Network switch help.
 

I'm looking at getting a network switch, the idiot IT guy at work suggested a "5-port Gigabit Desktop switch, TP-Link TL-SG1005D"

Now is there a Asus alternative that anybody can recommend, as I have a Asus Router.

Re: Network switch help.
 

Only an idiot would think there's any real difference between brands when it comes to consumer grade unmanaged switches.

Re: Network switch help.
 

I've have had that exact switch running for over 2 years in my house. Am I an idiot?

Re: Network switch help.
 

Work we have the VM superhub fed into a Draytek router which connects to Netgear gig switches which in turn expand into dlink gig or 10/100 switches. As it is all unmanaged there are no issues with different branding.

At many of our NTHW lan parties we use a mix of netgear 8 port gigabit and TPlink 8 port gigabit routers connected to either cable or ADSL routers. Being critical the netgear stuff is a bit older and sometimes doesn't autodetect the port speed correctly but once up and running we've pushed terabits of leeched stuff over the LAN network, in only 24 hours, with no issues.

The point is that brand is irrelevant, as quas not quite so nicely said it. But look at the quality of the switch as even unmanaged some are better than others (and that isn't necessarily price the TP link were cheaper than netgear), especially for the backplane bandwidth ie. amount of data they will handle switching between ports before saturation.

---------- Post added at 20:00 ---------- Previous post was at 19:57 ----------

Probably not, I think quas was being a bit blunt at the ability to mix and match brands in an unmanaged network.

However, you must be very advanced intelligence for your age (3 according to your profile), to be needing a switched computer network :angel:

Re: Network switch help.
 

I also have a TP- Link switch, excellent product and cheap too

Re: Network switch help.
 

The TP-Link can be had for £12.98
http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-S.../dp/B000N99BBC

Asus - £19.31 - not sure if that includes delivery
http://www.newegg.com/global/uk/Prod...L8HBoCYu3w_wcB

The Asus features a "VIP port"

Re: Network switch help.
 

I stopped being an idiot last year when I stopped using that exact same switch.

Only the one I replaced it with was it's identical 8 port equivalent.

I must be really really stupid.

Re: Network switch help.
 

Well, I am an"IT guy at work*" and I regularly recommend TP-Link equipment so to insinuate someone was an idiot for doing so was 'not quite so nice' a thing to say to begin with.

* Not his work but still.

---------- Post added at 02:03 ---------- Previous post was at 02:02 ----------

Kids these days grow up fast!

Re: Network switch help.
 

Another vote for TP-Link - I've got one of those....although as my kit at home has grown I needed a decent managed GB switch. The TP-Link is currently in a box as a spare.

I think the "idiot IT guy at work" gave you the best advice actually - unless you need a managed switch for vLANS and bonding that is...

Re: Network switch help.
 

I have never used a switch but what does a managed switch actually do, and is it worth it for a home network?

Another question, what is better a Hub or a Switch?

Re: Network switch help.
 

TP-Link routers are actually the easiest to mod into 'managed' switches with VLAN and bonding capability. Standalone switches not so much, but most of these consumer unmanaged switches actually have hardware chips that are quite capable of it with the right firmware modifications.

If you don't know what a managed switch is you don't need one.

Nobody makes hubs anymore because they are ancient and archaic. And vastly inferior.

Re: Network switch help.
 

Managed = remote stats via SNMP ... if you don't know it, you don't need it!

A "Switch" is actually a "Switched hub".

In a conventional (unswitched) hub, all traffic is carried on all ports.
In a switch, port 1 can be exchanging traffic with main, at the same time as port 2 is exchanging traffic with port 3.

In the simple case of sharing broadband, the switch does not make any real difference, because a single resource is being contended for.

With the right layout, switching (and all current routers are switches) may allow NAS access to bypass other traffic - but traffic passing over the link between router and switch will still be contending - so the thing which makes most use of the NAS, should be on the same device as it ... both on the router, or both on the switch.

Re: Network switch help.
 

It's actually a bridge.

Re: Network switch help.
 

A managed switch = a switch that can be managed. Usually comes with the ability to create and assign ports to VLANs and create aggregated port groups alongside rate limiting and whatever other functionality, else there's little point in being able to manage the thing.

An SNMP server isn't required, though it's certainly desirable.

Re: Network switch help.
 

It's actually either, a switching hub or a bridging hub

And if you work in IT and are modding switches to make them manageable I can only assume that trotters independent trading suddenly have moved to having a soho setup

You buy the proper kit ie Cisco or juniper catalyst/ex series

Oh and bonding is a term that's about five years out of date it's port channel hence the interface name po1 etc

Re: Network switch help.
 

Enterprise type managed switches have also assimilated many of the layer 3 functions associated with olde worlde routers and will support concepts like routing and forwarding between vlans and conversely provide a means of segregation between vlans.

So if you were an IT services provider with a shared infrastructure a very basic scenario might be that a primary core switch is deployed to terminate many customer networks via VPNs/MPLS for example, maintaining separate routing tables for them which direct traffic to the appropriate destination in your data centre or shared service environment.

Re: Network switch help.
 

Hub is a term that refers to a completely separate class of device.

No, just a H setup. Given it seems you've not read any part of the thread, let me point out he is asking for a consumer switch to use at home. For £50 you can get a second-hand 10/100 Catalyst switch or a gigabit consumer switch with full management capabilities and far better interoperability since open-source firmware doesn't obsess over maintaining their own proprietary junk.

And how many of those do you have in your house?

No, Port Channel is a Cisco specific term for their implementation of bonding. They also have their proprietary HSRP but you don't see everyone going around calling failover HSRP now do you? Not to mention some of their naming conventions are so out of date they're probably older than you are.

---------- Post added at 10:50 ---------- Previous post was at 10:48 ----------

Indeed, and you can also get switch modules for "olde worlde" routers too... Bt frankly I don't see many sane people tolerating the noise or cost of enterprise type managed switches in their living room.

Re: Network switch help.
 

TP-Link are actually quite good.. It's also worth remembering that the various standards (ethernet, TCP/IP and the various IEEE network standards supporting those) are well known enough that there is little chance of any incompatibility that would adversely affect a home user.

Sure, in a commercial setting, the vendors like to put in enhancements so that if you (say) stick to Cisco switches and routers, the network will be easier to manage, but this wouldn't affect home users.

Personally, I have always used Netgear or Cisco/Linksys routers, but when I eventually look to cable up the house with Ethernet sockets, I would be happy to use a TP link switch.

---------- Post added at 11:34 ---------- Previous post was at 11:30 ----------

True.. I've set up various networks using Cisco Routers and rather old 2960 switches. Get a few of those babies working together and all of a sudden, it sounds like you are standing in an airport, by a jet as it's taking off.

Re: Network switch help.
 

Aye configuring network devices in the office before shipping off to the data centre isn't seen as the most popular practice between the more civilised inhabitants ;)

My lads were banned from doing that sometime ago so we normally console via an out-of-band switch where it's permitted.

Re: Network switch help.
 

^^ One of the benefits of having your own office :)

Hehe. A single Dell rack server with the lid off (which makes it spin all fans up to 100%) can be just as bad. I used to share an office with a lady in purchasing, she really hated that!

I believe the local hacklab has a rather thick glass cabinet door between them and their stack of Cisco playground gear.