#285556 - 16/08/2006 02:36
GigE switch recommendations please
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enthusiast
Registered: 06/08/2002
Posts: 333
Loc: The Pilbara, Western Australia
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I would like to purchase a Gigabit ethernet switch (8 port) to upgrade my home network, can anyone recommend a good brand please?
Is it possible to get features such as SPI firewall in a switch or do I need a router?
Is a hardware firewall even worth it if all the computers on the network are running software firewalls?
TIA.
_________________________
Peter.
"I spent 90% of my money on women, drink and fast cars. The rest I wasted." - George Best
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#285557 - 16/08/2006 05:51
Re: GigE switch recommendations please
[Re: pedrohoon]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
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Quote:
I would like to purchase a Gigabit ethernet switch (8 port) to upgrade my home network, can anyone recommend a good brand please?
I've always found the metal casing Netgear equipment to be quite nice and also very robust. I've no experience with their cheaper home range which is plastic.
Quote:
Is it possible to get features such as SPI firewall in a switch or do I need a router?
You'd need a router. If you've got the space then find an old PC and install IPCop
Quote:
Is a hardware firewall even worth it if all the computers on the network are running software firewalls?
Yes
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#285558 - 16/08/2006 06:25
Re: GigE switch recommendations please
[Re: tman]
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enthusiast
Registered: 06/08/2002
Posts: 333
Loc: The Pilbara, Western Australia
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Thanks Trevor, I was originally looking at this or this, but if I want an affordable hw firewall included, I may have to drop the number of ports and go with this Netgear product. What do you think of the last linked product? Thanks.
_________________________
Peter.
"I spent 90% of my money on women, drink and fast cars. The rest I wasted." - George Best
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#285559 - 16/08/2006 06:29
Re: GigE switch recommendations please
[Re: pedrohoon]
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pooh-bah
Registered: 12/02/2002
Posts: 2298
Loc: Berkeley, California
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Well, see, a router and a switch are two completely different things. If you insist on having them combined, you'll be at the manufacturers mercy. However, there's no reason to combine them, as no home router could possibly route at gigabit speeds, so you might as well get a good router and a good switch, as opposed to a "convergence device".
Matthew
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#285560 - 16/08/2006 09:38
Re: GigE switch recommendations please
[Re: matthew_k]
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enthusiast
Registered: 06/08/2002
Posts: 333
Loc: The Pilbara, Western Australia
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OK, so if I was to get a Linksys WRT54G router which I have read is the one to go for, and a gigabit switch such as the Netgear GS608, why would that be better than the combined product (disregarding the wireless aspect and number of gigabit ports)?
_________________________
Peter.
"I spent 90% of my money on women, drink and fast cars. The rest I wasted." - George Best
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#285561 - 16/08/2006 10:47
Re: GigE switch recommendations please
[Re: tman]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 29/08/2000
Posts: 14486
Loc: Canada
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Quote:
I've always found the metal casing Netgear equipment to be quite nice and also very robust. I've no experience with their cheaper home range which is plastic.
They have exactly the same guts, except with metal casings the PSU is frequently built-in, rather than an external brick.
-ml
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#285562 - 16/08/2006 16:26
Re: GigE switch recommendations please
[Re: mlord]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
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Quote:
Quote:
I've always found the metal casing Netgear equipment to be quite nice and also very robust. I've no experience with their cheaper home range which is plastic.
They have exactly the same guts, except with metal casings the PSU is frequently built-in, rather than an external brick.
Ahh okay. Never bothered to look inside. I still like the metal casing 
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#285563 - 16/08/2006 16:39
Re: GigE switch recommendations please
[Re: pedrohoon]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 30/10/2000
Posts: 4931
Loc: New Jersey, USA
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Quote:
OK, so if I was to get a Linksys WRT54G router which I have read is the one to go for, and a gigabit switch such as the Netgear GS608, why would that be better than the combined product (disregarding the wireless aspect and number of gigabit ports)?
I have WRT54GS running DD-WRT and I can't recommend it (or the WRT54G) more highly. The router with DD-WRT is rock-solid and gives incredible flexibility.
I use an EG005W with my WRT54GS because they lock on to each other. It's only 5-port because I only have three gigabit products to plug in to it and I picked it up really cheap on ebay. There is also an 8 port version available.
_________________________
-Rob Riccardelli
80GB 16MB MK2 090000736
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#285564 - 16/08/2006 17:15
Re: GigE switch recommendations please
[Re: robricc]
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old hand
Registered: 14/04/2002
Posts: 1172
Loc: Hants, UK
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I will second DD-WRT. I just use it as a wireless bridge linking to a Netgear DG834G downstairs (non-WDS) so don't need half the features really, but it does a heck of a lot of stuff.
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#285565 - 16/08/2006 18:11
Re: GigE switch recommendations please
[Re: pedrohoon]
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addict
Registered: 13/06/2000
Posts: 429
Loc: Berlin, DE
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I use Netgear switches like the GS105/GS108 all over the place. Never had a problem with them.
For routing/firewalling I use a soekris box with LEAF. But I'm doing a set of my own custom bridging filters.
The Linksys WRT54GL is a nice alterative. Designed to be firmware upgraded with other linux versions.
_________________________
80gig red mk2 -- 080000125
(No, I don't actually hate Alan Cox)
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#285566 - 18/08/2006 12:07
Re: GigE switch recommendations please
[Re: SuperQ]
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enthusiast
Registered: 06/08/2002
Posts: 333
Loc: The Pilbara, Western Australia
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Thanks for the replies everyone, I am going to order the WRT54GL and the Netgear GS608 - unfortunately Rob, the Linksys gigabit switches don't seem to be available in Australia and I am very wary of eBay!
_________________________
Peter.
"I spent 90% of my money on women, drink and fast cars. The rest I wasted." - George Best
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#285567 - 18/08/2006 13:23
Re: GigE switch recommendations please
[Re: tman]
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carpal tunnel
Registered: 18/01/2000
Posts: 5682
Loc: London, UK
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Quote:
Ahh okay. Never bothered to look inside. I still like the metal casing
Yeah, I'm with Trevor on this one. The silver boxes are uugly.
_________________________
-- roger
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