using managed switches, instead of layer2 switches for storage network?

[SoftDux-Rudi]

Hi,

We only use layer2 gigabit switches and I'm considering "downgrading" to (smart / web?) managed switches instead. They generally cost about 1/3 - 1/4 of Layer2 switches and provide most of the same features of Layer2 switches.

Can anyone, who has some experience (with problems / performance degradation / tuning / etc) give me some insight on using managed switches instead of Layer2 switches for a storage area network? The storage area network has some NAS, and some SAN devices, all of which either has 4 or 8 GBe NIC's and use Load Balance / Link Aggregation - with the web smart switches support as well.

We don't use jumbo frames, or VLAN's (but I'm considering using VLAN's as well).

the only real downside that I can think of is redundant power supplies. BUT, for the price of one Layer2, I can get 4 web smart switches from the same supplier, which effectively means I could have better redundancy with 2 switches backing each other up. Our network is not setup with Trunking either.

 

[uscallesen]

I'm pretty confused by your post - All switches are Layer 2 devices (som with added L3 funtionality - commonly known as L3 switches)

A managed switch can do anything an unmanaged switch can - but typically offers 'enterprise' features like vlans, snmp, spanning tree etc..

I would NEVER use unmanaged switches for anything besides home use - the prices for decent managed switches are so low that it makes no sense.

 

[SoftDux-Rudi]

I'm pretty confused by your post - All switches are Layer 2 devices (som with added L3 funtionality - commonly known as L3 switches)

A managed switch can do anything an unmanaged switch can - but typically offers 'enterprise' features like vlans, snmp, spanning tree etc..

I would NEVER use unmanaged switches for anything besides home use - the prices for decent managed switches are so low that it makes no sense.

If this was the case, then Netgear doesn't kwow about the ISO layer. They have managed switches which are not classed as Layer 2 switches - and where my confusion came in. They typically refer to them as "Smart Managed" or "Advanced Managed" and cost 1/3 of their "Layer 2" switches. Look here: http://www.duxbury.co.za/Netgear/prosafe_managed_switches_gigabit_ethernet_10_100_1000.html

The sales reps couldn't help me much, as I wanted some usage experience examples.


P.S. I never even asked about unmanaged switches.

 

[uscallesen]

I'm actually just unpacking a Netgear ProSafe switch at this very minute - They include a rather confusing diagram of all their switches grouping them like you descriped. It's all just marketing terms though - and yeah I tend to agree they ignore the fact that all switches operate at layer 2 of the OSI model.

Anyways - I'm installing a GS108Tv2 right now so if you have any questions about that or simular products I'll do my best to answer.

 

[00Roush]

Maybe this can help make better sense of it... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_switch.

00Roush