The EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Switch is the easiest, most flexible way to boost your networks performance while migrating to the power of Fast Ethernet. Designed to meet the needs of small businesses, medium businesses and SOHO networks, the EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Switch is the best value for your networking dollar.
The EtherFast 10/100 5-port Switch eliminates data bottlenecks and bandwidth constraints, optimizing network performance while protecting your investment in your existing infrastructure. By migrating your entire network to 100Mbps Fast Ethernet with the EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Switch, you will have the power to double your networks performance with dedicated full duplex bandwidth on every port. If you want to run high-end video, multimedia and other speed-intensive applications at blistering speeds, theres no better choice for your networking dollar than the EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Switch.
The EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Switch provides an easy and flexible way to boost your network's performance while migrating to the power of Fast Ethernet. It is designed to meet the needs of small businesses, medium-size businesses, and small-office/home-office networks, and it allows you to run high-end video, multimedia, and other speed-intensive applications at blistering speeds.
With support for half- and full-duplex speeds, the switches allow your network to run at 10 Mbps, 20 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and an incredible 200 Mbps, which provides a cost-effective solution if you ever decide to upgrade your Ethernet network. The EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Switch eliminates data bottlenecks and bandwidth constraints, optimizing network performance while protecting your investment in your existing infrastructure. By migrating your entire network to 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet with the EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Switch, you will have the power to double your network's performance with dedicated, full-duplex bandwidth on every port.
1 Mac users: Does not work with AppleTalk
If you are a Macintosh user, you should know of a very important limitation of all Linksys hubs & switches, including this one: This switch will NOT route AppleTalk information on your network. What that means is that if you are a Macintosh user who is trying to use file sharing via AppleTalk, or if you have an older AppleTalk printer (such as the older line of HP LaserJet printers), you will be out of luck with this switch... or any Linksys hub/switch. Besides the lack of Macintosh AppleTalk support, this switch seems to work just fine.
2 Fast, inexpensive home networking
I purchased my second Linksys EZXS55W recently to expand my home network. My first EZXS55W has been up and running for almost three years now, without a single hitch. However, due to the evolution of my home network, additional ports became necessary to accomodate all of the attached devices.
To discover the ability of this switch to deal with a complex network configuration, read on...
My network consists of: One HP desktop computer, which connects via a Linksys PCI ethernet adapter card; one Sony VAIO laptop computer, which connects via a Xircom PCMCIA wired ethernet card adapter; another Sony VAIO laptop, which connects via a Linksys 802.11b PCMCIA wireless ethernet adapter card; a Linksys wireless access point; an HP EX-Plus3 print server, connecting an HP laser printer; and, an additional ethernet port that I have wired for guests to use when they come to the house.
All of the above are wired to a Netgear router that resides off-site.
The network is configured as follows: Router > EZXS55W #1 > EZXS55W #2. The desktop and laptop are conncected to the first EZXS55W, as are the router and access point. The second EZXS55W is uplinked from the first, and the print server and additional wired port are connected to it. This leaves three additional ports on the second unit for future use.
The ease of setup and terrific performance of the EZXS55W cannot be overstated. In a network like mine, many people would go with a far more expensive managed switch; but, as can be seen above, this is not necessary. A novice who simply wants to connect all of the devices in his or her home and provide Internet and/or file and printer access to each of them can do so very easily with this switch.
The only issues one must consider before purchasing this switch:
1) This switch, unlike many others these days, uses an uplink port. This requires that the proper type of cable be used in the appropriate port. No big deal, but if you're not sure, you should consult the installation guide (or ask a more knowledgable friend) before attempting to install the switch.
2) Use of the uplink port disables the port beside it. Therefore, an uplinked switch has only four ports available to connect devices. If you need more ports, or think you might in the near future, consider buying the Linksys 8-port switch.
3) The switch is AC-powered. Be sure that there is an electrical outlet near the place where you want to install the switch.
These very minor concerns aside, the Linksys EZXS55W is a terrific ethernet switch at an absolutely unbeatable price. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to expand their home network quickly and easily.
