Hub or Switch?

I have four computers getting DSL through a router. One of the computers is in the backroom and I would like to use that cable to connect more laptops to the DSL. What do I need to do this? A switch or a hub?

 

Either one will do.

Based on the fact that the per-port cost of a switch is about the same as that of a hub and that switches are much better performers than hubs, I'd opt for a switch.

- Hub max speed is 10Mbps. Switch is 100Mbps.
- Hub (at least any I could afford) is half-duplex (send or receive) while switch is full-duplex (send and receive at the same time).
- Hub shares it's available bandwidth (all 10Mbps of it) amongst the connected devices. Switch will provide the full 100Mbps to each connected device.
- Hub has no idea who is connected or where so any conversations on your local network are started with a broadcast by the PC that is heard by all your devices. Switch will direct the packet to the other device rather than having to depend on broadcast/response to establish the connection.

 

Thanks Newt, that is what I needed to know.