[PLUG] Gigabit switch recommendations

[John Jason Jordan]

On Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:21 -0700
Eric Wilhelm <scratchcomputing at gmail.com> dijo:

> # from John Jason Jordan
> # on Monday 13 August 2007 10:11 pm:
> 
> > On the other hand, I don't understand
> >what some of the features of the expensive models really do.
> 
> I got a 3Com 3C16485 switch for $140 that was a 'last generation' 
> closeout.  The features include 4 SPF ports (for fiber modules which 
> apparently cost $150 each or so), trunking (ability to parallelize 
> multiple ports into a single link (to another switch or a multi-nic 
> linux box), and port mirroring (mirror all traffic onto one port for 
> network analysis.)  There's also VLAN (partitioning) and basic 
> monitoring/limiting.

Where did you get it for that price? 

> While I don't actively use any of those features (though I definitely 
> plan to use the trunking at some point), I find that it has 
> significantly reduced the flakiness of my network compared to the 
> couple of unmanaged linksys switches that I had previously.  It does 
> have a fairly loud fan, but no wall-wart.
> 
> If you're actually plugging 16 computers into it, managed is probably 
> the way to go.

I have only three computers, and one is my old Windows 2000 desktop
that is now rarely turned on. Most of my network activity is to the
internet. Assuming the server on the other end can push the bits out, I
have seen Comcast give me download speeds fast enough to get a 700 MB
live CD in 10 minutes. It's also nice to make backups faster - mostly
the laptop to the desktop. But mostly I just want the speed for web
viewing. I see quite a difference between my 10/100 laptop and my new
gigabit desktop when it comes to downloading, in spite of the fact that
my router and switch are only 10/100. From what I have read about
managed it is probably way overkill for me, but the 3C16485 sounds much
better than the Netgear GS116, and if I can get one for $150, cheaper
too.