I need a 5-port 100Mb SWITCH. And would like to know which one would U recommend me and what specs should I be aware of when buying one. But note that I'm still a student which means that every penny counts.

Network diagram

Server is 24/7 and its primary functions are for ADSL and FILE sharing accross my 3 client PCs

Just about all of the generic 5 port switches you buy at best buy are going to get you the same performance.

A really good one (i know it isnt 5 port) but it is almost the same price if you wait for discounts is the dell 2216.. it is 69 regular and I have seen it under 50 bucks..

but honestly.. 3 computers and a server, you wont see much of a performance problem

Any 100mbit switch of these days will serve you well. If you want, you can get a gbit switch and a gbit card for the server and leave all the other computers at 100mbit, thus completely eliminating any network traffic problems if the three of the computers are pulling files from the server, but I doubt you want to go that far.

Any 100mbit switch of these days will serve you well. If you want, you can get a gbit switch and a gbit card for the server and leave all the other computers at 100mbit, thus completely eliminating any network traffic problems if the three of the computers are pulling files from the server, but I doubt you want to go that far.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thought about it but Gb SWITH's are soooo expensive compared to regular 100Mb

Edited September 20, 200520 yr by BigDaddy

So this one would be OK to buy:

ASUS GX1005 10/100Mb switch?!

No, I don't recommend that one.

Then I have this 2, which are a little more expensive but still in good range:

CNET 5-port 10/100Mb

and

Switch Level One, 5port, FSW-0508TX
IEEE802.3 und IEEE802.3u Standard
Non-Blocking Store-and-Forward forwarding and filtering
1k samoučljivega pomnilnika za MAC naslove
IEEE802.3x Flow-Control za Full-Duplex
Back Pressure Flow-Control za Half-Duplex
Broadcast Storm filtriranje
Filtriranje Runt in CRC napak
Auto-MDI/MDIX na vseh priključkih
Power Saving Mode
External power

Which of this 2 would U reccommend if any?

Edited September 21, 200520 yr by BigDaddy

Either of those two are OK.

Tomorrow I will be buying it. Now I wanna know if there are some special settings or things I must do? Or I just set every PC IP from:10.0.0.1 ->10.0.0.??

And set the default gateway and DNS servet on client machines to the servers IP?

btw. All the client computers have WinXP PRO and the server has Win2k3 Sp1 Server