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 5port 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 5ports 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: small, plug and play, cheap Disadvantages: not manageable but at this price, can't complain
I've known Netgear's stuff through work, and needed a little switch for home as I have currently have three PCs connected and sharing an internet connection.
For those who are unaware of what a network switch does, it allows multiple computers to talk to one-another via their network cards. As most PCs now come with at least one network port as standard, then having more than PC in a household becomes an interesting prospect.
This is the smallest 5portswitch I have ever seen, not much wider than the 5 network ports at it's rear. The unit comes with a power supply, but no network cables, these will need to be purchased seperately.
Each port has a single status indicator on the front of the switch, flashing when transfer is taking place.
This is a 10/100 network switch, gigabitswitches are available elsewhere. This switch ...
Product Information for "Linksys 5-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Switch SD2005 - switch - 5 ports" »
Manufacturer's product description
The 5-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Switch provides non-blocking, wire speed switching for your 10, 100, and 1000 megabit network clients. Drop this switch in place of your current workgroup hub or switch, and you can upgrade your high-requirement workstations to full Gigabit speeds as necessary, while continuing to service other clients at their current speeds. Or build your network from the ground up, with appropriate link speeds for each user's requirements. Either way, it's perfect for graphics, multimedia, and other applications that have to move large files across the network quickly. With the 5-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Switch, you can connect your existing 10/100 Ethernet network to a Gigabit server backbone without any additional equipment. All ports have automatic MDI/MDI-X crossover detection, so you don't have to worry about the cable type. Each port independently and automatically negotiates for best speed and whether to run in half- or full-duplex mode. Address learning and aging is supported, as well as 802.3x flow control with head-of-line blocking prevention to keep your high-speed clients from bogging down in lower-speed traffic. Fast store-and-forward switching prevents damaged packets from being passed on into the network.
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