Switch-hub?

[Brian Kelsay]

When you get beyond 10-15 PCs connected via hubs or a certain volume of
traffic that causes an unacceptable network slow-down or number of
collisions, then a switch is necessary.   As your network grows you will
eventually need or want a switch.   You may want to preempt that need by
buying a switch.   For example you used to need a firewall and a
separate hub to connect several home PCs to a DSL or cable line, then a
combo firewall/hub came out to fill the need and lower the cost of
multiple devices.  Now there are combo firewall/switches that increase
performance of the network.   It's up to your needs, wants and budget as
always to determine what you get.
I already had a hub before I new better or could afford a switch (they
used to be quite a bit more) and I used an old computer to be a Linux
router when I got broadband.

Brian Kelsay
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Coleman" <mkc at mathdogs.com>

> Sam Miller <svekan at mindspring.com> writes:
> > Could someone tell me the advantages of either a hub or a switch for
a
> > small home network?
>
> Don't forget the disadvantages.  Principally, with a switch I believe
you
> normally can't easily sniff traffic between two ports from a third
port.  (I'm
> sure more advanced switches probably allow you to configure this, but
do the
> cheap ones?)  This would be a major minus if you're trying to do any
kind of
> network development, and pretty inconvenient if you ever have to
diagnose
> network problems.
>
> Personally I think it'd be the rare household that would notice any
difference
> between a hub and a switch.
>
> --Mike
>
> --
> Mike Coleman, mkc at mathdogs.com
> http://www.mathdogs.com
>