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I have a four computer home network so I was out of ports on my router. When I received the switch I hooked it up to my router, plugged my computers into it, and I was done. Then I bought a Sony Blu-Ray player that has an internet connection available. The best solution was to buy a network switch. There were no hassles at all. Less than 5 minutes and I was done.
I recently needed to expand the network into another part of my house and I purchased another one (now under the Cisco name). I've had one of these Ethernet switches under running 24/7 on my home network now for several years and it's worked flawlessly all this time. It's identical to the old one and is also working perfectly. still going strong even with constant heavy use. I love the compact size, durable construction, and reasonable price. I'll definitely buy another when it comes time to expand again. Two thumbs up.
Linksys was bought by Cisco, but so far I haven't seen any indication that Cisco's quality is seeping into the Linksys product line. Cisco is putting their name on these devices, but they're a far cry from real Cisco gear. I'm trying to rid my network, and my users' homes, of these small Linksys switches. I've been a networking professional for almost 20 years. Cisco beats Netgear, HP, D-Link, and the rest, hands down when it comes to enterprise level networking equipment. In my experience, they are a constant source of problems.
I needed to add a few more ports to my home network. I installed it and turned everything on and wham.auto-sensing/switching my laptop and desktop were on the web simutaneously. This switch rocks. As always, linksys comes thru with quality hardware. Great product and would recommend to others without any doubt. :)Amazon came thru, as always.L
The 678 user guide can be downloaded. My venerable Cisco 678 has served me for 7 years of heavy use on one computer without so much as a hiccup. The 678 goes up to 7 Mbs downlink. It is a "one-port router modem." I know that sounds like an oxymoron to most people but technically, having-more-than-one-service-port is not what defines a router. A continuity tester would be helpful. All "routers" (or "modem routers") on the market in recent memory have combined a switch and router in the same unit, or a switch, router, and modem in the same unit. The latest Cisco modem routers sold today have done nothing more than added a switch, along with more bells, whistles and complications.
But the classic Cisco 678 was a modem router with no switch, a one-computer device with the ability to expand to more computers by adding a switches. A Router is a device with the electronic ability to "direct the flow of traffic" of data among many computers or devices. IMO, it'sone of the best modem-routers ever made. You can run either a crossover or a straight-thru cable from the Cisco 678 to the SD205.
This switch can go on any router to add more ports to it. If you buy a Cisco 678, just make sure you have an original disk or copy of the "Commander for 67X Products" CD to set it up, and a management cable to configure it to your provider address/password. Management cables can even be made using a short piece of network cable, an old female 9-pin serial plug on a serial cable. Pinout Diagrams are somewhere on google and/or Cisco, and download a free copy of Zonealarm or other free firewall for each computer. That's what I have now. Of course, with the SD205, you have auto-sensing in the connections so you can use either kind of cable on any part of the system. That's what defines a switch. If that's fast enough, and you are willing to take the time and patience to set it up you'll never regret it.Forgot to mention.
As switches are very simple devices, a good switch with this router will be a trouble free device. The Cisco 678 originally retailed for a several hundred dollars, but you can still pick them up new or used for a song. If you use the cisco 678 directly - without a switch - to only one computer, it requires a crossover ethernet cable, rather than a straight through cable, which is what most cables are. And by the way, you'll never regret buying this SD205 switch.
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