Small office gigabit rackmount switch

El_Watcher · 16 Mar 2009 at 15:55

We aremoving office soon, and in the process my boss wants to move to gigabit LAN. Our current switch is a Netgear 16-port unmanaged rackmount switch, so I am looking for something similar but with gigabit support.

It needs at least 10 ports because that is the current usage.

Most of the posts here seem to be geared towards big companies using multiple switches, and the networking forum is people needing 6-8 ports.

I have looked at the HP ones, but seem to be 24-port minimum, these is a Cisco/Linksys one (SR2016) which looks OK, but I don't know if it is more Cisco or more Linksys designed.

I also read that Netgear aren't rated as highly as HP/Cisco.

Oh and we would rather not spend more than £200 if possible.

101predator · 16 Mar 2009 at 16:00

you could look at this one Netgear GS116 as a starting point

howler · 16 Mar 2009 at 16:03

Should be able to get a ProCurve 1400 24G Switch (J9078A) for around £200

iaind · 16 Mar 2009 at 16:03

I've had problems doing anything more complex than basic switching with Netgears..

The Linksys ones are just Linksys, the Cisco name is just for branding.

I'd go for something like an HP 1800-24G. They only seem to do the lower end in 8 or 24 port, but I dont see the harm in getting 24 for future expansion. £197 at a competitor

El_Watcher · 16 Mar 2009 at 17:16

101predator said:
you could look at this one Netgear GS116 as a starting point

I did look at that, and if it only had 4 screw holes for rackmounting, I would have.

howler said:
Should be able to get a ProCurve 1400 24G Switch (J9078A) for around £200

iaind said:
I'd go for something like an HP 1800-24G. They only seem to do the lower end in 8 or 24 port, but I dont see the harm in getting 24 for future expansion. £197 at a competitor

What exactly is the difference between the 1400 and 1800 because at most places they are the same price? I see the 1400 is unmanaged whereas the 1800 has a web interface, but what function then brings the price of the 1400 up?

iaind · 16 Mar 2009 at 17:38

The list price of the 1400 is actually lower (224 compared to 269) but obviously differing discounts etc will mean the basket price is a bit different.

The 1800 supports VLANs etc, it doesnt look like the 1400 does so that would be my choice

wij · 16 Mar 2009 at 17:44

As iaind has mentioned the 1800 series offers a couple of basic Layer2 features (vlans etc.) but that is about it.

Still if they are the same cost to you, then you might as well just get the 1800 incase you ever had need for such features in the future.

iaind · 16 Mar 2009 at 17:47

A quick google would suggest that the 1800 is about 50 quid more expensive, on average than the 1400. Depends if you have any restrictions on supplier and whats in stock.

K.C. Leblanc · 16 Mar 2009 at 17:47

iaind said:
I'd go for something like an HP 1800-24G. They only seem to do the lower end in 8 or 24 port, but I dont see the harm in getting 24 for future expansion. £197 at a competitor

We've got a few of those round here. Very reliable, as are all our HP switches.

Something which I can't say for either Netgear or D-Link. I can't comment on Linksys switches, cos I've hardly used them, but I have had one of their APs start smoking.

Burnsy2023 · 16 Mar 2009 at 19:02

K.C. Leblanc said:
Something which I can't say for either Netgear or D-Link.

Netgear managed stuff isn't bad kit, but they're entry level stuff isn't the best.

iaind · 16 Mar 2009 at 19:20

Its pretty solid and reliable, but if you try and do something "interesting" with them you can run into trouble.

A client of mine has a site with 8 of Netgear 48 port Gb managed "smart" switches and wanted VLANs implemented, which should be pretty simple. It wasnt, the terminology used in the menus wasnt standard, the documentation was no good at all and it was only after a lot of trial and error that I got the things to trunk properly

Sp00n · 16 Mar 2009 at 19:55

howler said:
Should be able to get a ProCurve 1400 24G Switch (J9078A) for around £200

This, for a small sbe.

K.C. Leblanc · 17 Mar 2009 at 21:02

Burnsy2023 said:
Netgear managed stuff isn't bad kit, but they're entry level stuff isn't the best.

There's kit of their's I've used that had a firmware bug that caused it to just stop working.

bigredshark · 18 Mar 2009 at 14:23

Burnsy2023 said:
Netgear managed stuff isn't bad kit, but they're entry level stuff isn't the best.

We have a pile of about 30 netgear managed switches in out stockroom which are awaiting the arrival of a skip. Because that's the only sensible place for them in our experience, they're not much cheaper than HP/3com even if you are obsessed with purchase cost and they're just rubbish reliability wise.

I'd agree and say HP Procurves are a good bet, I'd take Cisco if I had the budget but for small business that doesn't stand up so much...

PistolPete · 18 Mar 2009 at 14:42

I've been happily using a Dell PowerConnect 2716 for about 2 years now.
I got it at for stupid money during a Dell promo but are now around £200.

BoomAM · 22 Mar 2009 at 00:43

Why has your boss decided this?
Is it going to be a core switch or one that the clients will connect to?

Reason i ask, is that its a little pointless imo having everything on gig if the server serving them all cant keep up....?