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I'm getting ready to purchase a 5-port 10/100 switch for my home network that is comprised of 3 machines: Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Professional and Windows 98 SE. Before I buy, however, I would like to know which switch is the better switch....LinkSys or Netgear?
Thanks!
Either one is good
Netgear is probably cheaper in price
I've set up a Netgear 10/100 autosensing 8-port switch for a client and had it running out of the box in minutes. No follow up calls on this contract either. Been running for months now.
3 desktop PCs (all Win98) and 1 laptop (WinME).
Don't go for cheap NICs though. I used 3Com 3C905's on all machines except the laptop.
I've used Linksys and it has worked fine. Regarding NIC's don't use 3C905's use Intel NIC's instead. 3com NIC's suck, they have a bunch of problems.
I have had identical performance with both
switches. I would just go for the one that is
less expensive.
Thanks for all the input on this topic. Through a little research, I have discovered that Best Buy has a $15 rebate on both switches. They are both priced the same at $59, making them both only $44 each +tax after rebate. Now that's pretty darn good!
As for the Netgear rebate, it ends on 8/11/01. The Linksys rebate ends on 9/8/01. Both rebate request have to be postmarked NLT 30 days after end of rebate.
You can download both rebate forms on their website <a href="http://www.bestbuy.com" target="_blank">www.bestbuy.com</a>
If I saved you some money, email me and let me know! That's an extra case of beer in your fridge on me!
[quote]Originally posted by CJK:
<strong>I've used Linksys and it has worked fine. Regarding NIC's don't use 3C905's use Intel NIC's instead. 3com NIC's suck, they have a bunch of problems.</strong><hr></blockquote>
:confused:
Don't know what planet you come from, but 3coms are the best on the market, intels are very good also. Its kinda like saying a Cisco switch is just as good as any other because you've never maxed it out.
Anyway, either is good. I've heard a lot back on the Linksys one, since thats the one we sell at my other job :D
[quote]Originally posted by CJK:
<strong>I've used Linksys and it has worked fine. Regarding NIC's don't use 3C905's use Intel NIC's instead. 3com NIC's suck, they have a bunch of problems.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I don't need to defend 3com, their reputation speaks for itself. And this topic is about Linksys or Netgear.
I respect everybodys opinions here. But most of the networks that I've dealt with that had 3com's NIC's usually had to be swapped out for other cards. It is just what I have seen, maybe I've been running into a bunch of bad batches of bad 3com NIC's. I have less trouble with them than realtek NIC's and I know realtek cards are low end, for cost only. I just have a lot of good success with Intel. I know the driver was a big problem for a while and I know they updated them, but I haven't tried them since and you guys are probably right but I'm happy sticking with Intel. Sorry about not being on topic.
the linksys and Netgear, are both descent, I use allot of Netgear stuff and also keep in mind that Netgear is a Bay Networks company. though dealing with the dsl routers the linsys is allot easier to use.
about the NIC battle, hey 3com is good, so is intel. But I use netgear cards and they work just fine for me, yet my one intel card does by all means kick *** :)
Just a warning: if your planning on using any VPN's through your internet sharing device you are limited to only one at a time with Netgear and Linksys, Nexland is the only one I've found that does multiple IPSec (for an internet sharing device.) Otherwise, I'm running a Netgear RT 314 at home for cable and it has been great.
I've stayed with linksys for my home network. All linksys NIC cards are doing fine, except those that got overclocked. Anyway, the Linksys 5port 10mbps hub was upgraded to a linksys 5 port 10/100 switch, and I had no problems. I just swapped the hub out and it was all back up. I've never used netgear, so I can't judge. As far as linksys drivers go, sometime their drivers are a bit tricky to install. Of course, I was having to walk user over the phone on trying to unzip the drivers, find them, then try to install them. Sometimes, it was mad almost impossible by the person on the other end. Just my 2 cents, but I've never worked with netgear products so I can't say anything about them.
linksys 10/100 switch like the "FESWSK5 - EtherFast Switched 10/100 Network in a Box"
works great never have a problem expect for linksys nic's they dont see to last that long.