Recommend a great 5-8 port Gigabit Switch

[AT0MAC]

 

I have re-routed all my network here at home, so I now use Cat6 cable on all that can be patched up.

 

 

A small problem about that is that I have by far run out of ports in my router...

 

 

My wish-list:

• A known brand (HP, 3Com, Intel, Cisco, IBM etc.)
  
• QoS (Quality of Service) support
  
• Jumbo Frames support
  
• Minimum 5x Gigabit ports, but would prefer 8
  

 

 

 

What to chose?

[AT0MAC]

 

I have looked a little around and found two that looks interesting:

 

 

HP 1405-8G v2 unmanaged

or

CIsco 200 Series SLM2008T managed

 

 

 

 

Personally I like the Cisco most, for instance it have more build in buffer (4MB) than most other switches, also looks like it can do practically everything you could ever want of a a switch.

It's just nagging me, is the HP as good a buy (it's for a Home Network with TV, Mac/PCs, PS3, Sonos, NAS and so on)??

[mbryanr]

Don't believe you will need the managed switch unless planning to run multiple subnets. I have the HP 1410-8g running with no issues. Solid unit. I was using a dlink dgs-2205. No problems, just the HP was nicer.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Influencer]

I believe most people on here are using trendnet switches. They are a good brand and can usually be picked up on sale. Today newegg has the 5 port switch on sale for $15 with the promo code. It's an unmanaged switch.

[AT0MAC]

Don't believe you will need the managed switch unless planning to run multiple subnets. I have the HP 1410-8g running with no issues. Solid unit. I was using a dlink dgs-2205. No problems, just the HP was nicer.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2

 

 

That HP looks especially nice!

Im not totally into network lingo, so what does the Link Aggregation mean?

I know it's something about two cables, and my guess is that it's between router/switch for upload/download as to give more shared and uniform speed on all ports - totally off?

Also, if Im right, do my router need to support it or do I just plug in two cables then the switch does the rest?

[AT0MAC]

I believe most people on here are using trendnet switches. They are a good brand and can usually be picked up on sale. Today newegg has the 5 port switch on sale for $15 with the promo code. It's an unmanaged switch.

 

 

Im from Denmark, so no Newegg here... Trendnet, to me they make things that are a bit skimpy and plasticy - you have any specific switches that you recommend?

[DoeBoye]

+1 for HP ProCurve!

 

I have been using 2 8-port models (well, 1 now, but 2 in the past ) with my router doing all the QoS stuff, and they have been great. Plug and play. No issues. Run cool. 3 years and counting!

[AT0MAC]

Still have not bought anything... Am looking at a NetGear ProSafe GS108 basically because of it's low cost and many features.

Anything else that supports the things I want in a low cost reliable package?

[Ford Prefect]

...I am running the predecessor of this: http://www.dlink.com/us/en/home-solutions/connect/switches/dgs-1008g-8-port-gigabit-desktop-switch

for over two years now. Works without problems so far.

 

The Netgear will also do fine..a little more Pro by the looks....can't tell on the pricing side.

[nickcardwell]

Don't believe you will need the managed switch unless planning to run multiple subnets. I have the HP 1410-8g running with no issues. Solid unit. I was using a dlink dgs-2205. No problems, just the HP was nicer.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2

 

 

That HP looks especially nice!

Im not totally into network lingo, so what does the Link Aggregation mean?

I know it's something about two cables, and my guess is that it's between router/switch for upload/download as to give more shared and uniform speed on all ports - totally off?

Also, if Im right, do my router need to support it or do I just plug in two cables then the switch does the rest?

 

Yes link aggreation is combining 2 or more nics into one big pipe/connection.

 

If its just an uplink from switch to router it will work

 

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

[Influencer]

 

Im from Denmark, so no Newegg here... Trendnet, to me they make things that are a bit skimpy and plasticy - you have any specific switches that you recommend?

 

The switch users on here seem to gravitate to are the greennet series. I don't have a specific model number but they make two models, a plastic one and a sturdier metal one. The plastic one is more curvy, the metal is boxy

 

[AT0MAC]

Actually I have ordered one today - the Zyxel GS-108B v2

 

 

First of all it's slightly cheeper than the NetGear I mentioned earlier but with all the same features + it have ethernet and power on the same side, thus giving it a more clean looking (white!) front which my wife would definitely prefer as it's going to be slightly visible.

 

 

Only differences I can see beside that is that it have 128KB build-in memory were the NetGear have 192KB, the Zyxel supports Jumbo Frames up to 9KB were the NetGear is up to 9.7, the Zyxel have 8K MAC address table which is double of what the NetGear have, the NetGear use 802.1p and the Zyxel have two true high-priority QoS ports and two medium-priority QoS ports - lastly the NetGear uses max of 4.9W and the Zyxel 5.5W.

In the end the true QoS and the design is the two winning features for me.

Actually, with that in mind - what would you recommend:

I have a temporarily setup Im going to use it in for a start which consists of 1 computer, 1 router, 1 TV, 1 server and 1 streamer.

Im thinking something like router to server for full QoS, router to switch on a high-priority QoS port, second high-priority QoS port on switch to computer, TV to switch on normal level port and streamer on medium level QoS port in switch.

What I am in doubt about is basically if the string from router to switch will make a difference on the server if that connection from router to switch was in a normal level port?

Secondly, would a streamer benefit from a high-priority QoS port more than the router would? If so, were should I plug in the router for it to also benefit the server in the best way because the server will be connected directly on the router?

Hope it all makes sense.