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Thread: Switch or hub or does it not matter?

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    Asking silly questions menthel's Avatar
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    Switch or hub or does it not matter?

    Right, I am confused having googled and got different answers.

    I need to connect a couple of computers to a homeplug in my back room. Do I need a hub or a switch?
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    Comfortably Numb directhex's Avatar
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    Re: Switch or hub or does it not matter?

    a hub receives data on port 1, and sends it on ports 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

    a switch receives data on port 1, and sends it on port 7, since that's the one the correct recipient pc is connected to

    a hub also runs at the speed of the slowest connected device, whilst switches set speed per-port

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    Re: Switch or hub or does it not matter?

    So for a network simpleton like me a hub then?
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    Re: Switch or hub or does it not matter?

    no, Switch.

    I am still not sure why hubs are still used to be honest.

    how many ports do you need?
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    Re: Switch or hub or does it not matter?

    2-3 but would like the option to have a couple more.
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    Re: Switch or hub or does it not matter?

    Quote Originally Posted by menthel View Post
    So for a network simpleton like me a hub then?
    desktop switches are 100% self-configuring

    they simply don't suck like hubs, that's all

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    Re: Switch or hub or does it not matter?

    Quote Originally Posted by directhex View Post
    desktop switches are 100% self-configuring

    they simply don't suck like hubs, that's all
    Thanks. That is the level of explaination I need!
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    Re: Switch or hub or does it not matter?

    Quote Originally Posted by jay_oasis View Post
    I am still not sure why hubs are still used to be honest.
    For troubleshooting network issues it can be handy to use a hub - taking a trace of network traffic between machines A and B using machine C, without needing to put any overhead on either of the machines being monitored.
    Clusters with more than 2 nodes can like hubs for their private/heartbeat LANs too.
    With a managed switch it can be done with SPAN or mirror ports, but it's a pain by comparison.

    But for actual "use", a switch is greatly preferred.
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    Re: Switch or hub or does it not matter?

    I used to love the fact that on a hub on a network with the correct software you could read other peoples IMs

    I can see that it would be pretty good for taking a trace of packets from one system to another. Its just the clashes that can happen that used to really annoy me.
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    Re: Switch or hub or does it not matter?

    □ΞVΞ□

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