
GigE switching
With Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) host bus adapters now pricing under $100, what do you buy to connect and switch those high-speed links? SMC Networks offers a low-cost device that does the job. Its unmanaged 10/100/1000 EZ Switch SMC8505T connects up to five users. (Another switch, the SMC8508T, connects up to eight users.) SMC says the switch offers plug-and-play installation, with a number of automated setup features, such as auto-MDIX on every port (this allows networked “end” stations to directly connect and exchange data). Other features include LED indicators, the ability to work with “jumbo” frames up to 9K, and a rackmount kit and rubber footpads.
Price: $100 Irvine, Calif. (800) 762-4968 www.smc.com
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