Advantages: So Easy installation, Simple and effective design Disadvantages: None of which I know
GENERAL OVERVIEW
This 3COM OfficeConnect switch is considered my best. It has simple yet effective design and so easy to use and configure: just plug the cables and it is on. It is very useful for home networks and small business networks, as it can connect up to 5 computers with the 10/100 Mbits per second speed.
FEATURES
Five autosensing ports automatically detect the speed of the attached device to maximize network performance
With plug-and-play installation and no configuration needed, the switch fits easily into your unmanaged network
Full-duplex feature supports two-way data transfer, doubling the effective bandwidth of the network
Compact, fanless design ensures quiet operation in small office spaces
Connectors at rear help reduce cable clutter
FCC Class B switch is approved for use in small office and home office ...
Advantages: Advantages: Cheap, all in one solution Disadvantages: No manual overide or audio support
stops autoscanning and lets you use the currently selected PC.
The Belkin claims support for scrolling mice but I did find sometimes one PC would start up without recognising this facility if it wasn't the currently selected one when booting up and in extreme cases, wouldn't recognise the keyboard and mouse at all. Previous KVM's I've used send the PC fake 'There's a keyboard and mouse here' messages when not selected and it seems this unit does not, which is a pity.
Conclusion
The Belkin 2 port KVM is a well built unit that works nicely and provides a great way to save desk space and the cost of a second monitor, keyboard and mouse. The long leads are useful and despite the niggles with scrolling mice and the lack of manual switch. I'd say this unit is worth considering at this price if you can live with those shortcomings ...
Advantages: Simple, dual speed, small size Disadvantages: Only 5 ports (?)
Not much to say about this really. I bought this for a pound (!) on Ebay to connect to my router giving me 4 more ethernet ports to connect stuff to my network. That's all it does, gives you more connection; there's no firewall, DCHP, nothing, but then that's all in my router.
Its 5 autosensing ports (Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45)automatically detect the speed of the attached device to maximize network performance - with a data transfer rate of up to 100 Mbps.
It really was a "plug-and-play" installation with no configuration needed, it connected straight into my network - I didn't even ned to read the manual ! The auto-sensing feature means that you can plug the "in" cable into any socket - another 3Comswitch I have has a specific "in" port.
It's nice and small (Weight 0.6 kg, Height 4.2 cm, depth 13.5 cm, Width 22 ...
Product Information for "3Com Switch 5500-SI - switch - 48 ports" »
Manufacturer's product description
The 3Com Switch 5500-SI 52-Port is a premium stackable 10/100 switch with Standard Image (SI) 3Com OS software for businesses looking for enhanced network security, performance and reliability. 48-ports operate at 10/100 speeds while an additional four active ports can be customized using SFP modules for copper or fiber Gigabit uplinks or integrated stacking. SI models have dynamic Layer 3 (RIP) routing, Layer 2-4 QoS, and rate limiting features. This switch provides extensive security features - SNMP v3, SSH, network login - and resilient hot-swap stacking for simplified management and monitoring. All 3Com Switch 5500 products share the same operating system as the 3Com premium modular switches and routers, including the 3Com Switch 8800 and 7700. This permits you to manage an entire distributed switching and routing infrastructure from a single CLI or SNMP management platform such as 3Com Enterprise Management Suite or 3Com Network Director.
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