Embedded Ethernet Hub

I've got a need to connect 6 ethernet devices in an embedded app.  A
switch isn't needed at all due to the particulars of the app.  Are
there any "naked" ethernet hubs that are well suited to mounting in an
enclosure?  

Alternativelly, is it so easy to create a hub that it could be easily
laid down on the corner of a PCB?
-- 
Alex Pavloff - remove BLAH to email
Software Engineer, ESA Technology

> there any "naked" ethernet hubs that are well suited to mounting in an
> enclosure?  

The small consumer hubs are just a PCB in a plastic box. Remove the
box, you've got a tiny board with four screw holes in it.

On 8 Apr 2004 18:18:54 -0700, larwe@larwe.com (Lewin A.R.W. Edwards)
wrote:

>> there any "naked" ethernet hubs that are well suited to mounting in an
>> enclosure?  
>
>The small consumer hubs are just a PCB in a plastic box. Remove the
>box, you've got a tiny board with four screw holes in it.

It's getting harder to find any that don't do switching. We keep some
on hand for monitoring dedicated IP lines.

-- 
Al Balmer
Balmer Consulting
removebalmerconsultingthis@att.net

On Fri, 09 Apr 2004 08:11:55 -0700, Alan Balmer <albalmer@att.net>
wrote:

>On 8 Apr 2004 18:18:54 -0700, larwe@larwe.com (Lewin A.R.W. Edwards)
>wrote:
>
>>> there any "naked" ethernet hubs that are well suited to mounting in an
>>> enclosure?  
>>
>>The small consumer hubs are just a PCB in a plastic box. Remove the
>>box, you've got a tiny board with four screw holes in it.
>
>It's getting harder to find any that don't do switching. We keep some
>on hand for monitoring dedicated IP lines.

Switching would hurt really -- but again, its not needed.  Has anyone
done any PCB layout of a hub?  Is it hard?  Could 6 ethernet
connectors and the circuitry be easily put onto the corner of a PCB?

Without a doubt, I'll be using the "hit the consumer electronics with
a hammer" method of embedded hardware acquisition.
-- 
Alex Pavloff - remove BLAH to email
Software Engineer, ESA Technology

On 2004-04-09, Alex Pavloff <BLAHalex@BLAHpavloff.netBLAH> wrote:
> Switching would hurt really -- but again, its not needed.  Has anyone
> done any PCB layout of a hub?

Yep.

> Is it hard?

Nope.

>  Could 6 ethernet
> connectors and the circuitry be easily put onto the corner of a PCB?

Yes.  But I think hub chips are becoming extinct.  Better use a switch
(available from many manufacturers like Davicom, Micrel, Marvell etc.).

  -jm