Switch Recommendations?

[sstortz]

I am looking for suggestions on what kind of switch to buy for our network.

We are looking to add about 50 imac (600 mhz 10/100mhz enet) machines to our network of about 75 computers. The rest of the network is made up of emacs and slower imacs. We currently have two wiring closets and 2 xServes. We have 1 linksys EF2H24 10/100 hub (getting rid of) and a EF2S16 switch in 1 closet; and 2 KTI KS-124 24-Port 10/100 Workgroup Ethernet Switches in the other closet. Both xServes are located in the KTI closet.

http://www.ktinet.com.tw/product_detail.php?psid=11&pid=26

I am thinking about getting 3-4 more of the KTI switches or possibly the Linksys EtherFast® 4124 24-Port 10/100 Ethernet Switch or the Linksys SR224 24-Port 10/100 Switch.

Does anyone have a thought about these devices or would you have another recommendation? Can’t really afford more than $100 – $125 each.
TIA
Steve

[sstortz]

[QUOTE][u]Quote by: macshome[/u]

I’m gonna agree here as well. If you had to pick a place to go tight on the budget it shouldn’t be your network infrastructure.
I’ve seen plenty of good installs gone bad because of cheap infrastructure. To further that point you should really look at the GigE options out there now as well. If you are going to be doing things like network homes and netbooting then it can make a big difference.

[/QUOTE]

I can agree with you. We have been doing network homes, but not netbooting. Right now the only machines that have GigE cards in them are our two xServes. All the rest are just 100. Granted future purchases will have Gig in them.
Do you have a GigE suggestion? Something that isn’t necessarily the “ideal – if I had all the money I needed” box, but something that would be able to deal with what we have now and get a start at preparing for the future?
Steve

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