3 Excellent Little Switch - Does What it's Designed For!
This switch does exactly what it's designed for, sharing an Ethernet connnection. Don't expect to be able to configure VLANs, multilayer switching, VLAN trunks, load balancing, etc. This does not have any routing, NAT, or firewall capabilities. You would use this switch when you already have a router between your internal network and the Internet, and you need additional Ethernet ports. This gives you a full duplex Ethernet connection at wired speed, and it delivers! Perfect for the home office/LAN or for technicians needing extra Etherenet ports for their workbench, as this is what I use mine for. Thanks for reading! Hope this helps!
4 Perfect little unit
I had been using a Linksys router for a few years before buying this switch. Then I changed to a new DSL provider (Frontiernet) whose modem is also a router, so I picked up this switch to split my connection to various computers in my home (having two routers on Frontiernet caused problems with TCP port forwarding). First, I was surprised by the compact size of the switch. I hooked it up and it was good to go - a slick connection and no messing around. It is a perfect companion to the Speedstream 5200 DSL modem, and probably many others.
5 great with xbox linked gaming
many people use this to connect there computers well if you own an xbox you can use it to link 4 xboxs without the need to connect to the internet with live making you spend 60 bucks instead buy this link. it lost one star for eing very bulky.
6 Sweet little switch
I suppose there isn't much I can say about this switch that hasn't already been said, but I'm trying to improve my Amazon recommendations by reviewing items, so...
This little switch is a beauty. It just works. This is one of those items that's invisible when it's working properly, and you really don't even notice it. It's compact size ( despite the listed dimensions on Amazon ) makes it very portable for those impromptu LANs, and it just looks good. You'd do well getting one. There are frequently offers for this item, so try not to pay full price. Also, the pictured item doesn't seem to match with the actual switch, so be certain which you're getting, I suppose.
7 A Fine Switch
This product has served me just fine. I have experienced no problems with this switch, and I am certainly glad that I got this because I have a computer on 10Mb (instead of 100Mb), and I would not want that one computer to slow all the others down. It seems a little overpriced for what it does, but as a product, its performance has been optimal.
8 Well well well! Blew me away completely!
Having been hooked up via a Netgear hub for the past two years, I wondered if I could gain any networking improvements by installing a switch. I was concerned by some articles relating to their 'configuration' however. Well, as one reviewer has already said, "it took longer to take it out of the box than to install it!". Hooked up the four workgroup PCs and VOILA........everything just came back up as though nothing had been altered, EXCEPT for the new SPEEEEEED!
Don't hesitate on buying this little beauty!
9 Review
I love Linksys networking equipment and this is no exception. The only thing I disliked about this switch is that it was not stackable with my existing Wireless Access Point (Linksys). I bought this switch assuming it would be stackable with my existing Linksys equipment. I think that Linksys does make a larger switch that will stack with the larger equipment. Other than this small inconvenice, this product is excellent.
10 Good switch, small occasional glitch
I have two of these devices at my apartment, and they both work great. Plug it in, turn it on, walk away. No more, no less, it "just works".
However, both of my switches seem to get mixed up from time-to-time, and will cause the network to act in bizarre ways (ie: it will seem to forget which MAC addresses are on which ports, causing selective network blackouts for specific machines). If you have one of these devices and your network appears to have stopped working for some reason, POWER CYCLE THE SWITCH FIRST. (this means turn it off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on)
My switches are on constantly, and they exhibit glitches after about 6-8 weeks of being constantly "ON". A quick power cycle sets them straight.
If this is unacceptable for your setup, then buy a different (more expensive) switch. For me, this is not a problem. Otherwise, just be aware of it.
It is also possible that linksys has fixed this problem in the newer switches. I wouldn't know. Mine are both "Model 2.0".
YMMV
11 This thing is the best
this router is the best router on the market and it is at a great price!
12 Nifty Little Toy
Excellent product. I had it out of the box, plugged into my 5 PC network and up and running in less than 2 minutes.
DLink was my first choice. However, I needed a switch right away and had trouble finding a local store that had the DLink in stock. I settled on the Linksys and am very happy with it.
I have only 2 concerns (any why I didn't give it a 5):
1. This product is TINY and the attached cables and power cord tend to drag it. A bit of velcro should fix that. ;)
2. The manual is a waste of trees. On the other hand, the device was so simple to hook up, a manual is almost unneccessary.
Anyone who has problems with this little puppy either has bigger problems or needs to rethink why they're trying to do home networking.
13 Get connected
Great product. Good price. Easy to install. We are using it as a hub/switch for our home network. This is the same product recommended by Earthlink Home Networking at a better price than they offer.
