* Recent Network World LAN equipment tests
In addition to this newsletter, I also write the daily NetFlash newsletter that highlights news and features on the Network World Fusion Web site. The other day I mentioned this week’s review, eliciting an admonishment from our test alliance director.
“Books get reviewed,” the e-mail message said. “We are trying to get the point across that we actually put all of the products through a serious test. So while it may seem trivial, can we use the word ‘test’ instead of ‘review’ whenever and wherever possible?”
She raises a good point. Network World’s Lab Alliance puts network equipment through its paces in a way that the word “review” doesn’t do it justice.
Another good point is that I seldom point out the tests that we do. So this time let me highlight some of the LAN-related tests that have appeared in Network World recently.
This week Network World ran an extensive set of stories all about securing wireless LANs – probably the top concern among any enterprise IT managers setting up WLANs today. Not only did the testers evaluate how well WLAN security technologies do their job, they also point to specific vendors that do security better than others. If you’re thinking about implementing a WLAN, you won’t want to miss this:
https://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2004/1004wirelessmain.html?nll
Another recent test covered “a 10G Ethernet workgroup switch,” which may seem like a contradiction in terms – but if you need the capacity, Extreme Networks has it for you. In fact, the testers declared it the “fastest wiring closet switch we’ve tested” and only faulted it for its high price tag and some performance regarding jumbo frames:
https://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2004/090604rev.html
On the flipside, the testers earlier this year also evaluated switches with low prices but “less than ideal performance”: HP’s ProCurve 2824 and 2848:
https://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2004/0322revhp.html
For more Network World reviews – er, tests – go to:
https://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/
