over the LAN.

Edit- I guess I should check prices before I make comments like that. Damn these things are getting cheap.
 
How to connect up a laptop? I've been looking around, and it seems some of the best deals out there for laptops are often ones without a built-in 10/100 jack.

I've been trying out a PCMCIA card with a dongle. Seems quite flimsy. The ones with the pop out partial jacks are even more flimsy. Those cards with the built in full sized jacks seem too bulky.

What about USB? I know it maxes out at 12, but it seems simpler and less flimsy, and it saves one of the slots. (I want one for wireless, and one for CompactFlash.)

By the way, what's the benefit of CardBus over standard PCMCIA?

P.S. Baby Linky does seem cute. Sorta... 😛
 
CardBus is PCMCIA under a new, marketing-friendly name. Check out a 3Com with an Xjack connector...those things are indestructible. Dongles are okay if you don't bend it while it's plugged in. Don't lose it also.

Does your IT department know you're doing this 😛
 
Thanks again, and to any responses in advance too.



<< Does your IT department know you're doing this 😛 >>

Yeah, heheh. I can network (DHCP) just for email and net access. And I won't be hosting a server here either. 😛
I can't get access to the rest of the system however, which is fine since I have a PC in my office for that anyway, and they won't give me phone support for my Mac and my laptop, which is also fine. If I have problems, I'll just ask you guys. 😉

By the way, does either a hub or switch alter the MAC address seen by their server? I noticed that when I had my router here on bootup of my PC I got one error message. However, all my access to internal databases, etc, worked fine.
 
Personally, I would just go with the stronger bulkier cards... but I do have a USB ethernet adapter one a (barbie PC! hehehe (my niece's not mine!)) and it works fine. Surfing the net it does not make a difference... and it is still fairly fast for file tranfers... Oh, and for the dongles.. I ended up buying extras for the notebooks around here just anticipating the next lose or destructed dongle berry.
 
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