10/100: Too Slow to Rock N Roll

My files are getting bigger, disk image back-ups are accumulating, and big file transfers between machines take forever. It’s time for a gigabit switch.

Gigabit Switch

I’m researching a couple of simple unmanaged devices. The Netgear GS108 and the TP-LINK TL-SG108PE both look like inexpensive solutions. The little 10/100 router I have now was never qualified to handle the data requirements of the entire shack, it was intended for temporary use only.

In addition to moving disk images around, I also have a couple of Flex radios running, an Apache Web Server, JNOS BBS, and whatever family hardware that might be running. The gigabit switch is a necessity even more so now that I will be adding a Flex 6500.

Managed or Unmanaged…

I’ve just started looking at these devices, and have not yet ruled out a managed switch. The family devices will move over to the little router, and all the shack hardware will talk over the gigabit switch. I also plan to look at a couple of 16 port managed switches. If the numbers are in line, I may get the 16 port and have some gigabit breathing room.