I am putting together a lan, so i need a big network switch, say about 32 port, i also need it cheap as i am self funding the whole thing

what i need from you guys is links to the cheapest switches you can find, extra points if i can buy it in the newcastle/hunter region

Seeing how your on a tight budget (what is your budget?) gigabit is out of the question I'd say.

www.ebay.com.au/itm/Cisco-Catalyst-2948G-L3-10-100Mbps-48-Ports-1000BaseX-GBIC-Switch-WS-C2948G-/360414752032?pt=AU_Networking&hash=item53ea64ad20

something like that would be fine, you might need somebody who knows cisco to set up the switch though unless you plan to run it un-managed.

you could buy 2x 24port switches with giga trunks so you dont have to have massive cables all going to the 48 porter

i like this idea for the two 24 port, much more functional idea

im new to the whole idea but i seen 8 ports in dcomp newcastle for $38

i have no major funds atm but i want to bring this thing to be nationally recognised

so in answer to whats my budget? idk atm, but the cheaper the better, i need to be able to plug the pc's/xbox 360's/ ps3 in and go

While we're on this topic.

Say if I were to go out and buy something decent for a feesable lan, (32 slots?) what kind of prices are we looking at?

EDIT: Also, what key features should I look for?

good question, id like to know too

$500-1000++ for 24port gigabit switches with some nice fat 10gbit uplinks depending on the brand you go with, netgear/cisco/extreme networks etc. you gotta understand that most business/commercial grade hardware require somebody with a good understanding of networking to set them up (trunking/STP/port security etc). theyre not plug n play like most home adsl modem/routers.

and the costs wont stop there either, cause a bunch of switches are useless with some way of handing out IP addresses eg DHCP, so you'd need a server to handle that..

what is your ideal LAN size and I will tell you what you will need.

to start i want atleast 10 people and by the end of the years i want 50

i was thinking when it eventually splits into both a pc and an xbox lan on the same day i would set up a small pnp switch for the xbox systems and a larger switch for the pc side of things

i never did the networkking while i was organising events a few years ago, merely the competitions and locations etc.

m,y it guy handled the rest

also i have a pc that i can use as a sever

Get somebody who knows what they're doing with networking and computers.

Alternatively if you're in newcastle just wait for the next insomnia/Zlan.

i am in newcastle but i found noting on google for such a lan, link me?

Anything cisco will be great.