14 Great switch, never had a problem
This is a great network switch. I own a laptop and a desktop computer, but I only have one network jack in my room. This lets me use both at once. It can transfer data at 100 Mb/s, even with four computers on it; unlike hubs, the bandwith is not shared, so all computers work at 100 Mb/s. It works in full duplex mode, so there is no lag when transfering and recieving data at the same time. I have had it running for months now and have not had one error or connection failure. This is a great buy for anyone with more than one computer on a LAN.
15 Small, light, fast and works great but LEDs are reversed
My only complaint is the lights on the front are in reverse order from the cables at the back, but they are all numbered correctly anyway. Instead of a crossover switch for the uplink there is an extra port, so don't try to use all six plugs at once! ;)
A pleasant surprise for me was this *switch* cost me half of what I paid a couple years ago for a (now-dead) 5-port dual-speed *hub* (by another brand).
16 Linksys is to networking, like Kleenex is to tissues
If you want a solid 5 port switch for your home network, don't look any further. Linksys makes a quality product and you will be very happy with your purchase.
17 It works as described.
I plugged it in and it works. The simplest piece of networking hardware I have ever bought. I have 4 computers on the network. Three at 100 and one at 10 Mb/sec.
18 Good reliable small switch
This switch is an excellent choice for LAN parties and home networks where wireless access and internet routing are not important. I've never had any trouble using this switch, and you have instant connectivity the second you plug in. It has a sixth port for uplink to another switch etc..., this is helpful for expansion. It is rather small, and I find myself buying a bigger one now... So, you can save money by buying a big one first instead of buying a small one and expanding with another small one later.
19 Easy
For the price, it is a good deal. A lot faster than the similar Linksys hub, and also very easy to get set up. A great addition to an existing network or just as a start.
20 But the warranty seal is broken on arrival
Excelent quality but but the warranty seal is broken on arrival.
By the way, what does QC-06 and QC-C08 mean?
21 Ahhh, shared bandwidth!
My new hobby is fixing up older computers and running a distributed computing application on them (the United Devices cancer project). Alas, my Linksys 4-port router/DSL modem only has -- 4 ports!
So, time to buy a switch. Linksys has a great reputation for equipment reliability and easy of configuration & use. Their 5-port switch doesn't disappoint. With 200Mbps bandwidth in full-duplex mode, I'll never come close to saturating it with my current applications and data needs. But, the capability is there, and that's a good thing for the future (remember when you thought you'd "never" fill up your 400MB hard drive?!?).
Installation couldn't be simpler: unpack, plug it in, cable it to your router/modem, and plug your previously-unconnected machines into your new open network ports. Quick, easy, and it beats the heck out of stringing multiple Cat-5 cables all over the house.
At these prices, I bought two; I know I'll need it sooner or later (probably sooner). Highly recomended!
22 An awesome, convenient little ethernet switch
I have two of these Linksys switches on my home network. They are inexpensive, well constructed, and conveniently small. They have really fast throughput, and I've never once had a problem with them--you just plug them in and they work.
Be aware that these switches are a different form factor from the other Linksys home networking products--it's smaller and doesn't stack with, for example, the Linksys router/switch combo boxes. This isn't a problem for me personally, but it's certainly hard to tell from the picture. My only form factor complaint is that there isn't a built in way to mount this on a wall or on the side of a desk.
23 What's Wrong
I got this switch, hooked it up and everything was great. I telecommuted for work once or twice a week, and I was able to use my home PC and my laptop from work. Then one day I was having trouble connecting to the Internet from my home PC, I was already logged in on my laptop, but called the cable company anyway. There was a problem in my city, but when the technician was having me check my winipcfg, he asked if I had a router, and I told him that I had a router switch, well since that call I have not been able to use them both at the same time. It's either one or the other. Can the cable company give you an IP address that won't let you connect with the router switch. Why did this work for over 2 1/2 months, and then nothing. Anyone with an answer, I would appreciate it. The lights are on, there is nothing wrong with the router. My friend at work has one as well, he goes through another cable company, and they charge him a little extra to use this switch, but he just loves it. What do I have to do to get this to work again?
24 Good product but not quite as pictured
It's hard to get excited about an Ethernet switch because, I suspect, they're all pretty much the same. But every Linksys product I've ever bought has been excellent. Easy to use, quick to install, good quality and a great value. This unit is no different.
