OT-Dell Switches

Ann,

Top-tier (boutique) vendors:
Foundry
Extreme Networks
Force10

Top-tier (mainstream) vendors:
Nortel (bought Bay's line several years back)
Cisco
Alcatel

2nd-tier vendors:
HP
3COM
Allied Telesyn

I've left some good vendors out because I can't think of their names
right now, but pretty much everyone else are bottom-feeders: Netgear,
SMC, Linksys, D-Link. Anecdotal data doesn't count.

The best bang-for-the-buck is HP. They have realistically priced
chassis and stackables (don't confuse realistic with cheap though).
I'm not so sure about 3Com anymore - they've adopted Cisco's pricing
but left out Cisco's reliability and performance.

The bottom-feeders pretend to be at the same performance, manageability
and reliability levels as Tier 1 and 2, but will disappoint you in the
long run. Compatibility issues, lack of flexibility, manageability
quirks, etc. On small networks they're fine (<50 connections).
Anything larger go HP, Cisco or Nortel. If you want to rock, go with
the boutique vendors.

By the way, if you're networking your server room, you need a chassis
switch. Stackables typically top out at about 4GB of bandwidth, while
a decent chassis will get you at least 36GB (preferably more). Bond
four gigabit channels together to match the stackable's bandwidth, then
connect it to the chassis switch. Servers on the chassis, everything
else on the stackables.

There, I've lobbed my grenade for Friday!

have a great weekend,
john



On Oct 29, 2004, at 11:31 AM, amfabllc wrote:
>
> What does SMC stand for, and what website address? Like I said,
> I've always used 3COM.
Dell has a special on, but you have to order by 6:00 today. They
have their Dell Powerconnect 5324 Managed All Gigabit Switch
(10/100/1000), regular price $1299: Buy One, Get One Free.

I need to make a quick decision whether to request 3 of these (1/2
price each - I would add the 3 yr, NBD parts and labor for $99).

I currently have very old 3COM hubs & switches. The price for a
3COM GB Managed switch is $1930 (Dell special = $699)

For Qty 3, final apples to apples: Dell $2491, 3Com $7253 =
Difference $4762

Any horrer stories out there on Dell switches?? Or Dell in
general??

My Dell rep is John Brasher, 1-800-901-3355, ext 88539

Thanks!!
Ann Rohyans
AMFAB
I purchased 3 gigabit switches to upgrade a fiber network from (10mbs fiber
hubs) (don't ask - it was installed before I showed up.) The Dell switches
are exactly the same as NetGears gigabit switches. The performance was
disgusting.
According to logs everything was perfect - no errors - no dropped packets -
no retries. But the performance was pathetic.

After much screwing around - it was finally determined that the fiber
attenuation was out of tolerance for gigabit speed, marginal for 100, and in
spec for 10.

Of course the Dell switches were sent back because of 30 day happy clause.
(and there was a fight getting them returned)

My beef with the product is with the performance monitor - basically it was
useless. If the network is out of spec the logs should show the stats for
packets that were dropped, lost, and retried.

We settled on SMC's gigabit switches - they rock.

Charles Paluska

----- Original Message -----
From: "amfabllc" <amfab@...>
To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 12:01 PM
Subject: [Vantage] OT-Dell Switches


>
>
> Dell has a special on, but you have to order by 6:00 today. They
> have their Dell Powerconnect 5324 Managed All Gigabit Switch
> (10/100/1000), regular price $1299: Buy One, Get One Free.
>
> I need to make a quick decision whether to request 3 of these (1/2
> price each - I would add the 3 yr, NBD parts and labor for $99).
>
> I currently have very old 3COM hubs & switches. The price for a
> 3COM GB Managed switch is $1930 (Dell special = $699)
>
> For Qty 3, final apples to apples: Dell $2491, 3Com $7253 =
> Difference $4762
>
> Any horrer stories out there on Dell switches?? Or Dell in
> general??
>
> My Dell rep is John Brasher, 1-800-901-3355, ext 88539
>
> Thanks!!
> Ann Rohyans
> AMFAB
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must
have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
> (1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
> (2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
> (3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Charles,

You have no idea how much I appreciate this information and your
quick response!

