Subj : Re: Switch vs. router?
To   : ALL
From : Frank Reid
Date : Fri Mar 08 2002 10:47 pm

===========================================================================
RE: Switch vs. router?
BY: Sean Dennis (1:11/200)
===========================================================================

SD> I was out shopping today when I came upon a Linksys 10/100 switch.  I
SD> was thinking about getting it for my LAN.  Right now, I have my two
SD> computers on a crossover cable, both with 100mb cards in them.  My
SD> laptop has a 3Com/Megahertz 10mb LAN/56K modem combo PCMCIA card in
SD> it.  Here's why I didn't buy it: I am planning on getting DSL.  If I
SD> get a router like I'm planning (again, a Linksys model), do I /REALLY/
SD> need that switch or am I just being redundant in equipment?

Just get the Linksys DSL router that includes an integrated 4-port switch
(their Etherfast Cable/DSL Router with 4-port Switch -- part #BEFSR41).  The
device allows you to connect up both the workstations (and be assigned
"non-routable" IP addresses) and simultaneously access the Internet through
your DSL connection.  It also provides some basic firewall functionality, by
disallowing most unwanted inbound activity to systems on the LAN.

Frank

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