Included in this package were 2 Linksys 10/100Mbps network interface cards. These cards are built with quality in mind and also support Wake on LAN, a feature that allows computers to be turned on and off from a remove location through the network. Both network cards were completely identical and both included a cable for the Wake on LAN feature. Of course, you'll need a motherboard that supports the Wake on LAN feature; most new motherboards do. If not, you can always choose to not use the feature.

Other accessories that are included in the package are a fair-sized power converter box that took up 2 plugs on my power bar (I now officially HATE these "power boxes," A.K.A. AC to DC converters), a driver diskette for the network cards, which have drivers for all Windows OS's, such as Windows NT/2000 and Windows 95/98/ME, a whole stack of manuals and quick-start guides, a full version of Sybergen's SyGate Internet sharing software and also both CD's of the full version of Descent 3. The manual includes 70 pages of information that explains, very much in-depth, everything about installing and configuring your network cards to your needs. The start-up guides provide a quick guide to how to quickly get the cards installed and the network running to its full potential.

The Internet sharing software was also a nice addition to the package, as it retails alone for about half the price of this network in a box package. Unfortunately, since I have my own Linux box set up with IP-masquerading configured for my Internet sharing purposes, I don't have a need for this piece of software. Users of Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows ME and Windows 2000 will also find that this piece of software is not much of a use since these OS's all include built-in Internet sharing capabilities. I have, however, used SyGate before, and must say that it is one of the better proxy servers available. I mentioned that this program is a proxy server and functions much differently than the NAT (or Network Address Translation) Internet sharing utilities that are found in the above-mentioned Windows versions. Personally, I prefer NAT utilities over proxy servers because they give the user much more flexibility in terms of applications that are supported under the "slave" computers.

When using NAT, all you have to do to set up slave computers is mention the IP address of the "server" computer in the Network control panel and you're done. With proxy servers, however, you must specify the IP address of the proxy server for every single program that you would like to use the Internet on. For example, you would have to configure both Internet Explorer and/or Netscape to use your proxy servers instead of automatically configuring themselves through the network. If a program that you would like to use doesn't have support for setting up proxy servers… oh, too bad: you can't use that program.

Proxy servers, however, do have an advantage over NAT Internet sharing programs in the security department. With SyGate, you have much more control over what your slave computers can and cannot access. For example, you can specify that computer X not be allowed to go to site A and B, while computer Y can only go to sites C and D. The NAT utilities that are included with the different Windows versions don't have this feature.

Fortunately, the feature that makes the Linksys Switched Network in a Box stand out from the rest does not lie in its manual, nor not even the network cards that are included, but in the actual central piece of hardware that the entire kit is built around: the switch. Most network kits out there include a hub for connecting the computers of the network together, but this Linksys kit includes a switch. Both hubs and switches have the same basic tasks--to connect and pass on packets from one computer in the network to another. So, what's so great about having a switch over having a hub?

On to: The Switched Advantage