3Com's 10/100 Switching... Wallplate 342
An anonymous reader wrote in to say "Tom's hardware has an exclusive review of the new 3Com Network Jack. This is a 4-port 10/100 switch that fits in a standard-sized wallplate." Alright, thats a good idea (he says while accidentally kicking the switch hidden under his desk). Having run more then my share of ethernet drops in the past, I gotta say I dig this idea.
Now, if only... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Now, if only... (Score:4, Interesting)
Actually, 3com's talking about incorporating 802.11 and bluetooth into the thing shortly.
Gotta be fully buzzword-compliant, you know.
Only four ports? (Score:3, Interesting)
The wall-ports at my work each have 6 ethernet connections, one BNC, and two telephone jacks.
6 you may ask? Well, since ethernet only uses four of the eight wires in the cat5 cable, so you can send two connections down one cable (and out one wall jack), although you need a splitter cable (easy to make) if you want to get the second connection out of it of course
Then, all the ports are wired up via the walls to a central switchboard where you can use short pieces of cable to connect the network any way you like. It's brilliant
Speaking of 3com... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Only four ports? (Score:1, Interesting)
Advanced patch cables! (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Limited Usefulness (Score:3, Interesting)
Does it pass on the power? (Score:3, Interesting)
I dislike the idea (Score:2, Interesting)
I dislike the idea of replacing or supplimenting workgroup switches with these wall plate things. Does this switch support 802.1Q or 802.1D and things of that nature? Can software upgrades be preformed on these things? Is the thing manageable at all? If not, port-based VLANs are out the window. Switching off a port for security reasons is also out the window. Basic administrative tasks could be greatly inhibited or prohibited if this device has little managment capabilities or none at all. I see people jumping at this idea and embracing it as the next great thing. They did this to 802.11B too. These are also the type of people think wireless is a replace for a wired connection. It is not a replacement for a wired connection. It's convienent for laptops, kioks, printers in odd places, dynamically changing rooms like temporary cubical farms, and PDA access. It can not replace a wired connection for a desktop. So many basic network administrative tasks are inhibited by wireless connections. Most people don't realize it because the extent of their networking ability is buying a 4 port hub and plugging in purchased cables. Perhaps they know how use a crimper and can pull a little wire between rooms. They still don't do the network tasks that a network admin like myself have to do. They just see it as a easier way to connect things together. bad bad bad
High end homes (Score:2, Interesting)
Often times, AFTER all the wire is pulled, our clients will decide that they actually want 4 ports out of a wall plate instead of 2, AND they DON'T want a local Hub/Switch that takes up room. This would be a quick, neat and tidy solution for just those situations - IF it works well, we'll probably sell about 1 a month.
Yes, it does pass on the power. (Score:3, Interesting)
J.J.
What about cable fire spreading hazards? (Score:2, Interesting)
So, are there fire resistant network cables? Are they available for the home user? Do these wall plate packages warn about this and to not just run standard across-the-floor cable?