[PLUG] Gigabit switch recommendations

[Eli Stair]

Cost-wise, you'll be better off buying several 8-port switches (or
similar port-density) and patching them together to achieve the same
total port count, than paying for a single device with a higher count
in-chassis.  Netgear 8-port gigabit switches are cheap, functional,
and good enough for home-office use, IMO.   If you want higher-end
manageable gear, I'd be happy to give suggestions as well.  I always
prefer to have the best equipment I can afford :)

When you say your 10/100 router, is that a consumer broadband router,
or an actual multi-link routing device?  There are several models of
consumer devices that have even gigabit switches (usually 4-port)
onboard... but it's useless considering american broadband speeds
(unless you're on direct fiber).  I'd suggest upgrading to whatever
model that has the feature set you want, and chaining your gigabit
switches one of the ports from the gateway device.  That way you have
full gig connetions between all devices excepting the internet
gateway, which is the bottleneck outbound anyway.   If you have only
100mbit ports on the gateway's onboard switch, make sure you don't
plug each switch into one of those ports, or you obviously restrict
bandwidth between switches.

I've personally just picked up an Apple Airport Extreme, the newer one
with 802.11n, and am quite happy... the only caveat so far is the need
to have a windows VM around to modify it if none of my mac laptops are
at home.  Several companies are making similar parts with built-in web
interfaces and nearly-identical feature sets now.


/eli


On 8/13/07, John Jason Jordan <johnxj at comcast.net> wrote:
> The remodeling of my house includes adding cat6 wiring throughout, and
> that part is now all but complete. I have 20 cat6 jacks all over - even
> the patio. I have a gigabit rated patch panel on the wall, but my
> switch is only 8 ports, and is only 10/100. So not only is it the
> bottleneck, but I could use more ports. Right now I have to move cables
> from the switch to different jacks on the patch panel in order to use
> some of the wall jacks. This is getting to be a pain, because I have
> seven printers and three computers. Therefore, I am in the market for a
> 24-port gigabit switch. However, my laptop and all but one of my
> printers are only 10/100, and I have one older printer that is only 10
> mb, so I need a switch that is smart enough to do 10/100/1000. My new
> desktop is gigabit and my next laptop will be gigabit as well, and the
> black and white printers don't need to be any faster.
>
> A quick check on eBay revealed 24-port gigabit switches ranging in
> price from ~$100 to $1,800, with MSRPs reported as high as $3,900. I
> haven't googled for prices, or looked at Fry's or Enu, because it
> suddenly occurred to me that there must be some huge differences in
> quality or features that I am unaware of. Therefore, I decided it would
> be a good idea to ask someone who knows about this stuff first.
>
> I also need to replace my 10/100 router. Do they make router/switch
> combos? Would that be a better idea than separate switch and router?
> Any recommendations?
>
> PS, when all is done there is going to be some surplus cat5e stuff to
> give away.
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