So let me explain my relatively low rating. First, the picture on this page is not the unit which comes in the box. I also have a Linksys broadband router and I was hoping that this switch would stack nicely on top of or below it. The pictured switch looks like it would do this with no problem but the actual product won't -- it's significantly smaller. Linksys claims that this is an improved "Palm-sized" form factor. While it looks cute, the size is NOT as convenient as you might think. When you have cables connected to the unit, they tend to pull it off of its footing because it's so light. So now I have to find a paperweight to keep the switch flat on the table. This is certainly not a fatal shortcoming, but you would think that Linksys would have experienced this in product testing and given the problem some thought.
Since this is probably the cheapest Ethernet switch you'll find without the hassle of a mail-in rebate, I still recommend it.
25 easy to use
Haveing multiple computers and a cable modem, this switch work wonderfuly. Plus it is small, it is tucked away but still easy to get at. And I have never had any problems with speed or losing connections. I was hesitate to try this switch because a friend had difficulties with a Linksys product, but I have actually enjoyed this switch more then i expected.
26 Excellent switch!
I bought the Linksys EZXS55W EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Switch a couple of weeks ago and my network is working faster than ever before! I have a DSL connection and before buying the switch I was getting slower internet and SOHO networking speeds. I bought this switch to work along with my new 2wire 100 home portal and both the internet speeds and SOHO networking speeds are incredibly reliable and fast! I run graphic intensive, real-time processes in my network (online gaming, dataset transfers, group graphic development over the internet, etc.) and everything works to perfection! I reccommend this switch if you are thinking about building a network, it's fast, reliable, and inexpensive. Also, if you have DSL or cable internet connections, buy a GOOD dedicated home portal/router like the 2wire 100, it is much better than any of the router/switch combinations that are out there.
27 Much faster
I have a Cisco 677 DSL Router acting as a DSL modem to my house. I initially hooked up a Linksys BEFSR41 Cable/DSL Router/Firewall but it bogged down the internet connection for the two computers connected. I then found out that my DSL modem (the Cisco) was also a Router. I replaced the BEFSR41 with this EZXS55W Switch as I figured that I didn't need two routers in line (though I lost the firewall in the process.) Result: both computers now have a much faster connection to the internet! I frequently use both computers simultaneously for internet gaming requiring high bandwidth and this box seems to get the job done just fine. Setup involved plugging it in and booting up the two PCs. Nice!
28 Excellent switch
The setup and connection was quick and painless. The documentation was excellent and the one call I made to get support for adding an older computer to the network got me up and running quickly. Using Internet Connection Sharing on W98 networking W95, W2000 and WindowsMe clients with NIC, PCMCIA and USB adapters with no problems.
29 It broke down after 18 months
My linksys EZXS55W recently starts to need a reset every 7 to 10 days. After reset, it works for about another 7 to 10 days. Then, all lights on the switch ports start to flicker every 10 seconds again. My computers report that ethernet links are down.
The hold time of Linksys tech support and RMA is routinely over 25 minutes and it keeps asking you: "If you wish to leave a message so that we could call you back, please press 1". Even when someone at tech support answered your call after that long wait, the person asked for your phone number and name so that someone could call you back! He even said he cannot gurantee the time frame when the technician could call back, but he expected that to be within a day or so. Linksys doesn't have a toll free RMA number either. So, if you call multiple times, it could cost a few bucks for the long distance.
Linksys did send me a new switch after I sent in the failed one after getting an RMA after a 1 hour 15 minutes hold time on tech support line. Their customer services department definitely needs some improvement.
30 Works Great, and Easy to Install
I needed an additional hub or switch to run from my Wireless DSL/Cable Router (which only had 1 PC/Uplink Port). This switch worked great, and seemed to be priced comparable to many hubs, which would have worked fine for me, but obviously not given the benefits of the switch.
If you need to add a few more computers to your existing network, this product is great.
31 Gotta love it!
I bought this switch along with a router and uplinked them together. I have 9 ports total and everything is working great. Would recommend it to anyone.
32 Great Product, but one odd thing
This is a slick little hub/switch. i saw immediate gains in performance over my old 5 port 10baset hub. The only odd thing is that the ports in the back are in opposite order of the lights on the front.
