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From: ejbehr@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Eric Behr)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: 10Base-T hubs
Message-ID: <1991Apr03.004515.12021@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu>
Date: 3 Apr 91 00:45:15 GMT
Reply-To: ejbehr@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Eric Behr)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Central Illinois Surfing Club
Lines: 25

We're considering using our twisted pair wires for Ethernet. Hence tons of
questions, some of which are below:

- aside from distance/no. of stations differences, is UTP inherenly less
reliable than thin/thick E-net?

- in a smallish network (30 nodes, less that 300 ft.) is a passive hub OK?
Price difference between active and passive hubs is substantial...

- has anyone had any experience with the passive 12-port hub from Asante?

- is there any advantage to "cascading" hubs (attaching the next one to a
port in the previous one - you lose two ports) as opposed to putting both
directly on a thin/thick backbone and using all ports for the UTP star?

- (must be obvious...) does 10Base-T *have* to use star topology?
If so, then (troubleshooting aspects set aside) I save maybe $500 in
thinwire cabling costs but I lose $1000+ on a hub... I think that
10Base-T's economic advantages are a bit overblown given the current
prices; am I right?

Thanks very much for answers/opinions.    E.
-- 
Eric Behr, Illinois State University, Mathematics Department
Internet: ejbehr@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu    Bitnet: ebehr@ilstu