Hubs to Switch

Hello,

Our network has 25 windows clients, linux email server, linux DNS
server, and Novell server connected via a dumb hub. All of the above
machines have static ips.

Now we want to replace the dumb hub with a 3com switch; do I need to
configure the 3com switch inorder for it to work? I have heard
different things. Someone told me that I need to assign an ip address
to the switch, is that true?. I would like to make this process as
simple as possible. Can I just take the hub out and put in the switch?
Thanks!

"subads" <(E-Mail Removed)> writes:
>
> Our network has 25 windows clients, linux email server, linux DNS
> server, and Novell server connected via a dumb hub. All of the above
> machines have static ips.
>
> Now we want to replace the dumb hub with a 3com switch; do I need to
> configure the 3com switch inorder for it to work? I have heard
> different things. Someone told me that I need to assign an ip address
> to the switch, is that true?. I would like to make this process as
> simple as possible. Can I just take the hub out and put in the switch?

It depends on just what you mean by "switch." At its simplest (and
what I believe to be the most correct use of the term), like the
googlegooglegoogle 3com OfficeConnect unmanaged switches, you can just
plug the switch in place of the hub and it all works with no
configuration. As you get into other members of the product line you
get more opportunities to configure it, and more necessity that you do
so to take advantage of the features of the switch.

So, anyway, what you really need to do is to wander around some vendor
web sites for a while to see what's available and what you have to do
to use it.
--
Joseph J. Pfeiffer, Jr., Ph.D. Phone -- (505) 646-1605
Department of Computer Science FAX -- (505) 646-1002
New Mexico State University http://www.cs.nmsu.edu/~pfeiffer

"subads" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in news:1152155098.930864.54800
@b68g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

> Hello,
>
> Our network has 25 windows clients, linux email server, linux DNS
> server, and Novell server connected via a dumb hub. All of the above
> machines have static ips.
>
> Now we want to replace the dumb hub with a 3com switch; do I need to
> configure the 3com switch inorder for it to work? I have heard
> different things. Someone told me that I need to assign an ip address
> to the switch, is that true?. I would like to make this process as
> simple as possible. Can I just take the hub out and put in the switch?
> Thanks!
>
>

Managed switches can be configured with an ip address that allows you to
connect to them via some method such as telnet, ssh or http/https etc
depending on what the switch supports. This allows you to both configure
the switch and monitor and resolve problems etc. Most managed switches
support things like VLAN's where you can partition the ports into separate
LANs. You can also usually also change the setting of individual ports for
speed and duplex. You don't have to use the management features if you
don't want to but if the switch has been used before then you have no way
to know how it had been configured without logging in to have a look. If
the switch is new then it should probably do what you want out of the box
without any configuration. If you don't have the manual for it the
documentation is probably available via the web.

Klazmon

subads wrote:
> Hello,
>
> Our network has 25 windows clients, linux email server, linux DNS
> server, and Novell server connected via a dumb hub. All of the above
> machines have static ips.
>
> Now we want to replace the dumb hub with a 3com switch; do I need to
> configure the 3com switch inorder for it to work? I have heard
> different things. Someone told me that I need to assign an ip address
> to the switch, is that true?. I would like to make this process as
> simple as possible. Can I just take the hub out and put in the switch?
> Thanks!

Hi ,

You can replace the hub with the 3com switch .If you wish to manage the
switch across the network then only you need to give an ip address.

Sathish