10 Gigabit switch

[usao]

Im interested in setting up a iSCSI server in my office. The boss does not want me to put iSCSI on our existing network due to potential saturation issues.
I looked at dedicated switches for 10 Gigabit networks, but they are too expensive.
I would like to start small-ish and grow it as it becomes more usefull to the rest of the office.
Im starting with a old HP 2U server which has 25 drive bays. I found I could order a 2 port HBA for just a few hundred. However, in order to reach our other machines, I would need a 10 GB ethernet switch. That seems just a bit too much to swallow with limited budget.
What would it take to use an old Linux server with several HBA's to act as a 10 GB Ethernet switch?
What software is needed to configure a Linux box as a switch?

 

[L&LD]

I think a 10GB switch will be cheaper and much more stable than several HBA's in an old Linux server.

 

[usao]

Best price I can find on ebay is around $7k for 24 ports, whereas I can get individual ports on PCIe HBAs for around $150.
I don't need 24 ports in the short-term.
I was thinking of putting 6 ports initially, 2 for the iSCSI server and 4 for the hosts. That would be 6 switch ports for approx $900.
The host-side ports and iSCSI server ports are a sunk-cost, regardless of a home-made switch vs a store-bought switch.
I would rather sink $1K into a home-made switch than $7k into a store-bought switch.
Edit:
If you know where I can find cheaper switches, im still open to that idea as well.

 

[ElectronDF]

I only looked like 1 minutes worth, but Newegg says 8 port Netgear 10GB ($800ish)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122529

12 port 10GB ($1300ish)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122542

Maybe they are not the best brand or are managed enough, but maybe they would work as a starter tinker item.

 

[usao]

I only looked like 1 minutes worth, but Newegg says 8 port Netgear 10GB ($800ish)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122529

12 port 10GB ($1300ish)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833122542

Maybe they are not the best brand or are managed enough, but maybe they would work as a starter tinker item.

Thanks, those are pretty good price points, ill have to look at the 8port switch in detail, but it does look realistic for my needs.

 

[chadster766]

I highly recommend the new line of Linksys LGS500 series managed switches.

Main Features:
1.Layer 3 capable
2.SFP both 1Gig and 10Gig ports
3.STP
4.VLAN
5.Auto detect POE

http://www.linksys.com/en-us/business/products/switches#subcat1

Also I evaluated the Linksys Fiber Optic SFP modules in the below hardware:
1.Linksys LGS552P
2.Cisco SG500
3.StarTech Fiber Media Converter Gigabit 1000Mbps (I swapped the SFP module it comes with for the 1Gig Linksys SFP module)

Tested with both the 1Gig and 10Gig SFP modules on both multi and single mode fibers. I even tested auto-negotiation with the 10Gig going to the 1Gig.

They work great.

http://www.linksys.com/en-us/business/products/accessories

Linksys SMB Pricing Retail

 

[ElectronDF]

Not trying to bash, but the LGS552 has 52 GB ports. OMG that is a LOT of GB ports, but only has 2 10GB. 2 10GB ports don't give much to play with, compared to 8-12 that I mentioned. I might have miss-understood the problem, but I thought he was trying to connect multiple computers with a 10GB switch to use for iSCSI traffic?

 

[Cloud200]

Well the OP never specified.
It could be like this:
ISCSI Server <---10gbe---> 10gbe switch <---servers---> 1gbe switch <---1gbe---> clients

OR

ISCSI Server <---10gbe---> 1gb/10gbe switch <---1gbe---> servers and clients

In the first case the OP would need a switch with a tad more than 2x 10gbe ports.
In the second case the OP would be well served with a switch that only has 2x 10gbe ports

Edit:
just a quick link in newegg of switches that have either 10/100/1000 + 10gbe as well as pure 10gbe switches
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...00015761 600015762&IsNodeId=1&IsPowerSearch=1

 

[Terry Kennedy]

Thanks, those are pretty good price points, ill have to look at the 8port switch in detail, but it does look realistic for my needs.

I had the XS708E for several months until I outgrew it and sold it to another forum member here. It was certainly capable of wire-speed throughput and there wasn't anything wrong with it - I needed more ports and wanted SNMP and a Cisco IOS-like CLI.

I upgraded to a Dell PowerConnect 8024 when Dell had a "fire sale" on them as they were moving to a newer model - I got it for something like 15% of list price (that's "15% of", not "15% off" and an insane warranty (through 2040).

Though I freely admit I am not the typical "home user".

 

[messerchmidt]

get a sued one on ebay

 

[L&LD]

get a sued one on ebay

I would avoid the sued ones.

Just because they got sued once, doesn't mean they won't get sued again.