I am the OP, I want to thank everyone for their comments. I think I've decided to buy an inexpensive router instead of a switch, and, in fact, I think I'll go with a Ubiquiti ER-X 256MB Storage 5 Gigabit RJ45 ports. My reasoning includes considering these points:
* There is at least a question about a GPL issue / violation. IIUC, this has to do with a program named uboot, for which, at least at one time, Ubiquiti may not have provided the modified source code. The references that I could find online dated from 2012 through about 2015 (668 days from yesterday ;-), and it seems that Ubiquiti, at least, seems to think they are now in compliance. (see https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9331512) * The router is (as, iirc, Dan Weber mentioned) more featureful (than a smart switch), and, apparently I'll be able to both measure bandwidth / traffic to each device on my LAN (from one central location), and then consider blocking some of that traffic should I determine that it is superfluous in some way. * The device amounts to a small Linux (in fact, Debian) based box, with, iirc, a dual core processor, 256 MB each of RAM and NAND, and 5 Ethernet ports. I figure I can do some playing with this to learn more modern networking memes. One surprise to me (which is not relevant to me at this point, but, apparently if you get certain types of cable TV (maybe IPTV, iirc), the ISPs either require or suggest that, if you also get Internet service (from them??), that you create a separate VLAN(s?) for at least one of the services. * The forums on the unbt site seem like a good source of help. I found one link that gives me a very simple setup that I can use to start, and then build from there. (see https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en-us/articles/115002531728- EdgeRouter-Beginners-Guide-to-EdgeRouter, and https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en- us/categories/200321064-EdgeMAX (these are from the Help Center, not the Forum). Again, I welcome any further comments. I am watching a used Ubiquiti Edgerouter ER-3 Lite and if the price stays low enough, I may go that way. But, the 300,000 packet/ second capability of the ER-X should be sufficient for my needs, and probably keep up with my Earthlink DSL link ;-) (I'm pretty sure I won't need the 1,000,000 packet/ second capability of the ER-3 Lite.) I hope I don't sound like a shill for Ubiquiti. If I do go this way, sometime in the future I'll provide one or more updates on the status... PS: Now I have to wonder (after this long screed) if tomas is still ROFL ;-) PPS: Sometimes I find some of their writings ambiguous or confusing. As a (not completely accurate example), they use the term bridging at various times. I've run the DSL modem in bridged mode at various times for various reasons, but the statements I found seemed to be talking about bridging on the output of the router, but that is not 100% clear to me. I guess that might be one of the things I might learn (if there is any reason to consider bridging downstream from the smart router). Thanks again! On Sunday, February 05, 2017 05:06:35 AM to...@tuxteam.de wrote: > ROFL, thanks for this one :-)
