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Switches are better than hubs, right?

S

Sukhoi

Elite Member
I was looking through onvia.com, and they have a Linksys EtherFast 5 Port 10/100 Desktop Hub for $52.99, and a Linksys EtherFast 5 Port 10/100 Desktop Switch for $54.95. Here are the links:

Hub

Switch

I assume I should get the switch since the prices are so similar? I'd be using the hub/switch to join a C433 and a P133 that will both have (probably Linksys) 10/100 PCI NICs. Also, is Linksys decent as a brand? I haven't heard of any big problems with their products.
 
I'm not intimately familiar with the electronic differences, but three weeks ago I replaced my 5 port hub with an 8 port switch. The responsiveness of the system was immediately noticeable. Even if it was 50% more expensive, I would now recommend the switch. Unless you want to buy my old hub (j/k - I have plans for it on another project).
 
Yup Sukhoi,

Switches are better than hubs... I can't help you with info about Linksys tho' 😱 I don't know the brand.

I'll add some info why switches are better instead... A hub basically just takes input from one port and pushes that back out on all the other ports it has, a switch on the other hand only sends the information/data to the port with the right machine connected... thus more computers can talk together and not interfere with eachother. Switches usually know who's where based on the MAC address of the NICs connected to it... The MAC address is something that is unique for every NIC made, altho' I've heard stories about cheap NICs that had the same MAC address and caused no end of havoc 🙁

Hope this little info helps some!

With love and respect your fellow TA member

Two-Face
 
I use Linksys gear and have no trouble

Linksys 4 port DSL router/switch
Linksys 8 port hub
 
Ah, thanks for the quick replies guys. I guess I'll get a switch. 🙂 Originally I was just going to connect these two computers with a cat5 crossover cable, but then last night I realized how much a crossover cable would stop me from adding to the network. 🙂 So, I think I'm going to buy a switch instead, and just spend the extra $50.
 
I just thought of one more question. I was reading through the Linksys webpage for the switch I saw at Onvia, and I can't figure one thing out. Is each port 10/100 autosensing, or is it for the whole switch? For example, if I have 2 100 Mbps computers connected to the hub, and then I put a 10 Mpbs printer on there, will the 2 computers still be able to talk to themselves at 100 Mbps, or will the whole switch drop to 10 Mbps? Thanks!
 
The 100's will talk at 100 - the 10 will talk at 10. The switch doesn't care which, and will put the packets though at the NIC card rate. - thus it is by port. 🙂
 
Sukhoi, it's a great switch at a great price.

For an even better price on it since I don't see any Onvia coupons:

Have Staples pricematch Onvia's price

79.97 > 54.95

No shipping charge because Onvia is free shipping

Use a $20 off $50 coupon at Staples

54.95 - 20 = $34.95

Devilered next business day to you door.

This was even better when Linksys was offerring a $20 rebate too but I don't see that anywhere now.




 
There are three other advantages of switches not yet specifically mentioned:

First, because traffic is routed to individual machines and not simply across the the back-plane, when there are collisions they only effect the two machines involved.

Second, if you have a 10/100 Hub and say twenty computers all doing heavy traffic at once, everyone's effective bandwidth is reduced, much the same way that people who share cable internet access are dependent on others using the line. With a switch, each port (or segment or node) has a private bandwidth. In reality, this isn't as impressive as it seems since 5 computers connected at 100Mb/s each could still eat up the backplane 100Mb/s, but that is also why more switches are 10/100 port while having Gb/s backplane.

Third, switches are FULL duplex. Every hub I've ever worked with has been half duplex. What this means is that you can send data or receive date, but not both at once. With most switches (like the one that this thread is about) you can send and receive at the same time. While almost none of us would ever have the occasion to do a huge copy across the network (receiving) while sending something to another node on the network, for servers switches are GREAT! The abilitiy to have users opening files while other users are saving or backing up makes a server much more responsive and makes a switch well worth the extra bucks.

Joe
 
MGallik,

LAN gaming is one of the biggest reasons to move to a switch. With larger parties, you get a lot of packet collision with hubs. Because a switch is smart, it nearly eliminates this problem.

Russ, NCNE
 
Wow, sounds like a switch is a good idea. 🙂 DukeLeto, thanks for the Saples coupon idea...I had forgotten about all their coupons. hehe.

One last thing I thought of...is it a really bad idea to run cat5 cable vertically down cold air returns? I have what seems to be a straight run down from this room (on the 2nd floor) straight to the basement (where the P133 is), so I'd like to run the cable in the cold air return. Otherwise, I'll have to run the cable halfway across this floor of my house, and then down the wall in my laundry room on the 1st floor, and that would really be a pain and it'd look ugly. 🙂

Oh, also the cable for my security system (seems really close to standard phone cable) runs through the cold air return I'd be using. Do you guys think I'd have any problems with crosstalk?
 
Netopia: Great explanation! 😎

Sukhoi: I don't think you'd get crosstalk... I've got a cat3 network (I know it isn't cat5 and don't flame me because I'm networking with it but I got it for free!) right next to my phonelines.... with absolutely no cross talk! But then I've got ISDN and not analog stuff.

Hope you get it going like you want it too!

With love and respect your fellow TA member

Two-Face
 
switches are better and at todays price difference it
makes sense to get a switch.

i remember getting a 5 port 10mbit switch for a customer
for a bargin $2500.

back then i only used them for connecting servers to
hubs.

now they are so cheap i recommend them connected to everything.

hp makes a nice expandable one that starts with 40
ports (altho it is a bit expensive) that is
managed with a browser.
 
While we are on the topic of switches, anyone ever used Compex? I found an 8 port 10/100 switch for $65 after $5 mail in rebate. Also found a starter kit for $80 after $10 mail in rebate. The kit is the same switch plus 2 nics. I havent done much looking yet, but I have yet to find a single review for the switch. Anybody have any experience with them?

[edit]
since when does an l not work for link, has to be L???
 
On the subject of using cold air returns to route wire, go for it!
It is best (and Code) to use Plenum grade cat5 (very popular) It has a resistance to gassing off chlorine gas in case of fire.
The cheaper and more pliable PVC cable is great for patch cables.

viz

ex furnace man and electrician
 
i used to use the older compex network cards.
(used hundreds of them)

never had any problems. i dont know about today

but for home and small network use it really doesnt
make much difference with switches. just like with hubs
the difference between manufact is pretty small.
(its only we you get into bigger networks that you need to check
how many packets and the mac addres tables stuff)
 
Wow, thanks for all the help guys.

viztech, I'd like to go plenum, but I can't find any premade 100ft plenum cables. I think one of my neighbors is a network installer though, so I might go over to his house and see if I buy bunk plenum (Home Depot has it), if he'll put the ends on for me. If I can't go plenum and my house catches on fire, I'll just have to get out before the cable starts on fire. 🙂
 
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