OT - Hub vs Switch

[TuffGuy]

I have a free Linksys EFAH05W hub. Is it worthwhile to buy a Linksys EZXS55W switch?

 

[Poof]

If you routinely copy files (especially large ones like mp3s, etc.) between machines in your LAN, then the switch will make a difference - especially when run at full duplex as this model claims it can do!

Since I have a pproxy running on my dual Xeon with 2K AS and the ppstats program on my alpha and Red Hat 6.2, with the ppstats running once an hour, I have that constant communication going 24/7 between the two. Having a switch (a 3Com Superstack II managed one), has helped in isolating their conversations so they happen only between themselves, without having that interfere with the rest of the machines.

[EDIT: Just be aware that sometimes those auto-sense things don't always work... ]

 

[networkman]

For the most part, yeah what Poof said.

But your question was asking if it was worthwhile to purchase a switch instead of using the free hub you already have.

Obviously, that's an issue for you and your bank account to discuss.

 

[micron]

What they ^ said.

BTW, I have that switch, it's nice!

 

[TuffGuy]

eh. i'll just pick up a x-over cable then.

 

[Wolfie]

If you have that hub you shouldn't need a Xover cable. Unless of course there is something else going on that we don't know about. The hub will take care of the network part. But like Poof said. If you are using the bandwidth 24/7 then yes. Spend the extra cash on the switch. But if you have it on a one to one machine setup, or use it for some networking stuff, you don't need that switch.

Wolfie

 

[TuffGuy]

it's for my two computers to share the DSL connection. a x-over cable is cheaper than getting a switch.

 

[bot2600]

but if they are both hooked to the hub and neither is in the uplink port, you need a straight-thru cable, not a cross-over.

Bot

 

[Wolfie]

Bot is right. If that is what you are doing then you don't need a Xover cable. Xover cables are only used when you connect a computer directly to another computer without a hub,switch,router or any of that other stuff inbetween.


Wolfie

 

[Bigwoofer]

Yeah, depends on your bank account... look out though, that 5-port switch is very sweet, but you shouldn't have a "switch vs. hub" issue yet. Go get a stick of ram instead

 

[Baldy18]

Hey I have that model switch. I was using it and it worked fine and full duplexing worked good as well. Right now I'm not useing it though since it only has 5 ports and currently I need use of 7 so I have an 8-port hub I'm using. I don't notice the difference between the two. Its not like I time my file transfers or anything. I'm not doing anything that makes time critical.

I say if you have a hub laying around use it but using a cross-over for two computers works just as well and you have one less thing plugged into your power strip.

 

[TuffGuy]

i'll go the cheapo route since my old computer will ONLY do seti and i won't have to transfer files between them.

 

[TNOguy]

Hey as long as this is an OT thread and discussing such things, is there such a thing, switch, whatever, that I can use to share a dial-up modem amongst three computers? I'm thinking there HAS to be such a thing as a serial port splitter, but so far I can't find one! I'm in a hotel and don't have access to broadband, so dial-up is my only option, and I'm getting so tired of switching the serial modem cable from computer to computer

Can anyone help with this? Many TIA!

Van aka TNOguy

 

[teriba]

My router has a serial port to allow a dialup modem to connect as a "backup" modem. But you could use it as a primary modem if you wanted to I guess. I've never tried it as I haven't had dial-up for a while, but if you want to check it out you can. It's the US Robotics 8000 router, http://www.usr.com