Gigabit Switch 8 Port Review
An 8 port gigabit switch is a small, network device, not much bigger than an average size paperback book. An ethernet switch that is easy to mount on a wall, or indeed small enough to be. 8 port gigabit ethernet switches are an easy and affordable way of increasing and improving the network capability in the small business office or commercial environment, or a small home fast ethernet network.
If you currently have a small fast ethernet network infrastructure, and are maybe planning to expand its capabilities, incorporate a server or internet cameras, or indeed a wireless point connection, and maybe large batch printing as well as fax and scanner facility, an 8 port gigabit ethernet switch should fit the bill.
It maybe that the gigabit router you have for wireless router connection to your internet service provider will have two or four spare ports. This is fine if all you are running is a couple of computers and perhaps a printer. If you are looking to upgrade, then 8 port gigabit ethernet switches is your first choice.
Most switches are intelligent, in that they learn the topology of the network, and only send data through a port direct to a device connected to the network, whereas a passive hub will transmit all the date through every port except the receiving port. This slows the network down and leads to what is known data packet collisions.
As well as this, many modern ethernet switches, whether 8 port or more, will switch to standby mode when there is no traffic, to conserve energy.
DGS-2208 desktop switch and Netgear GS608 or Cisco Linksys are just three of the many brand name high performance fast ethernet switches available for today’s modern home fast ethernet network or small business network.
Buy on line or from the local electronics store, a gigabit switch 8 port, theoretically has a speed of 1 gigabit, about 125 Megabytes, however in reality, without the back up of a fiber network infrastructure you can expect about 90 per cent efficiency. Amazon has a number of switches available for sale for pretty much any configuration that you’d require. The Netgear ProSafe GS108T 8-Port Gigabit Smart Switch and the Cisco Small Business Unmanaged Switch SD2008 are string contenders for the sub-$150 dollar replacement that your existing hub so badly needs. If you need something that is corporate-grade then the D-Link DES-3228PA Managed 24-Port 10/100 Stackable L2 and the Nortel Ethernet Routing Switch 8608SXE (80% discount) won’t disappoint.
The advantages of wireless network and a hard wired network combination is that a smart switch will send the data down the most economic route. Large batch printing, streaming video, web searching, and server support and internet camera data on the network will be handled with ease.
While the home or small business fast ethernet gigabit switch will enhance your own private network, remember that all downloaded material from the internet is ultimately governed by the speed of your internet service providers’ connection.
If that is a “paltry” two megabits, then your network will be outperforming your connection by 500 to 1. Not bad odds really.
We hope this informative review has been useful to you, and has provided you with all the information you need to find the perfect gigabit swith 8 port product.