Thanks!
Ann

--- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "HPN Charles Paluska"
<cpaluska@h...> wrote:
> I purchased 3 gigabit switches to upgrade a fiber network from
(10mbs fiber
> hubs) (don't ask - it was installed before I showed up.) The
Dell switches
> are exactly the same as NetGears gigabit switches. The
performance was
> disgusting.
> According to logs everything was perfect - no errors - no dropped
packets -
> no retries. But the performance was pathetic.
>
> After much screwing around - it was finally determined that the
fiber
> attenuation was out of tolerance for gigabit speed, marginal for
100, and in
> spec for 10.
>
> Of course the Dell switches were sent back because of 30 day happy
clause.
> (and there was a fight getting them returned)
>
> My beef with the product is with the performance monitor -
basically it was
> useless. If the network is out of spec the logs should show the
stats for
> packets that were dropped, lost, and retried.
>
> We settled on SMC's gigabit switches - they rock.
>
> Charles Paluska
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "amfabllc" <amfab@a...>
> To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 12:01 PM
> Subject: [Vantage] OT-Dell Switches
>
>
> >
> >
> > Dell has a special on, but you have to order by 6:00 today. They
> > have their Dell Powerconnect 5324 Managed All Gigabit Switch
> > (10/100/1000), regular price $1299: Buy One, Get One Free.
> >
> > I need to make a quick decision whether to request 3 of these
(1/2
> > price each - I would add the 3 yr, NBD parts and labor for $99).
> >
> > I currently have very old 3COM hubs & switches. The price for a
> > 3COM GB Managed switch is $1930 (Dell special = $699)
> >
> > For Qty 3, final apples to apples: Dell $2491, 3Com $7253 =
> > Difference $4762
> >
> > Any horrer stories out there on Dell switches?? Or Dell in
> > general??
> >
> > My Dell rep is John Brasher, 1-800-901-3355, ext 88539
> >
> > Thanks!!
> > Ann Rohyans
> > AMFAB
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note:
You must
> have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable
access. )
> > (1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report
Builder and
> Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
> > (2) To search through old msg's goto:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
> > (3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
You're welcome.

An additional note : I'm in the process of building a server farm and I will
be using the SMC 24 port gigabit switches (SMC8624T) - lots of them.

Good Luck and Trick or Treat.

Charles

----- Original Message -----
From: "amfabllc" <amfab@...>
To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 1:09 PM
Subject: [Vantage] Re: OT-Dell Switches


>
>
> Charles,
>
> You have no idea how much I appreciate this information and your
> quick response!
>
> Thanks!
> Ann
>
> --- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "HPN Charles Paluska"
> <cpaluska@h...> wrote:
> > I purchased 3 gigabit switches to upgrade a fiber network from
> (10mbs fiber
> > hubs) (don't ask - it was installed before I showed up.) The
> Dell switches
> > are exactly the same as NetGears gigabit switches. The
> performance was
> > disgusting.
> > According to logs everything was perfect - no errors - no dropped
> packets -
> > no retries. But the performance was pathetic.
> >
> > After much screwing around - it was finally determined that the
> fiber
> > attenuation was out of tolerance for gigabit speed, marginal for
> 100, and in
> > spec for 10.
> >
> > Of course the Dell switches were sent back because of 30 day happy
> clause.
> > (and there was a fight getting them returned)
> >
> > My beef with the product is with the performance monitor -
> basically it was
> > useless. If the network is out of spec the logs should show the
> stats for
> > packets that were dropped, lost, and retried.
> >
> > We settled on SMC's gigabit switches - they rock.
> >
> > Charles Paluska
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "amfabllc" <amfab@a...>
> > To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 12:01 PM
> > Subject: [Vantage] OT-Dell Switches
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Dell has a special on, but you have to order by 6:00 today. They
> > > have their Dell Powerconnect 5324 Managed All Gigabit Switch
> > > (10/100/1000), regular price $1299: Buy One, Get One Free.
> > >
> > > I need to make a quick decision whether to request 3 of these
> (1/2
> > > price each - I would add the 3 yr, NBD parts and labor for $99).
> > >
> > > I currently have very old 3COM hubs & switches. The price for a
> > > 3COM GB Managed switch is $1930 (Dell special = $699)
> > >
> > > For Qty 3, final apples to apples: Dell $2491, 3Com $7253 =
> > > Difference $4762
> > >
> > > Any horrer stories out there on Dell switches?? Or Dell in
> > > general??
> > >
> > > My Dell rep is John Brasher, 1-800-901-3355, ext 88539
> > >
> > > Thanks!!
> > > Ann Rohyans
> > > AMFAB
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note:
> You must
> > have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable
> access. )
> > > (1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report
> Builder and
> > Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
> > > (2) To search through old msg's goto:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
> > > (3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must
have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
> (1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
> (2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
> (3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Check with dell on how many can be hooked together and managed as one. I
think the limit is 3 but I'm not sure. So if you think your going to hook 4
together you may end up with 3 and 1 linked with two gig ports on the front.
So you end up using 2 ports just to connect the 4th switch and then manage
the 4th switch by it's self. Not a big issue but its nice to know the
limitations going in. I stacked 4 of the 3048 switches a couple of years
ago. I run gig from the servers and 100mb to clients. Has been solid since
setting up and like you have found you can't beat the prices from dell. I
purchased mine on a 1/2 price sale also.