33 Great switch and netcards for my small LAN!
I bought the EtherFast 10/100 Linksys 5-Port Workgroup Switch EZXS55W and two Linksys 10/100 LAN EtherFast netcards. I installed one card on my Microsoft Windows 2000 Pro unit and another card on my Microsoft Windows 2000 Server using the included card driver floppy. I connected the switch to my cards with two RJ-45 LAN wires [...]. I hooked up the included WOL (Wake-On-LAN) card cable to my motherboard connector. Both cards installed immediately. I used the Performance Monitor to track the performance sending huge file folders over the connection - outstanding in my opinion. This product and the two netcards work great for me. And the included manuals with the switch and cards are quite specific and a great help.
34 A really solid product
The device worked pefectly from the moment I connected it. I can't say anything bad about my linksys products or the easy to understand instructions and support.
35 Customer Service? What's that?
If you buy this product you better pray it works. I purchased this product and it didn't work, sent it back to Amazon to get replaced. Then it still didn't work.
You might think that it was my setup but tech support has confirmed that it wasn't, and that this is the 2nd 'faulty' switch. However they have failed to send me an RMA number to send it back to them. I have called every day for the past 2 weeks to try and obtain this elusive 'RMA confirmation email'.
As of right now their tech support/customer service 800 number isn't even working or is overloaded.
If you buy this product, I hope it works for you. But if you think you might need some service from the company, you may want to think about going to a competitor (are there any in this price range?).
36 Excellent Fast Ethernet Switch for (almost) the $ of a Hub!
Heed all the reviewers who say to get a switch rather than a hub! Especially with this one: it's dirt cheap in price but not quality! On this, each port has a dedicated 100 Mbps (or 200 in full duplex) of bandwidth.
The only 'downside' is that the 5th port and the Uplink are shared, so you can only use one or the other. Seems to be standard on the smaller-sized Linksys products though, not a big deal. (This is even better if you can get it on sale but even on Amazon.com it is very reasonable!).
I have read that some top brands are better than other top brands. I haven't had much experience with using a wide variety of network equipment brands, but as far as Linksys goes I am completely satisfied. I have two BEFSR41 Cable/DSL Routers, several NIC's (network cards, LNE100TX, across several release versions), their dual intigrated 56K modem/Fast Ethernet PC Card (awesome, and no dongle!), and now this switch from them, and I don't have any complaints - they will continue to be my first choice.
37 Great upgrade
I upgraded my home network from a 10mbs hub to the 10/100 mbs switch. Just plugged the wires in and off it went. The only mistake I made was not checking Amazon first, their price is incredible. If your interested in sharing the internet, a file server, or gaming this is the right switch at the right price.
38 Excellent Unit...Great for LAN Parties and Home Networking!
This Unit is great. There simply was no configuring. Just plugged it in and everything was set and running! I used this at home to share Internet with 3 computers and it's fast and awesome. I also took this baby to a LAN party and hooked it up to 4 computers and used the uplink to the main hub. A total of 9 computers and half of which are using my Switch. And all the time, this Switch got the job done without any hassles! If you're looking for a descent network sharing device for 5 or less computers, this is it!
39 Now this is a great little product.
I mean this thing is small. I'm a network administrator, but I only have one ethernet port in my office, so I needed a switch (or hub) to allow me to add more than one computer to the network in here. This thing sits on my desk and have a really small footprint. It's awesome. It has all the indicator lights I need/want, and it fast, really fast. I have always been a fan of Linksys products, and this one is no different. If need a hub and can spare a few bucks for a switch, they are faster, and this one is great. And yes, it has an uplink port.
40 A breeze to install but no cable modem access!
I bought this thinking it could work with my ISP service and a cable modem to have multiple computers share Internet access but I was dead wrong. The unit doesn't seem to allow the sharing of a single IP address and that's all my Roadrunner ISP allows for each account. So, if you're in SoCal and are with Roadrunner, I suggest you get a router. Linksys has a decently affordable one--the Linksys BEFSR41 4-Port Etherfast Cable/DSL Router. Check it out. But not to beat this puppy with a shovel, it's not a bad switch. File transfer rates between computers through the switch aren't too bad and it's a cinch to install. Just remember to check all your network settings. Peace out.
