Have a 2Wire GateWay ques. and 8 Port Switch Suggestions

[nightsky]

Hi everyone. While working on setting up a home web server and nas box with Samba, mysql d, sshd - i realized 1 or 4 Ports on a 2Wire Gateway has stopped working - question is will i be able to continue to use this modem/router to connect a switch to or will I have to replace it?
Second question i need an 8 port hub or switch. Guess with all the tech advances a switch is preferable over a hub? So again budget constraints are important.

Should i just go with an 8 port hub or switch? Can I configure static Lan IPs using either? One of 5 PCs has 1gb eth card but i don't want to trade off stability for the fastest and newest. PCs are Slackware, WindowsXP, Mac Power G 1.57ghz

So far I am considering Belkin F5D5130-8 if i can find it and NetGear GS608NA or FS608. What's your experience with 8 Port Hubs and Switches and what do you recommend? Thanks

[glc]

You want an 8 port switch, and there is nothing to configure. All configurations still have to be made in the 2Wire.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166035 (10/100)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166014 (10/1000/1000)

I've never had a problem with Rosewill switches, they work fine.

[mojo]

Don't be a afraid to use gigabit, it's perfectly stable. It's about the cost you're willing to pay (which is relatively minimal these days, but in the past was more) vs. the speed you want. If you only have one computer with a gigabit nic, you will see no benefit whatsoever.

[glc]

Very true - but at 35 bucks it may be worth it for the future. Then again, a 10/100 for $10 is hard to pass up.

[nightsky]

Originally Posted by glc

Very true - but at 35 bucks it may be worth it for the future. Then again, a 10/100 for $10 is hard to pass up.

Wow thanks glc you never fail me In the future when i am netowrk expert.. gb switches will be $10-20 too. Besides i don't pay GB $ for GB ISP . Will post product experience when i have everything running.