Some switch advice needed...

[Bart]

Hi guys,

I need some quick 'n dirty switch advice...
I want to setup a LAN. The router I'll be using will be the Draytek Vigor 2820n. Great router, with lots of features, but with only one downside... it's switch only comes with ONE gigabit port, the other three ports are 100 Mbit.

I'm aiming for a complete Gigabit network, so I need a decent Gigabit switch. The choice for that was easy: HP Procurve. My first choice would have been the 1800 series, but because of the incompatibility of the 1800 series with the Sonos music system, I can't use that range.

I need about 36 drops on this LAN, so I could either buy one 48 port switch, or two 24 port switches.

Now, I was wondering: If I buy two ProCurve 1400's (unmanaged switch), and keeping into account that the Draytek router only has one gigabit port, could I then use these two switches, by plugging the first switch into the router's gigabit port and the second switch into the first switch? (sorta like 'daisy chaining' these switches?) Does that work? (My first choice would have been to BOTH connect these switches to the router, but as said, since the Draytek only features one gigabit port, this isn't really an option...)

I'm also considering buying the MUCH more expensive 44 port ProCurve 2510G-48 (J9280A - bottom of the page) switch. But I'm not 100% sure if this is a full gigabit switch. The site does mention that 'each port can be used as either an RJ-45 10/100/1000 port', but what are those 4 dual personality ports for then?
This switch would be about twice the price as two 1400's but since it's a manageable switch, I'm guessing it would be a lot more fun too. (anybody know where I can read a review about this switch?) Oh, and this switch can also be managed through a web interface utility I hope?

If somebody would know an answer to my questions, I would be most grateful.

Cheers!

 

[thiggins]

If I understand correctly, you're just connecting the first switch to the router gigabit port and the uplinking the second switch to the first.

Should work fine as long as you balance your loads between switches so that you don't get more than a gigabit of traffic flowing over that single link.

 

[Bart]

If I understand correctly, you're just connecting the first switch to the router gigabit port and then uplinking the second switch to the first.

Correct.

Should work fine as long as you balance your loads between switches so that you don't get more than a gigabit of traffic flowing over that single link.

I already thought that might become a problem, thanks for confirming this to me. The LAN will be used for large file serving and media streaming, both video and audio. That's why I'm inclined to buy the more expensive 2510G-48, since that's a managed switch and if the opportunity asks for it, it should be very easy then to aggregate two Gigabit ports, effectively doubling the bandwidth. Of course, this would not be possible with those 'dumb' unmanaged 1400 switches...

Could you have a look at the link I provided for that 2510G-48 switch Tim? Could you tell me if that's a full Gigabit switch? I want to know for sure before I buy it, since I will buy it online abroad, and I'd hate to end up with the wrong switch.

 

[thiggins]

Could you have a look at the link I provided for that 2510G-48 switch Tim?

Yes. They are full-gigabit switches.

The 2510G-24 has 20 auto-sensing 10/100/1000 ports and 4 "dual-personality slots" that can be used as either RJ-45 10/100/1000 or an open mini-GBIC slot.

The 2510G-48 has 44 auto-sensing 10/100/1000 ports and 4 "dual-personality slots".

The dual-use slots are quite common and allow the use of fiber modules for longer-distance connection than copper connection.

 

[Bart]

Thanks a lot Tim. This one will probably be it then...

 

[BellSouth88]

Hi guys,

I need some quick 'n dirty switch advice...
I want to setup a LAN. The router I'll be using will be the Draytek Vigor 2820n. Great router, with lots of features, but with only one downside... it's switch only comes with ONE gigabit port, the other three ports are 100 Mbit.

I'm aiming for a complete Gigabit network, so I need a decent Gigabit switch. The choice for that was easy: HP Procurve. My first choice would have been the 1800 series, but because of the incompatibility of the 1800 series with the Sonos music system, I can't use that range.

I need about 36 drops on this LAN, so I could either buy one 48 port switch, or two 24 port switches.

Now, I was wondering: If I buy two ProCurve 1400's (unmanaged switch), and keeping into account that the Draytek router only has one gigabit port, could I then use these two switches, by plugging the first switch into the router's gigabit port and the second switch into the first switch? (sorta like 'daisy chaining' these switches?) Does that work? (My first choice would have been to BOTH connect these switches to the router, but as said, since the Draytek only features one gigabit port, this isn't really an option...)

I'm also considering buying the MUCH more expensive 44 port ProCurve 2510G-48 (J9280A - bottom of the page) switch. But I'm not 100% sure if this is a full gigabit switch. The site does mention that 'each port can be used as either an RJ-45 10/100/1000 port', but what are those 4 dual personality ports for then?
This switch would be about twice the price as two 1400's but since it's a manageable switch, I'm guessing it would be a lot more fun too. (anybody know where I can read a review about this switch?) Oh, and this switch can also be managed through a web interface utility I hope?

If somebody would know an answer to my questions, I would be most grateful.

Cheers!

my advice to you save your time and momney and jump for the fiberopti=ce switches for your backbone network and use your copper for your client machines. oh and did i mention IMH I adimently hate linksys , save your mone next time and purchase a Nethear WNR854t Draft n wireless router.