Hub Vs Switch

[rocco86]

Apologies, I'm about to reveal pure computer un-knowledge.

I currently have a Series 2 connected to my network via a 4-port Netgear hub. The hub is fed from a remote router and feeds the Tivo, an Airport, and a Linksys Music Bridge. Everything works ok.

I'm about to add a Series 3 to the system, and will keep the S2 until my transferred membership expires in a year (why not...)

I have two choices:

Replace the 4-port hub with a 5 (or more likely, 8) port HUB and feed the Airport, Music Bridge, S3 and S2, or,

Replace the hub with a 5 (or more likely, 8) port SWITCH and feed both Tivo's, the Airport and the Music Bridge from that.

The price is similar, but I have no idea which would serve me better - the hub or the switch...

that is the question.

Thanks in advance, you guys always come through.

[windracer]

Switches generally perform faster since the traffic for a given node is routed (switched) directly to that node. A hub "broadcasts" all received traffic to all ports and it's up to the individual nodes to determine what traffic is meant for them.

Hub vs. Switch (http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=hub+vs+switch&i=44519,00.asp)

Given the choice, I'd always go with a switch.

[jblake]

If they're very close in price, get the switch. It's always faster. A hub is akin to a splitter..all the traffic goes to all the ports, regardless of where it actually is destined. On a switch, it does exactly that...switches. Only traffic destined for a device on a certain port will go to that port. On a small network such as yours it probably doesn't make much difference, unless all devices are sending/receiving traffic and are fully saturating their connection all at the same time. Where switch vs. hub matters is when you get into high traffic or large networks. I'm actually surprised they still produce hubs, considering how cheap switches are now.