Maybe a dumb question but can i plug a gigabit switch into a non gigabit router and get the high speed  between my unraid server and my pc?  both have gigabit nic's.

 

 

both mbs are asus m2n32-sli deluxes. the router is a linksys wrt300n and i dont have a switch yet.

You will get the faster speeds with the switch. You will only connect with the router to get your ip address and to access the internet. You will use the switch to talk to your other computers.

 

Phil

Just make sure to plug both computers into the gigabit switch and not into the router.

Thanks guys. i was about to go out and buy a whole new router.

Thanks guys. i was about to go out and buy a whole new router.

 

A lot of folks do that when they don't need to.  In addition to a GigE switch often being much cheaper than a new router, reconfiguring a new router adds to the PITA factor.  A dumb switch is just plug and play.

 

 

Bill

I would use a switch in all cases (even if GbE was not involved).

 

Cheap router switches usually suck.

I don't have a cheapo router (LANCOM 1823 Wifi b/g/a/VoIP/VPN/ISDN/analog/blah/blah...), but still a switch is a switch.

 

On my new 3Com 8-port GbE switch I have 3 GbE PC + GbE unRAID + the router and everything goes nice.

Don't buy netgear, they suck and ports die for no reason. My last one, of the 5 ports, in about a year I was left with two full working, two working after I remove and reattach cable (port reset) and one completely dead.

 

 

I have 2 8-port Gigabit Netgear switches (blue boxes).  They have worked great - one for about 3 years, the other for about 1 year.  With only one vacant port, I would have no hesitation in buying another.  Everyone has their brand preferences.

Well I don't have my brand preferences.

I just reported what happened to mine.

3Com is a shadow of its past, so netgear seemed like an option - for me never again.

 

So what happened to yours? (one for 3 years, the other for 1) Sold them?

 

 

Using them.

Hope for long (or if something happens, to happen within the 5 years of warranty).

 

 

Thanks!  I have been looking for a 16 port gigaswitch to add to my network, but they are still a bit pricy.

I've had 3 Linksys SOHO routers and switches die on me in 4 years, makes me question their quality. But, I keep buying them anyway because they stack on top of each other (which is probably why they died). I created a nice little pile of dead devices next to my current ones. 

ok, yikes

 

 

How about Gigabit switches by Rosewill? Their reviews seems to be good and the switch is cheap. Newegg has one for $20 (after $20 rebate) + $8 shipping.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166013&Tpk=rosewill%2brc-409

 

VJ

I have the 8 port model (3 of them) I've been satisfied with it. Beats my older linksys.

Thanks!  I have been looking for a 16 port gigaswitch to add to my network, but they are still a bit pricy.

 

Keep an eye on ebay, picked up a Dell 2724 (24-port managed gigabit) for $57 plus $10 shipping.  Regular price on ebay is going to be between $100-$150 plus shipping, which is still a good deal.  Just be very careful what you bid on, if you search for 24-port gigabit most of the results will be for 24-port 10/100 switches that have one or two gigabit ports added.  Not a bad deal if that's all you need (if you only have one or two computers with gigabit NICs, then that's all you'd need for now, then you can just upgrade when gigabit switches are even cheaper).

Must be American only (rosewill I mean). Never even heard of the brand.

 

 

Rosewill is newegg.com's own in-house brand.

Ah ok figures.

 

Thanks.

I bought one of these green DLink switches and haven't had any problems with it: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127082

 

It supposedly saves some power compared to other switches when devices which are plugged into it are turned off. I bought it because of its good reviews on newegg -- I didn't even realize that it was a "green" switch until it arrived.

Does anyone know the difference between Netgear's Blue and White switches? I have a 5-port GigE switch that's been perfect for the last 9 months or so. As I've looked at a bigger one, I sometimes wonder at myself for being influenced by aesthetics on a switch

 

I don't have any other Netgear gear, but as a Mac user I'm drawn towards the white, which looking at it now, is a bit dirty.