Advantages: Cheap, reliable, simple to use Disadvantages: None.
I liked this switch so much, I bought two of them.
Netgear have a reputation for cheap and reliable networking equipment, and this 5 port unmanaged switch is no exception.
When I bought my two, they were retailing online for approx £35 each - but these days you should be able to get one for approx £25 (inc VAT.)
The switch is more or less the size of my hand (yes, I have big hands). With 5 ports on the back - all are auto-sensing, as is the gigabit standard, so you don't have to worry about crossover cables if you're daisy-chaining switches... The only other port on the back is for power, which is the usual "wall-wart" plug in transformer you get with most home networking equipment.
Given the switch is unmanaged, you can just plug desktop computers, laptops, XBOXes, network printers straight into the switch, and not worry ...
Advantages: Easy installation, small, sturdy, quiet, auto uplink Disadvantages: Runs quite hot
This is a 10/100/1000Mbps switch with 5 auto-sensing ports
Visual Description
A compact unit measuring 16cm x 10cm x 3cm (approx)
Housed in a very sturdy blue metal casing with venting slots on the side and back
Looks very professional
5 Front mounted UTP sockets
Rear mounted PSU socket (12 Volt, 1.2 Amp, Centre Positive) and Earth tag
LED indicators to display 10Mb, 100Mb, 1000Mb connection, Activity, Full Duplex, Collisions and Power
Installation
The GS105 switch comes supplied with manuals, 12 Volt (1.2Amp) PSU, ethernet cable, and the unit itself. Installation is very simple and requires no configuration as this is an un-managed switch. Simply connect your existing CAT5 cables from your PC to the switch, it will detect the connection speed and cable type. No need to worry about using cross-over cables or straight through ...
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 ...
Product Information for "Hawking Gigabit Web-Smart Switch HGS16S - switch - 16 ports" »
Manufacturer's product description
The Hawking HGS16S is an ideal solution for workgroup and enterprise users, and is designed for easy installation, high performance, and seamless migration between 10Base-T, 100Base-TX, and 1000Base-T network speeds. The switch includes 16 10/100/1000M auto-negotiation, auto-MDI/MDIX ports and provides a flexible, reliable, and affordable solution for an Ethernet network. Each port delivers up to 2000Mbps throughput, which can give workstations a larger, congestion-free data pipe for simultaneous access to the server or backbone. The HGS16S features embedded advanced management capabilities: the device can be managed via a web-based user interface or console port, thereby allowing the system manager to monitor and control the system efficiently. The N-Way auto-negotiation (or auto-sense) function automatically adjusts the device for optimum operation, and store-and-forward architecture filters allow for low latency, eliminate error packets, and improve efficiency. In addition, the HGS16S can be expanded by cascading two or more switches together. The switch is also ideal for micro-segmenting large networks into smaller, connected subnets for improved performance, thereby enabling the bandwidth required by today's networks for increasingly demanding applications of all kinds. The switch is plug-and-play with no software to configure, and the built-in universal power supply lets you easily install the switch without an external power adapter.
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