Gigabit switches

On Fri, 8 Apr 2005 11:57:09 -0500, "Phillip Windell" <@.> wrote:
 >"__BCW" <__BCW DeleteThis @nospam.com> wrote in message
 >news:9u7c51h3h9jnj82vtcooii3unrcao4o5u9@4ax.com...
  >> I've been trying to find info re best low-budget 8-port Gigabit switches.
  >> Plugged common model numbers into Google: Zero hits! I've heard
  >> various reports about the following:
  >>
  >> SMC8508T
  >> Netgear: GS108, GS108NA
  >> Netgear GS608
  >> D-Link DGS-1008D
  >> Linksys SD2008
  >> Linksys EG008W
  >>
  >> All are in the $100 range.
  >>
  >> I've used other Linksys products in the past, so I initially picked up
  >> an SD2008. The thing may be functionally perfect (I dunno) but it
  >> deserves its reputation for Loud. It's distracting. EG008W is supposed
  >> to be just as bad.
  >>
  >> I never thought I'd want to specify a computer part by noise level,
  >> but are any of the other switches above decent AND quieter than
  >> the Linksys? I'd love to hear functional comparisons as well as
  >> noise. I can probably deal with 5 ports if necessary.
  >>
 >I am not familiar with individual model numbers, but if you buy commercial
 >grade 19 inch rack mountable equipment it will probably be "loud" with more
 >powerful, heavier duty fans. If you want quiet, you will probably have to
 >go with the cheap, light weight, "home user" products which often don't have
 >any fans at all.

These *are* SOHO units, in rather tiny cases...<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Gigabit switches 

__BCW wrote:
 > I've been trying to find info re best low-budget 8-port Gigabit switches.
 > Plugged common model numbers into Google: Zero hits! I've heard
 > various reports about the following:
 >
 > SMC8508T
 > Netgear: GS108, GS108NA
 > Netgear GS608
 > D-Link DGS-1008D
 > Linksys SD2008
 > Linksys EG008W
 >
 > All are in the $100 range.
 >
 > I've used other Linksys products in the past, so I initially picked up
 > an SD2008. The thing may be functionally perfect (I dunno) but it
 > deserves its reputation for Loud. It's distracting. EG008W is supposed
 > to be just as bad.
 >
 > I never thought I'd want to specify a computer part by noise level,
 > but are any of the other switches above decent AND quieter than
 > the Linksys? I'd love to hear functional comparisons as well as
 > noise. I can probably deal with 5 ports if necessary.
 >
 >
Fry's had 5 port Airlink switches on sale for 30 bucks a few days ago.
A pair of those will give you 8 net ports for 60 bucks. I've been using
them and they seem fine.

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 >> Stay informed about: Gigabit switches 

CJT wrote:
 > __BCW wrote:
 >
  >> I've been trying to find info re best low-budget 8-port Gigabit switches.
  >> Plugged common model numbers into Google: Zero hits! I've heard
  >> various reports about the following:
  >>
  >> SMC8508T
  >> Netgear: GS108, GS108NA
  >> Netgear GS608
  >> D-Link DGS-1008D
  >> Linksys SD2008
  >> Linksys EG008W
  >>
  >> All are in the $100 range.
  >>
  >> I've used other Linksys products in the past, so I initially picked up
  >> an SD2008. The thing may be functionally perfect (I dunno) but it
  >> deserves its reputation for Loud. It's distracting. EG008W is supposed
  >> to be just as bad.
  >>
  >> I never thought I'd want to specify a computer part by noise level,
  >> but are any of the other switches above decent AND quieter than
  >> the Linksys? I'd love to hear functional comparisons as well as
  >> noise. I can probably deal with 5 ports if necessary.
  >>
  >>
 > Fry's had 5 port Airlink switches on sale for 30 bucks a few days ago.
 > A pair of those will give you 8 net ports for 60 bucks. I've been using
 > them and they seem fine.
 >

BTW, they don't have (or need, apparently) fans.

