Picking a switch

[Serraph]

What should I be looking for in a switch if I want to feed ~15 computers with data from a single server? I think I'm going to get a 24-port one for future expandibility, but I'm not really familiar with all the IT lingo.
(i.e. GBIC ports, SFP ports, uplink ports, managed/unmanaged, Layer 2/Layer 3, etc.)
I know for sure that I want a gigabit connection b/w the server and the switch and at least 100 mbit to each of the computers.
Does the server's gigabit connection just plug into one of the normal ports or am I supposed to use an uplink port?

Is this a good one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833124131

Me = :confused:
Thanks for any help.

[jivetrky]

I'm not totally up on all that lingo either...but I do know that the server would just go in a normal port. The uplink would be used to connect to another switch.

is this network going to be stressed or is it like a casual office typed environment?

Could you get away with this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817111014

[TTP]

Get a gigabit unmanaged switch; it's cheap nowadays and gives you a big backplane bandwidth. The uplink port is used to chain additional switches together. It's basically a crossover connection. Don't use that port. Just plug all the pc's and servers in the standard ports.

The GBIC ports are used if you have an optical fiber connection.

[Serraph]

Thanks for clearing up those questions. I think I may be pushing alot of data through this switch, so I would probably need one capable of running without being saturated. (23 ports x 100 mbit x 2) + (1 port x 1000 mbit x 2) = at least 6.6 Gbps switching capability? Who makes the best switches? (I hate asking a "who makes the best..." question but I'm clueless in this area) I'm guessing Cisco or maybe 3com?

[TTP]

Either of those are fine switch manufacturers. The 3Com stackers are pretty decent and cheap unmanaged switches. The Cisco offer more capability in management options.

[jivetrky]

yeah, but you'll pay a lot more for a cisco or 3com

I'd bet that the one I linked would be fine for you.

[Smokeys]

Thanks for clearing up those questions. I think I may be pushing alot of data through this switch, so I would probably need one capable of running without being saturated. (23 ports x 100 mbit x 2) + (1 port x 1000 mbit x 2) = at least 6.6 Gbps switching capability? Who makes the best switches? (I hate asking a "who makes the best..." question but I'm clueless in this area) I'm guessing Cisco or maybe 3com?

What you are saying is that you want a "non-blocking" switch. Most consumer level switches are, but as port density goes up some switches aren't able to, this includes high level ones from Cisco and 3com.