Patrick Winter


-----Original Message-----
From: amfabllc [mailto:amfab@...]
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 11:02 AM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] OT-Dell Switches



Dell has a special on, but you have to order by 6:00 today. They have their
Dell Powerconnect 5324 Managed All Gigabit Switch (10/100/1000), regular
price $1299: Buy One, Get One Free.

I need to make a quick decision whether to request 3 of these (1/2 price
each - I would add the 3 yr, NBD parts and labor for $99).

I currently have very old 3COM hubs & switches. The price for a 3COM GB
Managed switch is $1930 (Dell special = $699)

For Qty 3, final apples to apples: Dell $2491, 3Com $7253 = Difference
$4762

Any horrer stories out there on Dell switches?? Or Dell in general??

My Dell rep is John Brasher, 1-800-901-3355, ext 88539

Thanks!!
Ann Rohyans
AMFAB





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Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must have
already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
(1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
(3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
Yahoo! Groups Links
What does SMC stand for, and what website address? Like I said,
I've always used 3COM.

Happy Holloween to you, I dressed as a 'BAM' today.

Thanks!
Ann


--- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "HPN Charles Paluska"
<cpaluska@h...> wrote:
> You're welcome.
>
> An additional note : I'm in the process of building a server farm
and I will
> be using the SMC 24 port gigabit switches (SMC8624T) - lots of
them.
>
> Good Luck and Trick or Treat.
>
> Charles
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "amfabllc" <amfab@a...>
> To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 1:09 PM
> Subject: [Vantage] Re: OT-Dell Switches
>
>
> >
> >
> > Charles,
> >
> > You have no idea how much I appreciate this information and your
> > quick response!
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Ann
> >
> > --- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "HPN Charles Paluska"
> > <cpaluska@h...> wrote:
> > > I purchased 3 gigabit switches to upgrade a fiber network from
> > (10mbs fiber
> > > hubs) (don't ask - it was installed before I showed up.) The
> > Dell switches
> > > are exactly the same as NetGears gigabit switches. The
> > performance was
> > > disgusting.
> > > According to logs everything was perfect - no errors - no
dropped
> > packets -
> > > no retries. But the performance was pathetic.
> > >
> > > After much screwing around - it was finally determined that the
> > fiber
> > > attenuation was out of tolerance for gigabit speed, marginal
for
> > 100, and in
> > > spec for 10.
> > >
> > > Of course the Dell switches were sent back because of 30 day
happy
> > clause.
> > > (and there was a fight getting them returned)
> > >
> > > My beef with the product is with the performance monitor -
> > basically it was
> > > useless. If the network is out of spec the logs should show
the
> > stats for
> > > packets that were dropped, lost, and retried.
> > >
> > > We settled on SMC's gigabit switches - they rock.
> > >
> > > Charles Paluska
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "amfabllc" <amfab@a...>
> > > To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
> > > Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 12:01 PM
> > > Subject: [Vantage] OT-Dell Switches
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Dell has a special on, but you have to order by 6:00 today.
They
> > > > have their Dell Powerconnect 5324 Managed All Gigabit Switch
> > > > (10/100/1000), regular price $1299: Buy One, Get One Free.
> > > >
> > > > I need to make a quick decision whether to request 3 of these
> > (1/2
> > > > price each - I would add the 3 yr, NBD parts and labor for
$99).
> > > >
> > > > I currently have very old 3COM hubs & switches. The price
for a
> > > > 3COM GB Managed switch is $1930 (Dell special = $699)
> > > >
> > > > For Qty 3, final apples to apples: Dell $2491, 3Com $7253 =
> > > > Difference $4762
> > > >
> > > > Any horrer stories out there on Dell switches?? Or Dell in
> > > > general??
> > > >
> > > > My Dell rep is John Brasher, 1-800-901-3355, ext 88539
> > > >
> > > > Thanks!!
> > > > Ann Rohyans
> > > > AMFAB
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note:
> > You must
> > > have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable
> > access. )
> > > > (1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report
> > Builder and
> > > Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
> > > > (2) To search through old msg's goto:
> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
> > > > (3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services
goto:
> > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note:
You must
> have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable
access. )
> > (1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report
Builder and
> Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
> > (2) To search through old msg's goto:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
> > (3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
SMC is SMC

www.smc.com

Charles


----- Original Message -----
From: "amfabllc" <amfab@...>
To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 2:31 PM
Subject: [Vantage] Re: OT-Dell Switches