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 >> Stay informed about: Gigabit switches 

On Sat, 09 Apr 2005 04:04:24 GMT, CJT <abujlehc RemoveThis @prodigy.net> wrote:

 >CJT wrote:
  >> __BCW wrote:
  >>
   >>> I've been trying to find info re best low-budget 8-port Gigabit switches.
   >>> SMC8508T
   >>> Netgear: GS108, GS108NA
   >>> Netgear GS608
   >>> D-Link DGS-1008D
   >>> Linksys SD2008
   >>> Linksys EG008W
   >>> I never thought I'd want to specify a computer part by noise level,
   >>> but are any of the other switches above decent AND quieter than
   >>> the Linksys?
   >>>
  >> Fry's had 5 port Airlink switches on sale for 30 bucks a few days ago.
  >> A pair of those will give you 8 net ports for 60 bucks. I've been using
  >> them and they seem fine.
 >
 >BTW, they don't have (or need, apparently) fans.

Thanks. I'm not familiar with Airlink, but I'll give them a look.
Someone must have come out with a 5-port chipset, cause everything is
5-port rather than 4. Kind of strange in a binary world.

BTW, to other responses: Yes, all of the switches above could
probably be considered 'consumer' items these days. I didn't know
anyone bothered to make an upscale 8-port switch (thought they
were all 16+).

I think the SMC and maybe the DLink support jumbo frames. Linksys and
Netgear do not. I guess it's no big deal for the moment.

You'd think that others would be using the same chipset as Linksys,
but as far as I know, Linksys is the only one with the loud fan. Some
say it gets warm despite, but I haven't noticed a heat problem. It
is, however, louder than a complete tower enclosure with several fans
and 500W supply. Quite an achievement for a tiny case.

Also, Linksys's tech support people, with an individual extension for
switches, didn't know their own model numbers. Needless to say, they
had zero technical info. I tried to bring them up to speed on their
own model numbers at least. <g><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Gigabit switches 

_R wrote:
<snip>
 > Someone must have come out with a 5-port chipset, cause everything is
 > 5-port rather than 4. Kind of strange in a binary world.
 >
I think the rationale may be that one will be used as an uplink,
leaving you with 4 net.

<snip>
 > Also, Linksys's tech support people, with an individual extension for
 > switches, didn't know their own model numbers. Needless to say, they
 > had zero technical info. I tried to bring them up to speed on their
 > own model numbers at least. <g>
 >
That might relate to their buyout by Cisco, whose folks probably
wouldn't know much about their newly acquired product lines.

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 >> Stay informed about: Gigabit switches 

On Sat, 09 Apr 2005 16:33:00 GMT, CJT <abujlehc.RemoveThis@prodigy.net> wrote:

 >_R wrote:
 ><snip>
  >> Someone must have come out with a 5-port chipset, cause everything is
  >> 5-port rather than 4. Kind of strange in a binary world.
  >>
 >I think the rationale may be that one will be used as an uplink,
 >leaving you with 4 net.

I follow. Maybe they didn't think 8-port switches were likely to be
extended.

 ><snip>
  >> Also, Linksys's tech support people, with an individual extension for
  >> switches, didn't know their own model numbers. Needless to say, they
  >> had zero technical info. I tried to bring them up to speed on their
  >> own model numbers at least. <g>
  >>
 >That might relate to their buyout by Cisco, whose folks probably
 >wouldn't know much about their newly acquired product lines.

I think their tech support is in India and the Pillipines. Linksys
has two 8-port switches. They are roughly the same price and
spec, but but they look completely different. One is supposedly
a Cisco product and one a Linksys. Theiir tech support was
familiar with neither.

I've had good luck connecting with competent techs in the
past, even a few months ago. Not sure what happened.

switches I asked about was<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Gigabit switches 

On Fri, 08 Apr 2005 18:02:49 -0400, daytripper
<day_trippr.DeleteThis@REMOVEyahoo.com> wrote:


 >These *are* SOHO units, in rather tiny cases...

Yes but the SMC8508T come with a kit to make it rack mountable. It
has no fans so its silent and supports Jumbo frames up to 9K. It's a
safe buy IMHO.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Gigabit switches