Hi, I need more ethernet ports and have no spare PCI slots. Will a USB ethernet adapter work? if it does, any specific brand??? Ta

Already asked. they said: NO

You can use the multi-port NIC

Or this one D-LINK DEF-580TX

I like this one.

INTEL 82546GB

cool. Thanks guys!
Now where to buy these ??

You can make whole new MT unit for the price of one such miltiport LAN card

You can make whole new MT unit for the price of one such miltiport LAN card

, I found that out!

Or use VLANs and one of these:


(managed ethernet switch) to get you to 25 ports.

VLANs aren't perfect solution in my opinion (bandwidth decrase). Better way is to buy multiport cards with particular ports managment (much faster switching than VLANs, more speed). Routerboard has been introduced multiple port cards - but the price ;D

The PCI to multi miniPCI adapter would be great for me too. Just a pitty that the ones listed in MT website are not recommended for SR2 and XR2 cards. For compact reason, I use small form factor PC which only has 2 PCI slots and 1 builtin NIC. I have used the 2 PCI slots (single miniPCI to PCI adapters). I have no other option for expansion

To winxp2000 - in this forum your picture gallery should start with Mikrotik products :

http://www.routerboard.com/rb44.html

ebay is your freind...
I come up with the Compaq / HP multi port cards often there...

I REALY like the Compaq dual port 64bit adapters (I can piggyback a Gig fiber port on it)

3 - 4 ports on one card often for under $30 us..

Craig

ebay is your freind...
Craig

unfortunately, most of them charge 3 times the cost to ship to Australia. Some of them do not ship out of the States.

Anyone have come across a PCI to multi-mini PCI adapter that support SR2 or XR2???

Or use VLANs and one of these:


(managed ethernet switch) to get you to 25 ports.

I completely disagree with this solution because this kind of routers are too expensive (>400 euros) and one of VLAN problem is exactly the use of a switch. Only a few swithes support VLANs correctly.

One of the last serches I did on Monday kicked up several multi port 100 Mb cards in Aus..

one was $20 Aus.. I almost picked it up, but I didnt want to ship it to the US...

Take a look...

Or grab one from a MikroTik disti..

Craig

D-Link 580 adapters are crap, they have been mentioned a number of times on these forums. If you get one, enjoy your reboots.

I've yet to come across a VLAN switch that didn't support VLANs correctly. All in all the standard has been around long enough and most manufacturers have it down. I've used Linksys, Netgear, Cisco and Asus switches with MT, Linux and Cisco routers with out issue. The only thing I can think of VLAN related that could cause issue is GVRP support.

D-Link 580 adapters are crap, they have been mentioned a number of times on these forums. If you get one, enjoy your reboots.

the D-Link DFE-580TX used the sundance Chipset,

Better is the D-Link DFE-570TX this Card used a Intel Chipset..

or your used the Modell from Mikrotik the RB44

To winxp2000 - in this forum your picture gallery should start with Mikrotik products :

http://www.routerboard.com/rb44.html

Hi you see

The RB44G use the PCI interface to setup a 4 ports NIC to a 4G?

PCI slot just 32bit and it supports 33MHz only

So, it's speed is 133MB/s(33MHz X 32bit/8).

Do you believe it?

VLANs could be a solution when you have Gigabit Ethernet port in your MT machine and it support VLAN Tags

I just bougt an D-LINK DEF-570TX on Ebay 4 years a go. Its the version with the 4 Intel NICS on board an it is . Also scavanged for an 2 port Compaq NIC (2 Intel NICS on board) at work.

Using these boards together with an ISDN BRI interface on an Compaq EN SFF (3 PCI Slots) and a CF-IDE converter for HDD device