Need help choosing a router/switch
 

I need to buy a router or switch but I dont know what kind to get. I found one particualr switch but I don't know if its very good.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....oryId=cat01033
I just wanted to know if any of you have a better choice and another thing I'm not looking to spend a lot of this.

Well, which do you need? If you need a router, I suggest you get a router/switch combo. If you just need a hub, then I suggest you simply get a 5-port switch. So, I guess we need to know if you want a switch or a router or a combo.

In case you didn't know, a router is used to provide Internet to multiple computers on a network. A switch is just used to allow them to browse the same network. In other words, a router/switch combo would allow 4 computers to be connected to a network, all sharing the same Internet service.

-Lasereth

I've used routers from SMC, Belkin, and Linksys. The Linksys has been the best and most configurable for me.

If you need ports, get a router with 4 port switch. Otherwise, get a 4 or more port switch from Linksys, Netgear, etc.

i've got a netgear router/switch its for DSL and its ok you can do ALOT with it but mostly i just let it do its thing. depends on how fancy you want to get or how cheap you want to go.

If you need a switch, the D-Link DSS-8+ does it for me. If you need a router... I've had bad experiences with most of mine.

I'd go with either a router or switch or a combo just as long as it is reliable and cheap.

Linksys, netgear, and d-link are good, but I'd stay away from Belkin. I've had nothing but problems with their products.

If thats the case I think I'll just go with the one I posted

Definatly go LinkSys... I had problems w/ D-Link & none whatsoever w/ my LinkSys -- both the 'router (nat box)' and the wireless setup.

Linksys and SMC are 2 brands that I install all over the place. easy to configure.

As cheap as (retail) routers and switches are getting these days, it's not THAT big of a deal when one goes bad. Now, if you're doing a corporate install with uptime requirements, etc., then you need more than just a Linksys box from Best Buy.

But for a home DSL connection, most of them are the same. I'd say spend the extra buck or two for LinkSys.

I had 2 diffent linksys routers, both had problems with crashing, have other freinds that have the same problem with them.... I think we had too much bandwith back then.... But i bought me a dlink for $30 and it had a $20 rebate so it was $10 after all was said and done... I like the configureation on it better and NEVER had a problem with it.....

You guys are making this so complicated. You all have diffeent prefrences

One word, the 4 port linksys combo router/switch have a life of about one year. (Damn near to the day for 3 i have replaced). The 7 port linksys are really good. Speedstream are good and reletively cheap. I would also check out a managed switch. They are generally more reliable and more than you'll probably need. However, they are slightly more expensive.

get yourself a cisco 2514 and two aui > ethernet adapters and learn yourself IOS

:p

Haha. If everyone used Ciscos at least the overall quality of the Internet would improve... maybe. :)

If you have $500 to spend, I recommend a Sonicwall in that price range. I used one of the bigger Sonicwalls and it was nice. Very easy to use and nothing I couldn't configure : gazillions of ports to private IPs (one-to-one NAT), VPN, blah, blah.

Not quite the $50 Linksys tho. ;)