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[Oubadah]

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[GregN]

I desperately need to up size my home switch to at least 21 ports. Up to now I've been using a Procurve 1400-8G and it's been 100% stable and reliable, but now it's just too small. My budget is strictly limited, and so far the TL-SG1024 is the only thing I can find offering Gigabit networking at an affordable price to me.

What do you think? http://www.tp-link.com/lk/products/details/?model=TL-SG1024

TP Link has an excellent rep, and the price (what $110-$120) for 24 port unmanaged switch is great.

You might want to look on e-bay for a used switch, you can find managed switches used in the same price range, but without a warranty....

Most managed switches will support QOS, link aggregation and bandwidth controls

 

[GregN]

I'm in New Zealand, so e-bay isn't really an option. I have been looking at second hand managed switches over here, but there are no gigabit ones in my price range.

EDIT: I've seen a D-Link DGS-1024D second hand for less than the TL-SG1024. It's just another dumb switch, but is there any reason why should consider it over the TL-SG1024?

TPLink has a better reputation, a little more exclusive (Mazda vs Honda?), but spec for spec they are the same.

I don't know the environment that you are putting the switch into, I do think you'll find the TPLink to be louder....

Netgear GS748T: How comfortable are you when it comes to configuration tasks? A managed switch is always more versatile than an unmanaged one, but not as green, or as quiet. I prefer managed over unmanaged for anything other than straight port expansion.

 

[GregN]

I see a lot of complaints of excessive noise and other issues with the Netgear, so it's off my list.



Louder? As far as I can tell it has no active cooling, although I can say for certain. I know the DGS-1024D has two fans.

I'm going to keep an eye on a DGS-3224TGR managed switch I just found. It's an auction though, so I have no idea whether I'll be able to afford it.

It is hard to tell, my supposition is based on the co-location of most tplink gear, data-centers. The D-Links tend to have a wider remit on location. I could be wrong on the noise.

I know I had to re-jig my media center to move the Dell managed switch into the next room because of noise.

Both the D-Link and the TPLink claim to be green.

 

[GregN]

Actually I have both the Dell switch and my SAN installed in the bedroom (constant and fixed fan volume), they generate a nice bit of white noise - which means you don't have to worry about the volume in the adjacent living room. Much better in the bedroom than with the HTPC & alike.

As long as the fan noise is not variable, you get used to it