Switches and Other Network Gear
Last Updated: 18 Jan 2004
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*** PLEASE NOTE: Link(s), If Provided, May Be Wrapped ***
Depending on organizational size and budget, I have no
problem recommending the following vendors for networking
equipment (Switches, Hubs, Routers, NICs, etc):
ENTERPRISE LEVEL
• BayNetworks ............ http://www.baynetworks.com/ [1]
• Cisco .................. http://www.cisco.com/
• HP ..................... http://www.hp.com/rnd/
• Intel .................. http://www.intel.com/network/
• Nortel Networks ........ http://www.nortelnetworks.com/
• Xircom ................. http://www.xircom.com/ [2]
HOME/SOHO/DEPARTMENTAL
• 3COM ................... http://www.3com.com/ [3]
• Asante ................. http://www.asante.com/
• D-Link ................. http://www.d-link.com/
• LinkSys ................ http://www.linksys.com/
• NetGear ................ http://www.netgear.com/
• SMC .................... http://www.smc.com/
ONLINE VENDORS - NETWORKING SUPPLIES
• Datacomm Warehouse ..... http://www.warehouse.com/default.asp?home=networking&origin=homenetworking&cat=networking
• PC Nation .............. http://www.pcnation.com/
• eCost .................. http://www.ecost.com/
• UltraTech MegaStore .... http://ultratech-online.vstoremarket.com/
OTHER NETWORKING RESOURCES
• http://www.ccprep.com/resources/Whitepapers.asp
• http://www.dalantech.com/
• http://labmice.net/networking/networkbasics.htm
• http://www.practicallynetworked.com/
• http://www.netgear.com/how_to_network.html
• http://www.homenethelp.com/
• http://www.purenetworking.net/
• http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/
• http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/
• http://www.matrox.com/netweb/solutions/guide2.htm
• http://www.linksys.com/faqs/?fqid=15
• http://hdallen.home.mindspring.com/hubswtch.htm
• http://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/
• http://www.cablemodeminfo.com/-ssi
• http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/guides/home_lan_guide/
• http://arstechnica.com/guide/networking/installation-1.html
• http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/
• http://www.billssite.com/2000prompt.htm
PERSONAL NOTES
• For most networking gear, I'd recommend SMC over LinkSys
because the reliability is better. Not that LinkSys is
bad, mind you, but there has been a slight drop in its
overall reliability when it comes to routers (wired and
wireless). Resolution generally involves playing around
with various versions of the firmware...
• On the SOHO front, I really like NetGear and LinkSys
NICs, hubs, switches and routers. SMC is pretty good
company too. Intel makes excellent hardware, but from
a cost perspective I only favor them at work, or if I
receive their equipment for free.
• 3COM has annoyed me more than any other networking
vendor with their silly, bloated NIC drivers and their
confusing model numbers and driver revisions. Some
people swear by them, but I have better things to do
with my time, particularly for the price. Their more
recent offerings have been better, with less bloat,
but I would still be inclined to get an Intel NIC
before a 3COM one. Currently, 3COM has one of the
best encryption-offloading NICs available...
• I have absolutely no issue with on-board NICs from
with Intel or 3COM.
• Some people have had success with D-Link, but they're
not one of the small vendors whose products I'll buy.
• Whatever you do, avoid RealTek NICs. They are among
the worst components you can put into your system.
I deal with USB NICs (which I hate) before getting a
Realtek NIC.
• I continue to maintain that USB networking adapters of
any type are a bad idea. Perhaps they'll be less of
an issue when everyone is using USB v2.0, but for the
time being, the represent higher CPU utilization, and
more conflicts than PCI adapters.
RELATED TOPICS (ALSO IN THIS ARCHIVE)
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=NetBasics.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=NAT.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=VPN.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=PPTP.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=TCPIP.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=Security.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=PFirewalls.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=SFirewalls.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=Pricing.TXT
• http://KB.UltraTech-llc.com/?File=ValueList.TXT
[1] Nortel owns BayNetworks
[2] Xircom has the best PC Card NICs. They don't have
much of a desktop presence, though.
[3] I've never really been fond of 3COM, personally, and
now they've abandoning the high-end market...