TP-LINK Smart Switches anyone?
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Check out the Zyxel GS1900-8HP. I just picked one up to replace a SG108E that was throwing up errors for my Ubiquiti AP.
It costs $30 more, but has PoE over all ports with a 70W budget.
It has what appears to be a solid GUI, and you can enable CLI is you want.
It's fanless and small.
You can check out my thread here if interested. https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=129751.msg717006#msg717006
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Zyxel GS1900-8 (non-POE, Smart Switch, not L2 Managed) - selling $70
https://www.zyxel.com/products_services/8-10-16-24-48-port-GbE-Smart-Managed-Switch-GS1900-Series/specification
size: 10x4x1
Electricity: <7 wattZyxel GS1900-8HP( POE, Smart Switch, not L2 Managed ) - selling 100
https://www.zyxel.com/products_services/8-10-16-24-48-port-GbE-Smart-Managed-Switch-GS1900-Series/specification
size: 10x4x1
Electricity: min: 14?? max: 84 wattsBasically if you don't need L2 Managed but want PoE, then Zyxel seems a better choice than TP Link.
So the question is does a home network require a L2 Managed or Smart Switch ? What does the L2 Managed bring to the table that might be useful for Home network ? (If smart switch supports multiple vlan, IGMP snooping v1,2,3 and Inter VLAN multicasting )
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… what is the best managed switch to buy for home
I surely can't and won't speak for others - for me it is the Cisco SG300-10 (with or without PoE), SG300-20 or SG350-10. We installed dozens of em recently without a single hiccup, use them in the office and I have some at home.
You can compare the non-PoE version with TP-Link TL-SG3210 which I use at home as well. But there is a notable difference. Not so much in standard packet pushing but until it does what it's supposed to do.
I'm glad you didn't mention Netgear, though!UNtil you have IGMP and inter-VLAN multicast working you will want a CLI for configuration and trouble shooting. That's what those smart switches are missing. And there's a reason for the CLI tax…
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Not L2 managed? What is the difference in L2 managed v Smart switch?
Zyxel's support IGMP snooping, VLANs, Port Security, SNTP, EEE, Bandwidth Management, QoS, Storm Control, MAC filtering, Link Aggregation, Spanning Tree, Loop Guard, Mirroring, Scheduled Access, LLDP, 802.1x, Dos, PoE at & af, RADIUS, TACACS+, Syslog, SNMP, HTTP/S GUI Access, Port Test, Ping, Trace, Primary & Backup Partitions for Firmware Updates, IPv6
That's a lot of stuff, what else are you looking for?
You can even enable CLI very easily if you so desire.
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UNtil you have IGMP and inter-VLAN multicast working you will want a CLI for configuration and trouble shooting. That's what those smart switches are missing. And there's a reason for the CLI tax…
So basically, having a L2 managed switch provides the option to troubleshoot in case something doesn't work well in your network. That option has a higher price point. So for a beginner, L2 Managed is better because I can troubleshoot it in the long term. Thanks !
Not L2 managed? What is the difference in L2 managed v Smart switch?
Zyxel's support IGMP snooping, VLANs, Port Security, SNTP, EEE, Bandwidth Management, QoS, Storm Control, MAC filtering, Link Aggregation, Spanning Tree, Loop Guard, Mirroring, Scheduled Access, LLDP, 802.1x, Dos, PoE at & af, RADIUS, TACACS+, Syslog, SNMP, HTTP/S GUI Access, Port Test, Ping, Trace, Primary & Backup Partitions for Firmware Updates, IPv6
That's a lot of stuff, what else are you looking for?
You can even enable CLI very easily if you so desire.
Based on the literature, vendor website, specs, forum there is a "unclear" delineation between smart switch and managed switch. I don't know what else I am looking for. This is why I am asking the question in the forum. I don't disagree with Zyxel's features and CLI, but then why on their web site they call it "smart switch" rather than managed switch like other vendors. This is what was confused because I never owned one of these switches. I guess Zyxel is managed switch like cisco SG300-10P but for 1/2 the price ?
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From what I can tell,
Smart switches are usually managed switches with only a few essential management features enabled.