>
>
> What does SMC stand for, and what website address? Like I said,
> I've always used 3COM.
>
> Happy Holloween to you, I dressed as a 'BAM' today.
>
> Thanks!
> Ann
>
>
> --- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "HPN Charles Paluska"
> <cpaluska@h...> wrote:
> > You're welcome.
> >
> > An additional note : I'm in the process of building a server farm
> and I will
> > be using the SMC 24 port gigabit switches (SMC8624T) - lots of
> them.
> >
> > Good Luck and Trick or Treat.
> >
> > Charles
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "amfabllc" <amfab@a...>
> > To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 1:09 PM
> > Subject: [Vantage] Re: OT-Dell Switches
> >
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Charles,
> > >
> > > You have no idea how much I appreciate this information and your
> > > quick response!
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > > Ann
> > >
> > > --- In vantage@yahoogroups.com, "HPN Charles Paluska"
> > > <cpaluska@h...> wrote:
> > > > I purchased 3 gigabit switches to upgrade a fiber network from
> > > (10mbs fiber
> > > > hubs) (don't ask - it was installed before I showed up.) The
> > > Dell switches
> > > > are exactly the same as NetGears gigabit switches. The
> > > performance was
> > > > disgusting.
> > > > According to logs everything was perfect - no errors - no
> dropped
> > > packets -
> > > > no retries. But the performance was pathetic.
> > > >
> > > > After much screwing around - it was finally determined that the
> > > fiber
> > > > attenuation was out of tolerance for gigabit speed, marginal
> for
> > > 100, and in
> > > > spec for 10.
> > > >
> > > > Of course the Dell switches were sent back because of 30 day
> happy
> > > clause.
> > > > (and there was a fight getting them returned)
> > > >
> > > > My beef with the product is with the performance monitor -
> > > basically it was
> > > > useless. If the network is out of spec the logs should show
> the
> > > stats for
> > > > packets that were dropped, lost, and retried.
> > > >
> > > > We settled on SMC's gigabit switches - they rock.
> > > >
> > > > Charles Paluska
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "amfabllc" <amfab@a...>
> > > > To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
> > > > Sent: Friday, October 29, 2004 12:01 PM
> > > > Subject: [Vantage] OT-Dell Switches
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Dell has a special on, but you have to order by 6:00 today.
> They
> > > > > have their Dell Powerconnect 5324 Managed All Gigabit Switch
> > > > > (10/100/1000), regular price $1299: Buy One, Get One Free.
> > > > >
> > > > > I need to make a quick decision whether to request 3 of these
> > > (1/2
> > > > > price each - I would add the 3 yr, NBD parts and labor for
> $99).
> > > > >
> > > > > I currently have very old 3COM hubs & switches. The price
> for a
> > > > > 3COM GB Managed switch is $1930 (Dell special = $699)
> > > > >
> > > > > For Qty 3, final apples to apples: Dell $2491, 3Com $7253 =
> > > > > Difference $4762
> > > > >
> > > > > Any horrer stories out there on Dell switches?? Or Dell in
> > > > > general??
> > > > >
> > > > > My Dell rep is John Brasher, 1-800-901-3355, ext 88539
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks!!
> > > > > Ann Rohyans
> > > > > AMFAB
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note:
> > > You must
> > > > have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable
> > > access. )
> > > > > (1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report
> > > Builder and
> > > > Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
> > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
> > > > > (2) To search through old msg's goto:
> > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
> > > > > (3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services
> goto:
> > > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
> > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note:
> You must
> > have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable
> access. )
> > > (1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report
> Builder and
> > Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
> > > (2) To search through old msg's goto:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
> > > (3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
> > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must
have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
> (1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
> (2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
> (3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
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At 02:31 PM 10/29/2004, you wrote:
>What does SMC stand for, and what website address?

Googleing for SMC turns up www.smc.com at the top of 2.1M hits :)

SMC has been making or at least re-badging network hardware for many years
now (80's at least.) They used to be considered the
cheap, largely-Asian-made but pretty decent stuff for the budget
minded. But as LAN stuff became ubiquitous during the 1990s, SMC became
more & more of a respected name and is pretty much an upper-mainstream
brand these days.

I had a bad run with some dual-speed hubs of theirs I bought back around
1998 / 1999. Kept blowing power supplies. They repeatedly replaced them
no charge (I think they have a life time warranty on all their
enterprise-grade gear) but the replacements blew in a few months
too. Other NICs and switches from them have been great.

>Like I said, I've always used 3COM.

Do they still have their name on a stadium?! No one ever got fired for
buying 3Com (unless they were told to stick to a low budget, I
guess.) Top of the line performance and reliability, and prices to
match. A few years ago I saw a cheap little hub with a "3 Com"
label -- it was identical with an SMC and Accton hub, save for different
color case and graphics, and the price tag.

Thanks, Charles, for the info on Dell. That's surprising! I didn't think
they'd put their name on anything that flaky. I bought a couple Dell 2024
100BT switches for our LAN here in Jan 2003, and they've worked great. But
by that time a 24 port unmanaged switch was mainstream stuff, not an
engineering marvel.

-Wayne Cox
Twenty Three, Inc. -- Information Technology Consulting
828-685-2338



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