With support for half- and full-duplex speeds, the switches allow your network to run at 10 Mbps, 20 Mbps, 100 Mbps, and an incredible 200 Mbps, which provides a cost-effective solution if you ever decide to upgrade your Ethernet network. The EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Switch eliminates data bottlenecks and bandwidth constraints, optimizing network performance while protecting your investment in your existing infrastructure. By migrating your entire network to 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet with the EtherFast 10/100 5-Port Switch, you will have the power to double your network's performance with dedicated, full-duplex bandwidth on every port.

Now, as for this little baby, as soon as I saw the price I grabbed it instantly. The Linksys name had been mentioned to me favorably before, and the going price was within a few dollars of most 5-port hubs. I have been using it for 5 months now to share the cable modem in my apartment, and I can honestly say I have never had a single difficulty. Setup was quick and easy, I was online in less than 5 minutes. The whole device is smaller than most alarm clocks, so storage is hardly an issue. Overall, this is a best buy hands down, anyone out there who needs inexpensive networking equipment, this is the way to go.


Fast, inexpensive home networking   November 11, 2004
 28 out of 29 found this review helpful

I purchased my second Linksys EZXS55W recently to expand my home network. My first EZXS55W has been up and running for almost three years now, without a single hitch. However, due to the evolution of my home network, additional ports became necessary to accomodate all of the attached devices.

To discover the ability of this switch to deal with a complex network configuration, read on...

My network consists of: One HP desktop computer, which connects via a Linksys PCI ethernet adapter card; one Sony VAIO laptop computer, which connects via a Xircom PCMCIA wired ethernet card adapter; another Sony VAIO laptop, which connects via a Linksys 802.11b PCMCIA wireless ethernet adapter card; a Linksys wireless access point; an HP EX-Plus3 print server, connecting an HP laser printer; and, an additional ethernet port that I have wired for guests to use when they come to the house.

All of the above are wired to a Netgear router that resides off-site.

The network is configured as follows: Router > EZXS55W #1 > EZXS55W #2. The desktop and laptop are conncected to the first EZXS55W, as are the router and access point. The second EZXS55W is uplinked from the first, and the print server and additional wired port are connected to it. This leaves three additional ports on the second unit for future use.

The ease of setup and terrific performance of the EZXS55W cannot be overstated. In a network like mine, many people would go with a far more expensive managed switch; but, as can be seen above, this is not necessary. A novice who simply wants to connect all of the devices in his or her home and provide Internet and/or file and printer access to each of them can do so very easily with this switch.

The only issues one must consider before purchasing this switch:

1) This switch, unlike many others these days, uses an uplink port. This requires that the proper type of cable be used in the appropriate port. No big deal, but if you're not sure, you should consult the installation guide (or ask a more knowledgable friend) before attempting to install the switch.

2) Use of the uplink port disables the port beside it. Therefore, an uplinked switch has only four ports available to connect devices. If you need more ports, or think you might in the near future, consider buying the Linksys 8-port switch.

3) The switch is AC-powered. Be sure that there is an electrical outlet near the place where you want to install the switch.

These very minor concerns aside, the Linksys EZXS55W is a terrific ethernet switch at an absolutely unbeatable price. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to expand their home network quickly and easily.