Smart switches include a broad spectrum of feature sets, ranging from pretty sparse to highly inclusive.
What seems to be the delineating feature between smart switches and fully managed switches is a CLI.
The zyxel switches don't advertise a CLI because it isn't enabled by default and there is no option in the GUI to enable it. In order to enable it you have to download your config file, edit it in a text editor and add```
ip telnet[https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=%23&ved=0ahUKEwjUi53pn-HTAhWCilQKHf8BCPAQxa8BCBwwAA&usg=AFQjCNF1sHlk2z9QIx28jtvfnGP_UlkifA&sig2=dGpfktC9yC9gf9X6oAuKsg](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=%23&ved=0ahUKEwjUi53pn-HTAhWCilQKHf8BCPAQxa8BCBwwAA&usg=AFQjCNF1sHlk2z9QIx28jtvfnGP_UlkifA&sig2=dGpfktC9yC9gf9X6oAuKsg) 14:25 I've never used a Cisco managed switch but I fully expect it has a better CLI than the Zyxels. The Zyxel seems to me like the budget buy with a lot of features. I'm assuming Cisco does more and Cisco is also extremely well documented and supported. But if you don't know of a reason that you need a Cisco then the zyxel is probably worth your consideration. The zyxel is much cheaper. -
"Smart switch" usually means web managed whereas a managed switch doesn't only have telnet/ssh access but a serial console as well. Very handy if you cannot reach it by IP anymore.
Happens more often than you think, because:- you don't speak CLI 100%
- misinterpreted a checkbox in GUI
- toying with VLANs
- enabled ACLs without thinking twice
- trying/testing new stuff
- …you get the picture
Even an unmanaged switch will push packets, you can hardly stop that.
The more switch features you need (IGMP, multicast routing, ...) the easier management gets with a good CLI. Be prepared that if you buy cheap now, you'll buy better later on. Been there, done that. -
"Smart switch" usually means web managed whereas a managed switch doesn't only have telnet/ssh access but a serial console as well. Very handy if you cannot reach it by IP anymore.
Happens more often than you think, because:- you don't speak CLI 100%
- misinterpreted a checkbox in GUI
- toying with VLANs
- enabled ACLs without thinking twice
- trying/testing new stuff
- …you get the picture
Even an unmanaged switch will push packets, you can hardly stop that.
The more switch features you need (IGMP, multicast routing, ...) the easier management gets with a good CLI. Be prepared that if you buy cheap now, you'll buy better later on. Been there, done that.Ah, good point. I didn't think of that. Per that youtube video the Zyxel GS1900 series actually has headers for a serial port. If you are so inclined you just remove the cover, plug into the headers and pass the cable out the vent. Certainly not a clean solution but I think it's nice that it's even a possibility for such a relatively cheap switch.
It also requires you to not only apply settings but also save them. If you don't save then they won't persist through a shutdown. That's nice if you aply an incorrect setting and shut down your network, just flip the switch for a few seconds, then turn it back on and you're back in business. On the other hand that's a pain in the ass if you set up your switch and forget to save, then after teh first power outage you have to reconfigure your switch completely.To be clear, I'm not trying to suggest that these are better switches than a cisco. I know nothing about managed switches, just got one like a week ago for the first time. I'm just putting this out here because the zyxels seem like a great budget buy. The youtube video even says the CLI is similar to cisco FWIW, kind of like a training wheels switch if you can't afford a cisco yet.
The comment about buying cheap means yo'll buy more later rings true for me. I almost immediately upgraded from the GS108E to the Zyxel as it kept throwing errors out on my AP. So if you can afford to spend a few hundred bucks now then that's probably your best bet. But I couldn't justify that yet for my needs.
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"Then you can use Putty to telnet in to the switches CLI."
Telnet?? Not ssh??
"it kept throwing errors out on my AP. "
To be honest I don't think so - everything I have seen so far after buying one to look into this was its a cosmetic error only.. I have yet to see any issues with tagged or untagged packets.. While the zyxel does seem to have way more features than the tplink, at not much more money..
