<div>
Thanks, guys. I agree with both ideas and will have to make a decision.
</div>


Thanks, guys. I agree with both ideas and will have to make a decision.

<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
We have a simple network. Locally, we have 4 2950's behind a 2611. We<br />
have about 60 PCs. We have instances where an inexpensive 4-port DLINK switch (something<br />
meant for a personal PC or a small office) joins 2 - 4 PCs to a single switchport on a<br />
2950 switch. On the Cisco config of these switchports, we have entered &quot;no spanning-tree<br />
portfast.&quot;<br />
<br />
We often move PCs. When we do, the location of the DLINK switches sometimes change,<br />
requiring us to change the config on the relative Cisco switchports. My question: Is there<br />
any real danger in having a small 4-port DLINK switch with 2 - 4 PCs plugged into a Cisco<br />
switchport with spanning-tree portfast enabled?<br />

</div>
</div>


We have a simple network. Locally, we have 4 2950's behind a 2611. We
have about 60 PCs. We have instances where an inexpensive 4-port DLINK switch (something
meant for a personal PC or a small office) joins 2 - 4 PCs to a single switchport on a
2950 switch. On the Cisco config of these switchports, we have entered "no spanning-tree
portfast."

We often move PCs. When we do, the location of the DLINK switches sometimes change,
requiring us to change the config on the relative Cisco switchports. My question: Is there
any real danger in having a small 4-port DLINK switch with 2 - 4 PCs plugged into a Cisco
switchport with spanning-tree portfast enabled?


spanning-tree portfast on a switchport to another switch

A switch is a device that filters and forwards packets of data between LAN segments. Switches operate at the data link layer or the network layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference Model and therefore support any packet protocol. LANs that use switches to join segments are called switched LANs or, in the case of Ethernet networks, switched Ethernet LANs. A hub is a connection point for devices in a network. Hubs are commonly used to connect segments of a LAN. A hub contains multiple ports; when a packet arrives at one port, it is copied to the other ports so that all segments of the LAN can see all packets.

Switches / Hubs

Networking is the process of connecting computing devices, peripherals and terminals together through a system that uses wiring, cabling or radio waves that enable their users to communicate, share information and interact over distances. Often associated are issues regarding operating systems, hardware and equipment, cloud and virtual networking, protocols, architecture, storage and management.

Networking

Networking hardware includes the physical devices facilitating the use of a computer network. Typically, networking hardware includes gateways, routers, network bridges, modems, wireless access points, networking cables, line drivers, switches, hubs, and repeaters. But it also includes hybrid network devices such as multilayer switches, protocol converters, bridge routers, proxy servers, firewalls, network address translators, multiplexers, network interface controllers, wireless network interface controllers, ISDN terminal adapters and other related hardware.