Question Choosing a switch

[braelyn49]

Hello there,

I am trying to choose a switch for my new house and I'm almost sold to TP-Link TL-SG3428Mp for 250eu.

Any recommendations/suggestions regarding the switch above? Or should I get a second hand/used from eBay, something like cisco etc? I am not that good at choosing such parts..

I am looking for at least 16 ports, L3, Managed and PoE+

Thank you!

 

[Fallen Kell]

Not sure how common these are over in Europe, but personally I am partial to many of the Brocade switches that you can get off ebay. I went for a Brocade ICX-6610, (2xQSFP+ 40Gb ports, 2xQSFP+->quad 10Gb breakout cables, 8xSFP+ 10Gb ports, and either 24 or 48xRJ45 1Gbe ports, with optional Class 4 PoE+ support, L3/L4, managed, pretty much all the protocols/options you could ever want).

The ICX-6xxx line is mostly all good (even though it just went end of life), so the ICX-6450, ICX-6610, or ICX-6650. The downside of the ICX-6610 and ICX-6650 is the noise level (really any switch that supports 40Gb is going to be loud due to the heat it generates from having hardware with high enough performance to support those speeds). If you just want standard RJ45 1Gbe and a couple 10Gb SPF+ ports, the ICX-6450 would be a much quieter switch and meet your stated needs. Be aware, that these are enterprise switches, so just like the CISCO, you will need to know how to configure them (the FastIron OS that the ICX-6xxx line uses is VERY similar to CISCO, so if you know how to configure a CISCO, you should have no problem, with just some minor changes).

There is a huge thread on Serve the Home forums about these switches which I recommend looking at (just google "Brocade ICX serve the home" and you will find it). Pretty much anything you could want to know is in that thread (several thousand posts). I highly recommend reading at least the first few posts in that thread as it has links to go through setup (wiping/factory reset/applying latest firmware/unlocking features/basic configuration).

I was able to get my ICX-6610 for $200 (including shipping) from ebay (but mine did not have the PoE module, so expect to spend a little more for one that has a working PoE module).

 

[simas]

Another suggestion to consider Brocade and read what @Fallen Kell written above. I used 6450 for 3 years (bought off ebay for $90) and upgraded to 7250 to get more 10Gb links. very stable, zero issues experience for me.

 

[braelyn49]

Not sure how common these are over in Europe, but personally I am partial to many of the Brocade switches that you can get off ebay. I went for a Brocade ICX-6610, (2xQSFP+ 40Gb ports, 2xQSFP+->quad 10Gb breakout cables, 8xSFP+ 10Gb ports, and either 24 or 48xRJ45 1Gbe ports, with optional Class 4 PoE+ support, L3/L4, managed, pretty much all the protocols/options you could ever want).

The ICX-6xxx line is mostly all good (even though it just went end of life), so the ICX-6450, ICX-6610, or ICX-6650. The downside of the ICX-6610 and ICX-6650 is the noise level (really any switch that supports 40Gb is going to be loud due to the heat it generates from having hardware with high enough performance to support those speeds). If you just want standard RJ45 1Gbe and a couple 10Gb SPF+ ports, the ICX-6450 would be a much quieter switch and meet your stated needs. Be aware, that these are enterprise switches, so just like the CISCO, you will need to know how to configure them (the FastIron OS that the ICX-6xxx line uses is VERY similar to CISCO, so if you know how to configure a CISCO, you should have no problem, with just some minor changes).

There is a huge thread on Serve the Home forums about these switches which I recommend looking at (just google "Brocade ICX serve the home" and you will find it). Pretty much anything you could want to know is in that thread (several thousand posts). I highly recommend reading at least the first few posts in that thread as it has links to go through setup (wiping/factory reset/applying latest firmware/unlocking features/basic configuration).

I was able to get my ICX-6610 for $200 (including shipping) from ebay (but mine did not have the PoE module, so expect to spend a little more for one that has a working PoE module).

Thank you for your reply! Noise is a downside indeed, although the real downer is that these are not that common here in Europe. Looking on eBay the cheapest I found was the 6450 which costs more than the TP-Link (which maxed out my budget). I am also not at all familiar with Cisco or anything like that since until now I only had unmanaged switches (well only 2 small ones). I liked the TP-Link's web UI and was one of the reasons I was thinking about it.

Another suggestion to consider Brocade and read what @Fallen Kell written above. I used 6450 for 3 years (bought off ebay for $90) and upgraded to 7250 to get more 10Gb links. very stable, zero issues experience for me.

Thank you for your reply! Unfortunately they are over my current budget

 

[Fallen Kell]

Sorry to hear that they don't have as much presence over there. Don't be too intimidated by these though if you do happen to find one. I know at least on the ICX-6610 and 6650 that they have a webui as well which can help you initially get many of the configuration things done. I think the other models have that feature as well, but I don't know for certain (@simas might be able to say if there is a webui for the 6450 and 7250).

Please also note that most of the other switches (i.e. not the 6610 or 6650) are or can be configured to be pretty quiet (some do not even have a fan, but I think all the PoE ones will have a fan).

They have been my go to switch for a number of years now due to how cheap they still are (in the USA at least). I think part of the reason there are so cheap here is because all the corporations and data centers here have been ditching their 10/40gb networks which are SFP+/QSFP+ and been upgrading to 25/100/400gb networks on SFP28/QSFP28 hardware.