It really doesn't compare to say a sg300 from cisco.. Which I show on amazon right now for $145 would be L3 fully managed vs L2 "smart" Look at you - didn't even want to spend 10$ more for the unifi ;) So compare a 30$ switch to $60 switch for the zyxel and you get people saying they don't need those features ;)
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Hahaha yeah, I certainly won't knock anyone for taking the cheap road.
I just wanted to put the info out here because I was surprised at all the features possible on a $100 switch and I just upgraded from a $30 switch.
I haven't used any CLI soon my switch yet, it seems like there are more options available just in the GUI than I know what to do with haha. I'm pretty sure the guy in the YouTube video said telnet not SSH though.
There's also the option of using the serial headers, but again I haven't done that personally. It is an interesting YouTube teardown though. -
Firstly, thank you all for your feedback and suggestions. You guys are great. :)
It really boils down to how much control someone wants on the switch, ability to troubleshoot easily when things don't work, available support, youtube video, books, community, documentation and obviously the amount of money someone is willing to spend.
I'm leaning towards Cisco SG300-10P in the USED category or get a SG300-10PP new…
I live in Canada, when you factor exchange rate, duty, shipping and tax, the market price in Canada is not great....
Zyxel GS1900-8HP is $164 CAD + tax = $185 CAD (free shipping)
On ebay USED GS1900-8HP is $160 CAD ( Not worth buying used on ebay)Cisco SG300-10PP is $324 CAD + tax = $367 CAD (free shipping) (SG300-10P is out of stock)
On amazon Canada, new SG300-10 is $333 CAD (sold by Cisco, expensive)On ebay, used SG300-10P is $240 CAD (35% saving )
On amazong Canada, new SG300-10 is $333 CAD
On amazon USA , New SG300-10 is $230 CAD (It's worth buying in the USA !)
On amazon USA , New SG300-10pp is $435 CAD (not worth it buying in USA !)Based on Cisco website, the hardware limited lifetime warranty is not transferable, since the SG-300-10 is not yet in end of life discontinuance, if I buy it new, I get limited lifetime + 5 years after the discontinuance announcement date. I was able to download the firmware 1.4.7 and MIB 1.4.1 on the website. I read on forum that I need to have a contract to download IOS ?
Is is worth buying a used SG300-10P and save $100 USD or $130 CAD?
Thank you
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Is it really necessary to quote my whole post in your reply?
Ah, good point. I didn't think of that.
:P
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I read on forum that I need to have a contract to download IOS ?
yes, but IOS is what runs on Catalyst switches, slightly out of your scope probably.
Is is worth buying a used SG300-10P and save $100 USD or $130 CAD?
I'd say so. There's no tear & wear with those devices, so why not save a third or so?
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Is it really necessary to quote my whole post in your reply?
Ah, good point. I didn't think of that.
:P
Is it really necessary to whine about silly shit on the internet?
I apologize my formatting inconvenienced you as I typed from my mobile phone while shitting. ::)
Haha, what a tool.
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Just hit the "reply" button and not "quote" then… ::)
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"I read on forum that I need to have a contract to download IOS ? "
You do not need a contract for the smb line of switches.. For a catalyst line sure… But the SG300, 350 or even the 500 series anyone can download without even having to login to the cisco site..
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I've had a Tp-Link T1700G-28TQ for almost a month now. Great little switch with 4 10g SFP+ ports and fanless.
I don't need a lot of complex features in a switch for my home network currently but I am using Vlans. I've got a vlan for guest wifi (Ubiquiti AP) and other "unsafe" devices. Easy to configure on the switch and works fine with pfsense and ubiquiti.
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http://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-LGS308/
It's got some amazing specs (features) for a "small switch" : RMON , .1x auth , dhcp snooping etc…
I have ordered one , but am still waiting for it.The LGS308 switches are rather like SG300 prototypes. They run an early version of the same OS used on the SG300, but it hasn't really been updated since Linksys was spun out.
If you are interested, I have a couple of them lying around if you want them. You can have them for shipping/handling.
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I'm certainly interested , if shipping (or DK customs) isn't a killer.
I'm in DK/Bingo
