Fastest Wired 5 port Switch

In this review I'll be covering LINKSYS ETHERFAST 5-PORT SWITCH for wired and wireless networks:

I personally like using Linksys Etherfast 5 port switch with the Linksys DSL/Cable router 4 port combination minus 1 port for the uplink giving me 3 ports on the router to use this switch on my network. I was using the hub which is also reviewed here until a few months ago I started using the switch and recommended it to friends and co workers for their network. This switch is much faster communication between the PCs on my network which I am almost max out in ports.

My personal thoughts are that if you’re running more than 4 and you’re using some sort of router either netgear (get extremely hot in heavy usage like the Dlink switch reviewed)
More clients that I’ve been at use Netgear switches and some use Linksys mostly they tell me it’s the cost factor why they use either brands. If I had to choose I would stick with Linksys they run cooler if you follow my wall mounting method under my installation. The key here is cooler yes you could use an external fan, I’ve tried that it works but you really don’t need that well on a netgear and dlink routers and switches. What I have found when these devices stop working most likely it’s cause from over heating. In server rooms and patch panel closets those rooms are usually cooler with AC blowing on the equipment or forced air from the floor panels.

HERE ARE SOME OF THE FEATURES:

Model: EZXS55W
Case: Plastic
Color: Black and Blue
Full Duplex Bandwidth and clears up Bottlenecks (yes it does but if the router acts up)
Faster Access Times than the Linksys 5 port hub
Ports: 5 with one port shared uplink to another switch (when connected 4 ports are free)
Speed: 10 to 100 or 20 to 200Mbps Auto Sensing each port (unlike the hub)
Wired Ethernet Cat 3 (10Tbase) to Cat 5e (100Tbase)
LCD 2 color lights for link act, 100 and F/C (collision lights)

Smart Tip: This switch unlike the hub is good for up too 100 with Cat 5e feet of Ethernet cabling, like the hub there isn’t a reset button so you would have to unplug the power cord from it and wait a few seconds. This switch is more for small to medium network gateways and can be used with both wired and wireless devices. Again if you need more ports then get the switch for your business or home office.

INSTALLATION
Plug in the power, then let Auto sensing feature helps here the unit will setup addresses and aging, but I would still recommend doing that one at a time to play it safe. From uplink port from the router to port 1 of the switch, then connect PCs into port 2, port 3, port 4, and port 5 works great for me.

Smart Tip: Again sometimes these switches can stop or lockup because of heat and make sure you don’t stack them up. Mount them vertically for ease of use and keeps it cooler.
I also use right angle mounting brackets you can find them at Wal-mart dirt cheap, 1 to 2 inch size small and polish chrome look ones with 4 tiny holes works great with the routers, switches and cable/DSL modems from linksys.

FINAL WORDS:
If you’re on a wired or wireless network and you need to add some additional ports to your network or in most cases you only have one jack port but have more than one PC to connect. The best choice would be a switch and if you want to download huge MB files again the switch is better than the hub. Say you wanted to setup a LAN Party (play 3D games like Quake 2 or Card games on multi-PCs on your same LAN or WLAN (wireless LAN) in your basement or house here is where a switch would be able to handle those heavy demands than a hub.

Smart Tip: If you do any online gaming, downloading even though you are using a router with a NAT (hardware firewall, I can’t stress the importance enough, that you should use a software firewall) Watch those outgoing ports!

Smart Tip: If you have any of the Linksys Routers and want to know what's trying to come in and what's trying to leave look a program called "WALLWATCHER" it also comes with a program called "WALLREVIEWER". I say very good programs for monitoring your connect to the internet either from DSL or Cable. This program is for FREE, not meaning free download, really free as in freeware!

Last reviewed 12 11 03, 6:15PM