41 Gamers go elsewhere, otherwise ok
I work in IT and had heard decent remarks about this switch. I purchased the switch about a month ago and had no problems with simple SOHO networking, but then some guys from work came over for a Quake 3 and Rainbow 6 LAN party, huge disappointment. We ended up using a hub instead and everything ran fine. You have to leave a message for Linksys tech support to call you back and i have been waiting now for 3 days. I have the 1 port router from Linksys and its great, but the switch is headed back to best buy.
42 Does what it said it would
I got mine as part of a kit (Linksys Switched 10/100 Network in a Box) which included the EZXS55W, 2 ethernet cards, 2 cables, and the manuals and software stuff... It works like a charm on my network under Windows98 - it's actually hard to tell when you're on another computers hard drive - it's that fast! (One thing it's not, however, is a router... It works fine for sharing an internet connection with computers running modems, but you can't share a DSL connection...I recently signed up for a DSL hookup and the phone company guys said I had to replace my Linksys EZXS55W switch with a Linksys BEFSR41 Cable/DSL Router.) If you just want to network some home computers together and share a single internet modem connection though, this unit is well worth the money.
43 great, works fine
small, nice, worked the first time, unplugged the hub, in with the switch 10/100 full duplex and it works
44 Great Value
Hard to beat the features for the price! I bought one and so far it works fine with my cable modem and 3 computers. I'm looking forward to testing it with 100Mbit; a friend of mine uses the identical model on his 100Mbit LAN and he says it works great. Plus it takes up half the desktop space of my old hub. I'm a bit mystified by the shared "Uplink"/"Port 5" jacks though -- it is 5 port but it has 6 plugs.
45 Best bang for the buck
First off, in case anyone out there doesn't know, there are a few advantages to purchasing a switch rather than a hub. The main advantage, for most users anyway, is that a switch provides optimal bandwidth to all ports, whereas a hub splits available bandwidth between all active users. This means that if you are sharing a cable modem for example with others in a house/office building, connection speed will not be reduced when multiple users connected to the switch are online.
Now, as for this little baby, as soon as I saw the price I grabbed it instantly. The Linksys name had been mentioned to me favorably before, and the going price was within a few dollars of most 5-port hubs. I have been using it for 5 months now to share the cable modem in my apartment, and I can honestly say I have never had a single difficulty. Setup was quick and easy, I was online in less than 5 minutes. The whole device is smaller than most alarm clocks, so storage is hardly an issue. Overall, this is a best buy hands down, anyone out there who needs inexpensive networking equipment, this is the way to go.
46 Excellent for home networks
Using this for my home network of 3 100 Mbps LinkSys in Win98 machines plus a 10 Mbps Linux machine. Works fine. There is no software driver required for this (drivers are required and supplied with the NIC cards that go in your machine). Looks really cute sitting on the shelf with the blinking LEDs! Hope to use it when eventually get DSL or cable internet access out here.
47 Perfect SOHO solution
I connected this switch to my current LinkSys Etherfast Cable Router and expanded my network to 8 100mb connections. Total setup time was 5 minutes. Performance and ease of use is awesome. With the current rebates you cannot beat this!
48 EZXS55W Can't Provide A Smooth Performance.
I connected this unit to enhance the speed of my gaming Lan Parties but unfortunately - I was wrong. I did not receive the immediate through-put needed for gaming. I received pauses that became so annoying - I refused to host anymore gaming Lan parties. Everything seemed to be delayed, so I tried contacting technical support but failed. I left a message and they took 4 days to get back to me...only to tell me that there wasn't anything for them to repair. How would they know without testing the product first. They must know that this is a proven failed product. I would not wish this product on my worst enemy!!!
49 Worth the money!
Thinking of setting up a network? Wish yours would run faster? If so, this is the product for you. Installation is simple. If you can plug a network card into your pci slot you can have your network up and running in minutes. (If you dont know how to plug in a network card, it will take about 5 extra minutes) Anyway, Don't buy a hub. A switch is full duplex meaning it can send and recieve data at the same time. Also with a hub, all ports share the bandwith. ie a 5 port 100m hub w/ all five ports being used = 20m per port. while a switch runs 100m per port, reguardless of how many ports are being used.. And in full duplex mode 200m per port. Also if your looking for computer y on a hub, it must check each port until computer y is found. This switch will know that computer y is on port 4, so you will go right to it, and save time. all n all a great product, as are all linksys products...
