[wplug] [OT] Hubs and switches, oh my!

[Bill Moran]

I'm needing some _hubs_ for a project (so that all traffic on the network
can be visible to an NIDS).

Got some Linksys EFAH16W "10/100 16 port workgroup hub", but despite the
name, it doesn't take a lot of experimenting to determine that these are
NOT hubs, but a just low-end switches.  As a result, the NIDS can't see
traffic flowing between machines on the network.

Does anyone actually make _real_ hubs anymore?  (With icky collisions and
everything?)  I don't want to go used on this, because I want reliable
hardware, but I'm getting the impression that there are no true hubs
being manufactured anymore.  And I'm worried that we're going to need
high-end managed switches that can be programmed to act like hubs.

Anyone have any advice, or product recommendations?  I'm reluctant to
go buy some other brand of "hub" only to find that it's just a low end
switch in a box that says "hub".

-- 
Bill Moran
Potential Technologies
http://www.potentialtech.com