Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!crdgw1!uunet!shl!phil
From: phil@shl.com (Phil Trubey)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: 10Base-T hubs
Message-ID: <1991Apr08.171237.19978@shl.com>
Date: 8 Apr 91 17:12:37 GMT
References: <1991Apr03.004515.12021@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu> <1548@vtserf.cc.vt.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: SHL Systemhouse Inc.
Lines: 44

In article <1548@vtserf.cc.vt.edu> jcrowder@GroupW.cns.vt.edu (Jeff Crowder) writes:
>In article <1991Apr03.004515.12021@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu> ejbehr@rs6000.cmp.ilstu.edu (Eric Behr) writes:
>>- (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?
>
>I think this is a salient point.  I keep wanting to go with 10Base-T for
>all the obvious reasons (we already have good UTP installed, the
>aesthetics are much better, cable fault isolation and tolerance,
>management, etc.).  But I just can't get the numbers to add up.
>
>If you read the rags and listen to the poop, it sounds like EVERYBODY is
>doing 10Base-T for ALL their new installations.  But its kind of funny;
>net managers I actually talk to aren't moving so fast.  I think a lot of the
>hype has been invented.  You know, if you're a hardware manufacturer of
>ethernetworking type stuff (or a seller of such), this thinwire coax
>thing just doesn't leave much room for revenue.  Heck, you can install a
>small thinwire ethernet with absolutely NO electronic gizmos whatsoever.
>These smooth talkers and network-conference-showers have every reason to
>push 10Base-T as hard as they can.  The good news is that this should
>enhance competition and lead to very rapid price incentives for
>customers like me.

As others have pointed out, the cost savings aren't in physical 
capital costs - they are in people time saved from not having to 
fix and diagnose broken segments.  This is a *major* cost for any
network over a few dozen nodes.  Add to this the fact that the dozens
of LAN users won't experience network outages and you have large cost
*savings* going to 10BaseT for most environments.

As fas as the hype being invented, every new installation that I've dealt
with (I work for a systems integrator) in the last year has been 10BaseT.
The *only* place where I would recommend coax is in a lab environment
where the machines are close together and don't move (ever), in a computer room
connecting a few hosts together, or for a demo setup where you want to
connect a few machines together for an on site demo.

-- 
Phil Trubey                     |  Internet: phil@shl.com      
SHL Systemhouse Inc.            |  UUCP:     ...!uunet!shl!phil
50 O'Connor St., Suite 501      |  Phone:    613-236-6604 x667
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada         |  Fax:      613-236-2043