 

[simas]

Yes, there is a functional webui to both 6450 and 7250 switches and it does the job for anything you want to do including flashing images whenever firmware upgrades.
there is even a gui applet/gif/something that tells you which ports are used -i.e. below

I do recommend however is learning the command line, it is not that scary and once learned would be very useful.

@braelyn49 - what is your budget? impossible to give you any advice without knowing that. also 'Europe' could mean anything , where in Europe?

 

[braelyn49]

Yes, there is a functional webui to both 6450 and 7250 switches and it does the job for anything you want to do including flashing images whenever firmware upgrades.
there is even a gui applet/gif/something that tells you which ports are used -i.e. below

I do recommend however is learning the command line, it is not that scary and once learned would be very useful.

@braelyn49 - what is your budget? impossible to give you any advice without knowing that. also 'Europe' could mean anything , where in Europe?

View attachment 52070

My budget is around 230eu I can go up to 250 if needed. I'm based in Greece and that's why everything being shipped here cost around 70-100 (!) euros lol..

 

[mxnerd]

Searched.

CRS125-24G-1S-2HnD-IN, $209

CRS125-24G-1S-2HnD-IN | MikroTik

24x Gigabit Ethernet layer 3 Smart Switch, 1x SFP cage, LCD, 802.11b/g/n Dual Chain wireless, 600MHz CPU, 128MB RAM, Metal desktop case, RouterOS L5

mikrotik.com

No idea about its true capability, it does say 802.11n AP router + layer 3 switch however.

But maybe all you need is CSS326-24G-2S+RM, just $139

CSS326-24G-2S+RM | MikroTik

SwOS powered 24 port Gigabit Ethernet switch with two SFP+ ports in 1U rackmount case

mikrotik.com

Need someone to pitch in.

==

Full switch products

MikroTik

MikroTik makes networking hardware and software, which is used in nearly all countries of the world. Our mission is to make existing Internet technologies faster, more powerful and affordable to wider range of users.

mikrotik.com

 

[simas]

Check out the CSS326-24G mentioned above - servethehome has a review for it I think. If still interested in Brocade, see what ebay says right now - 6450 model comes up at ~$120 right now (or best offer which should be cheaper) plus shipping. Both should be within your budget

 

[braelyn49]

I can't figure out if Mikrotik are POE though. I was also looking at CRS125-24G-1S-IN (new) which goes for around 190eu but I couldn't figure out regarding POE+. The only available model I could find was CRS328-24P-4S+RM which goes for around 450eu. The 6450 model which got POE goes for around 240eu + shipping on eBay right now. Thank you both for your help!

 

[simas]

CRS125-24G-1S-IN is discontinued according to Miktorik - i think the item previous posters mentioned is here , different model
MikroTik Routers and Wireless - Products: CSS326-24G-2S+RM

overall, I suggest ranking your requirements below from most important to least - i.e. PoE+ vs budget. L3/managed vs budget, etc. what matters to you?
" 16 ports, L3, Managed and PoE+ "

if i were you I would get brocade 6250-24, watch for sales from european sellers (if you dont want to ship from NA), get a couple of poe injectors and move on. if you must go for PoE model, check the specs on something similar to this Brocade ICX6430-24P 24-Ports POE Ethernet Switch 624299407458 | eBay and decide then.

again, I am not a fan on anything 'hard-coded' to switch as there are multiple types of PoE standard, I want my switch to be a switch and powering my access points is different thing. if tomorrow i have to replace an access point and it uses different standard, I just replace the injector vs throw out the switch... however, it is your network and your decisions.

 

[mxnerd]

Didn't notice that OP also want PoE feature that can power PoE devices, apparently the products I linked earlier don't have the feature as their max power consumption are under 20W.

 

[braelyn49]

CRS125-24G-1S-IN is discontinued according to Miktorik - i think the item previous posters mentioned is here , different model
MikroTik Routers and Wireless - Products: CSS326-24G-2S+RM

overall, I suggest ranking your requirements below from most important to least - i.e. PoE+ vs budget. L3/managed vs budget, etc. what matters to you?
" 16 ports, L3, Managed and PoE+ "

if i were you I would get brocade 6250-24, watch for sales from european sellers (if you dont want to ship from NA), get a couple of poe injectors and move on. if you must go for PoE model, check the specs on something similar to this Brocade ICX6430-24P 24-Ports POE Ethernet Switch 624299407458 | eBay and decide then.

again, I am not a fan on anything 'hard-coded' to switch as there are multiple types of PoE standard, I want my switch to be a switch and powering my access points is different thing. if tomorrow i have to replace an access point and it uses different standard, I just replace the injector vs throw out the switch... however, it is your network and your decisions.

Thank you once again. I was thinking of getting everything into 1 device (including PoE) because of the power cables (1 vs 3-4 for 3 or 4 APs). But I will keep looking thanks!

 

[fkoehler]

This appears to ship to Greece

Pardon Our Interruption...

Cisco SGE2000P Cisco 24-Port Gigabit Switch + PoE with No Brackets

GBP 69.99 + 19 s/h

 

[braelyn49]

This appears to ship to Greece

Pardon Our Interruption...

Cisco SGE2000P Cisco 24-Port Gigabit Switch + PoE with No Brackets

GBP 69.99 + 19 s/h

Thank you for the link. UK shipments are considered 3rd country deliveries which you will need to add extra taxes and it will probably reach that price x3-x4 times plus 2-3 months waiting time..