Re: how to test Ethernet connection

Jon Dowland wrote:
At 1145901154 past the epoch, Serena Cantor wrote:

You are right. Thanks! I will buy a crossover, hope it
does not cost much, or I will consider buy a hub.


If you have an ethernet patch cable already and want to save
some money, you could get the schematic for a crossover and
rewire it rather than buying a new one. However I expect you
will find one cheap enough to save you the effort.


Eh? I think not. Even a cheap crimping tool will cost about
$30 USD. Cheaper by far to buy a router or switch (I wouldn't
get a hub; a router is preferable to a switch) with 4 or more
ports for $40 USD, and then be expandable.

Here are the trade-offs...

Cross-over cable
Advantages: Cheap/easy to make if you
already have the tools.
Easy to install/configure.
Full duplex no collisions.
Secure.

Disadvantages: Only point-to-point, not
expandable.
Easily confused with regular
cable later, causing headaches
debugging non-working connection.
Hub
Advantages: Cheap and easy to configure.
Expandable.

Disadvantages: Collision prone, hence slow.
Not full duplex.
Can't mix different speeds.
Not secure.
Cannot act as a bridge.

Switch
Advantages: Relatively cheap.
Easy to configure.
Full-duplex, no collisions.
Can mix speeds.

Disadvantages: Not secure.
Cannot act as a bridge.
Router
Advantages: Full-duplex, no collisions.
Can mix speeds.
Secure if has separate WAN/LAN.
Can do NAT.
Can act as a bridge.

Disadvantages: More difficult to configure.
More expensive (but not *much*
more)

Costs ($USD):

Cross-over cable $5-$10
Hub $10-$20
Switch $15-$25
Router $30-$40 ($20 on sale)

All decisions require trade-offs. I use ADSL at home, and I bought
a router just for the NAT and security, and only have one computer
connected to it. I just needed the firewall. WAN side uses DHCP
from my ISP, LAN side uses fixed IP.

If security is an issue (it is with me) then I recommend against
wireless routers. I got mine on sale, so I got a wireless, because
that was the one on sale, but I disabled the wireless, and removed
the antenna.

Mike
--
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