Recommend me a network switch

Steev

Next month I am moving in with my fiancee. I'll be bringing along a few things that need network connections, including my PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. In her apartment, her current setup is this: Comcast cable internet ---> Linksys WRT54GL with dd-wrt firmware (these are both located in a closet) ---> 20-foot ethernet cable to the living room ---> her PC. I'm going to be squeezing all my stuff into that same room, so I figure an 8-port switch would make things easier. We still have some devices that will use the wifi like the Wii.

But I've never used a switch before. It sounds like they're pretty much plug and play. Does anyone have any recommendations? I was browsing at a local TigerDirect store a few days ago and they had two different D-Link switches: this one and this smaller one. I'm not really sure which of those would be better for our setup.

Thanks!

Draygo

switches are plug in play unless your talking about switches in the 500$+ price range.
For home environments you don't need an expensive switch the ones you listed should work fine. Just make sure the switch you are buying isn't a hub. and the ones you listed are proper switches so good job there.

If you want to do a little more research here is newegg's listing on all 8 port switches.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100010066 600015695&IsNodeId=1

Steev

Thanks! Glad to hear it's pretty simple, then.

I guess no one has any particular recommendations for (or recommendations against) particular brands, then?

mcp

I'm partial to Netgear.

D-Link is a fine brand too.

Draygo

SteevL wrote: »

Thanks! Glad to hear it's pretty simple, then.

I guess no one has any particular recommendations for (or recommendations against) particular brands, then?

As long as you connect the switch to the router with only a single cable it should be fine. You should be able to use any additional ports on the router as well as the 7 other ports on the switch for anything that needs it.