Looking for Smart Switch Recommendation

[mosoccer]

I'm looking for recommendations on purchasing a smart switch -- I don't quite need something that is fully managed, but want something above an unmanaged switch. I've re-wired my house with gigabit and need something that has about 24 ports. I also need something that has the ability to vlan, qos/bandwith ability (peferabily setting bandwidth limit at the port level), and gigabit speeds. Anyone have suggestions on any specific models or even any brands they would recommend (or even to stay away from)? Thanks in advance.

 

[tipstir]

I'm looking for recommendations on purchasing a smart switch -- I don't quite need something that is fully managed, but want something above an unmanaged switch. I've re-wired my house with gigabit and need something that has about 24 ports. I also need something that has the ability to vlan, qos/bandwith ability (peferabily setting bandwidth limit at the port level), and gigabit speeds. Anyone have suggestions on any specific models or even any brands they would recommend (or even to stay away from)? Thanks in advance.

Netgear Pro Safe 8, 16, 24, 48 Smart Web Switch.

Tp-link Jet Stream is what I use here, but that's more of L2 Managed Switch but the price I got that for was only $10 more of the Netgear Pro Safe Smart Web. I didn't care for that one seems to be a bit outdated and seems to be slower on the Web Admin UI than with the Tp-link Jet Stream TL-SG3216

 

[JPElectron]

Netgear GS748TP

I'd suggest Netgear GS748TP (POE if you need)

Also the Cisco 300 small business series is good

 

[SHPNet]

I've got the Netgear ProSafe FS728tp. 24 POE ports (but only fast e) plus 4 gig ports. Highly configurable. L3 QOS, port mirroring, etc. You can find them for a very good price. My biggest complaint is that the UI is clunky and basically unusable unless you run an older version of Firefox.

 

[tipstir]

I've got the Netgear ProSafe FS728tp. 24 POE ports (but only fast e) plus 4 gig ports. Highly configurable. L3 QOS, port mirroring, etc. You can find them for a very good price. My biggest complaint is that the UI is clunky and basically unusable unless you run an older version of Firefox.

Yep and that's why I gone with the TP-LINK Jetstream L2 Manage Switch.

 

[thetoad30]

I have purchased the Cisco SG200-26. It has the managed features, no fan, web interface, and has the Cisco name (I know, I don't like that either, but it is a standard). I had purchased just before these a TP-Link and Netgear managed switches, but for the life of me I could not find any good examples online on how to get them configured and talking to other hardware. I figured since Cisco was a standard, I'd be able to find almost any kind of configuration I needed online - and I was right. After a little bit of experimentation using the web as an example, what took me hours for the other name brands took me 30 minutes on the Cisco.

 

[tipstir]

I have purchased the Cisco SG200-26. It has the managed features, no fan, web interface, and has the Cisco name (I know, I don't like that either, but it is a standard). I had purchased just before these a TP-Link and Netgear managed switches, but for the life of me I could not find any good examples online on how to get them configured and talking to other hardware. I figured since Cisco was a standard, I'd be able to find almost any kind of configuration I needed online - and I was right. After a little bit of experimentation using the web as an example, what took me hours for the other name brands took me 30 minutes on the Cisco.

TP-LINK has emulators online so you can try out the Web Admin UI.

I've worked on Cisco on VLAN Projects I was in charge for 5,000 switch project and Network Refresh Project of 20,000 Cisco Catalyst Switch replacements 24 and 48 port Gigabit switches. Update firmware and deployment into network closets around the campus.

So you can't go wrong with a Cisco Switch. Cisco Linksys Switches I have about two of those. I did try out Netgear Prosafe Web Smart Switch. Didn't care for the Web Admin UI and then the switch started to give me issues.

TP-LINK JetStream Managed L2 switch has served my purpose here. Has 5 year warranty for the SMB Enterprise Network Gear they peddle. I just did a firmware upgrade on it.

 

[thetoad30]

TP-LINK has emulators online so you can try out the Web Admin UI.

I've worked on Cisco on VLAN Projects I was in charge for 5,000 switch project and Network Refresh Project of 20,000 Cisco Catalyst Switch replacements 24 and 48 port Gigabit switches. Update firmware and deployment into network closets around the campus.

So you can't go wrong with a Cisco Switch. Cisco Linksys Switches I have about two of those. I did try out Netgear Prosafe Web Smart Switch. Didn't care for the Web Admin UI and then the switch started to give me issues.

TP-LINK JetStream Managed L2 switch has served my purpose here. Has 5 year warranty for the SMB Enterprise Network Gear they peddle. I just did a firmware upgrade on it.

Tipster,

I think you make a good point in making sure product differentation is considered.

I WAS trying the Netgear Web Smart Switch, and yes, I think that was my problem. It is a new product, to be fair, and might be having some growing pains as most new products do.

I also had a TP-Link switch, that while it was a solid switch, it had a very small, loud fan inside of it, that I can only imagine will fail at some point. Indeed, many user reviews online state that this fan does fail frequently, and opening the switch to replace it voided the warranty.

Finally, I did try out a new D-Link smart switch, which I thought for the price would have been awesome. I've previously had nothing but problems with D-Link (their DIR-855 debacle), but decided for the price (3x less than a comparative Cisco product that I eventually bought) I had to give it a go. Major mistake. The firmware wouldn't even save the settings I applied. Not really sure how that even makes it past QC to be released. But I digress.

Anyway, like I said, I had had enough with the variability for a managed switch, so I spent the money I should have in the beginning and purchased the Cisco. Did I pay too much for it? Yes. Does it work just the way it should without having to fudge things and learn ambiguous or sometimes confusing terms? Yes. Is that worth the premium? To me it was. To some others, maybe not. But in the end I have a managed 26-port gigabit switch that will have the same terms and interfaces across all lines (I have two 8-port managed gigabit switches in the same line), and, more importantly, I have the power of Google to do basically anything I choose to do with those switches.

I'm not always a fan of big name brands, but there are times when there's a reason that these big name brands are still in business. In this case, I think there is a reason that higher-end networking equipment is dominated by Cisco.

 

[stevech]

Many large enterprises and lots of SOHO/SMBs choose Juniper over Cisco, for better value.

 

[frankle]

Tipster,

I also had a TP-Link switch, that while it was a solid switch, it had a very small, loud fan inside of it, that I can only imagine will fail at some point. Indeed, many user reviews online state that this fan does fail frequently, and opening the switch to replace it voided the warranty.

I've been in touch with the TP Link guys lately after looking at their switches and after asking the question about fans in thair latest switches got them to add a line to their spec's pages regarding number of fans ... so now you know if they have a fan or not which is a great selling feature as most of them don't now.

This is the one I purchased:

http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/?categoryid=222&model=TL-SG3424#spec

 

[tipstir]

Fanless switches 24port and 16port share a lot of features.