>I know this isn't exactly the right forum to post this question, but I don't belong to any other user groups.
>
>Network Hub questions:
>
>1. What is the difference between a Switched hub and those that are not.
>
>2. What is the difference between a managed and unmanaged hub?
>
>We are in need of expanding the number of ports our hub offers, and we can't find the correct make of hub to stack with the one we've got. We're looking to purchase a complete new hub(s) but I don't know if we need the above features...
>
>Any information would be greatly appreciated!
>
>Thanks!

Kyle,

Think of a switch as having one car on a one-lane road - all to yourself. With a hub each car shares the road with all the other cars.

Where I work, when I had the chance to influence the design of the network, I made sure I got switches (one 10Mbit and the other a 10/100Mbit - both 3COM). Because we were going to take a little while to upgrade all the computers placing a switch in the loop helped everyone. The old system had a 10-base-2 (Ed R - proper nomenclature?) and so it slowed everyone down to the lower speed.

A managed hub, if I recall correctly, allows you to, well, manage it remotely.

*g*

SNMP would be the protocol (Simple Network Management Protocol) and I don't have too much experience with it.

Best,

DD