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    Smart Switch - Recommendations

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    • D
      dreamslacker
      last edited by

      @Sleeps:

      RB250GS is out of the question looked at their forum too many issues for a newbie.  Found another TP Link SG2109WEB which is Gigabit.  However since jimp replied I'm now steering towards the Netgear GS-108T known make and lots of support on the net and its just over £30.00 difference.

      Thanks again

      Sleeps

      If all you need is the VLAN functionality, the RB250GS with firmware 1.2 or 1.3 will work just fine.  I do own one unit and have no issues thus far.  If you want anything else, I'd say that the Netgear or a HP Procurve is probably right up your alley.

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      • stephenw10S
        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
        last edited by

        The RB250GS does seem amazingly cheap. Can it really be any good at that price?  :o

        A few years ago when I was last looking around for gigabit switches you couldn't buy an unmanaged switch for that price.

        Now I'm running a firebox with 10 interfaces I can't really justify an extra switch!  ;D

        Steve

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        • P
          Perry
          last edited by

          I'm also happy with my RB250GS. After upgrading to firmware 1.4 (94 days ago) I was able to manage it over vlan and it now has the functionality for a home managed switch I need.

          /Perry
          doc.pfsense.org

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          • D
            dreamslacker
            last edited by

            @stephenw10:

            The RB250GS does seem amazingly cheap. Can it really be any good at that price?  :o

            A few years ago when I was last looking around for gigabit switches you couldn't buy an unmanaged switch for that price.

            Now I'm running a firebox with 10 interfaces I can't really justify an extra switch!  ;D

            Steve

            If you only need VLANs, packet forwarding/ mirroring, basic statistics and control over flow control, it works well.  I've not tried the other stuff like port speed limiting and such but I reckon those would be flaky at best.
            The switch is somewhat slow to reply on pings though.  18ms over Gbe typical.  I doubt the processor would handle more than the basic functions.  In fact, I reckon the processor only exists to provide WebGUI configuration of the switch IC.

            I usually use the switch to trace cabling infrastructure.  Beats paying more for those Network cable tracers with extra ID units.

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            • S
              Sleeps
              last edited by

              @dreamslacker:

              @Sleeps:

              RB250GS is out of the question looked at their forum too many issues for a newbie.  Found another TP Link SG2109WEB which is Gigabit.  However since jimp replied I'm now steering towards the Netgear GS-108T known make and lots of support on the net and its just over £30.00 difference.

              Thanks again

              Sleeps

              If all you need is the VLAN functionality, the RB250GS with firmware 1.2 or 1.3 will work just fine.  I do own one unit and have no issues thus far.  If you want anything else, I'd say that the Netgear or a HP Procurve is probably right up your alley.

              I was tempted buying the RB 250GS but was put off by the amount of issues users were having (RB Forum) I rather pay the extra money for an eight port and for the other features.  At the moment I'm only interested in VLAN however once I become familiar with the device (Still thinking of which to buy) the features will be there and I won't have to replace it for a more featured one.

              Sleeps

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              • D
                darko-san
                last edited by

                I’ve just bought RB 250GS, unfortunately before reading this topic.
                The GS108T looks pretty well, but while searching for a price I came across GS108T-200GES (GS108Tv2). This is supposed to be version 2 of the switch. Could somebody provide feedback on this unit, the price is almost the same as for the older version? As for RB 250GS, working on 1.5 firmware version, I manage to configure some basic VLANs, port mirroring works too, but after reading the specs of GS108T-200GES, I’m definitely willing to buy on.

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                • T
                  taryezveb
                  last edited by

                  The GS108T-200GES is the one I own and it has been working well for me. Even tho I always just say I own a GS108T.

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                  • X
                    xtropx
                    last edited by

                    Personally I am partial to Cisco gear. Gigabit switches are expensive though, but if you are just trying to learn a little about VLANS Cisco 2950s are pretty nice. I have a couple of them for my CCNA.

                    Otherwise:

                    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833316209
                    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833181118

                    …but I have never used any of them. Sure to get the job done if VLANs are all you are after.
                    GL

                    Regards,

                    xtropx

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                    • T
                      taryezveb
                      last edited by

                      @xtropx:

                      Personally I am partial to Cisco gear. Gigabit switches are expensive though, but if you are just trying to learn a little about VLANS Cisco 2950s are pretty nice. I have a couple of them for my CCNA.

                      Otherwise:

                      http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833316209
                      http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833181118

                      …but I have never used any of them. Sure to get the job done if VLANs are all you are after. + They are gigabit.

                      GL

                      Just a note on the switches recommended above. They 10/100Mbps NOT gigabit.

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                      • S
                        Sleeps
                        last edited by

                        @Sleeps:

                        I'm currently running ver 1.2.3 on an FB connected to two unmanaged Gigabit switches. (Lan and OPT1) and its working fine. However I want to start dabbling with VLANS and now considering buying a cheap Smart Switch. (Not too bothered about the speed of the device) will this make my current switches redundant or can I connect them to the smart switch?

                        I have seen two switches:

                        Routerboard 250GS 5 Port Gigabit Managed Switch
                        TP-Link 8+2G Gigabit-Uplink Web Smart Switch with 1 SFP Expansion Slots.

                        Sleeps

                        I decided to order a TP Link SG2109web Gigabit managed switch instead,because of the features and got a good price.  Hopefully should arrive within the next 2 weeks.  Been looking through the forum on vlans and it looks complicated.  However, the instructions in the pfSense book looks straight forward.  This will be the big test when it arrives.

                        Thanks again for all the advice.

                        Sleeps

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