-- Compex
DS1216 10/100 16 Port Desktop Switch
-- Price: MSRP $260, Street Price $175 USD
-- 7.10.2001
-- By: winterstick
-- Page: 1 2
3
When Compex
emailed me one day asking if I would like to review one of their
switches I jumped at the opportunity. Since my current Linksys
10/100 8 port switch was full, and my need to keep collecting
computers not extinguished, I was in need of another switch. A
few emails and a couple of days later there was a package at my door
with my new DS1216 16 port switch in it.
For those of you who don't know what the difference
is between a switch and a hub let me explain it to you. A hub
works basically as a repeater; it gets a packet from one of the
computers and broadcasts to all the other computers. But any
time that 2 computers broadcast at once, the packets collide and
both have to be re-sent. A switch however receives a packet,
opens up the packet reads where the packets is going and only sends
that packet to the port on the switch that the destination computer
is plugged into. This significantly reduces packet collisions
and greatly improves performance. If your on a huge network a
switch will increase security, because your not broadcasting you
credit card information or any other important data across to
everyone on the network.
The DS1216 seems to be designed for a
small business or a power users home network. The switch is
constructed using an all metal casing and looks like it is built to
take some abuse. Another nice feature about the DS1216 is the power
adapter. Unlike other inexpensive switches that require a
bulky transformer the DS1216 uses a standard computer power cable,
this is a very welcome feature.
You don't know how many LAN parties
I've been to that we had to go back home to grab the transformer
that we left behind, but we had 2 or 3 extra computer power cables
laying around.
On the back of the switch there is a
40mm fan moving a far amount of air for it size. I can barely
here it over my power supply. I don't find it annoying but
some of you noise freaks might find it a little loud for your taste.
Now, I like things with lots of little lights on it
the more lights the better. I wasn't disappointed with the
DS1216, it has a power indicater light and 2 leds per port.
One indicates if your 10/100 base and blinks when there is activity,
and the other one indicates if your running at full or half duplex.
Here are some technical specs. on this switch:
| Technical
Specification: |
IEEE
802.3 10Base-T, IEEE 802.3u 100Base-TX, IEEE802.3x flow
control;
FCC Class A, CE Mark |
| Interface: |
16
10/100Mbps RJ45 ports |
| BLED
Indicators: |
System
Power, Collisions, 10/100Mbps, Full/Half Duplex, Link/Activity |
| Operation
Mode: |
N-Way Auto-Negotiation
Full Bandwidth Non-Blocking Switch Architecture |
| Transmission
Mode: |
Full/Half
Duplex |
| Flow
Control: |
IEEE
802.3x Flow Control (Full Duplex)
Back-Pressure Flow Control (Half Duplex) |
| Switching
Method: |
Store
& Forward |
| Switching
Buffer: |
512K
bytes |
| MAC
Address Table: |
8K |
| Backplane
Capacity: |
3.2Gbps |
| Power
Supply: |
100~240Vac
50~60Hz |
| Power
Consumption: |
30
watts (max.) |
| Physical
Dimensions: |
210mm
x 130mm x 44mm (LxWxH) |
| Environmental
Requirements: |
Temperature
Operation : 0°C to 40°C
Storage : -20°C to 70°C
Humidity
Operation : 10%RH to 80%RH
Storage : 5%RH to 90%RH |
|
