TP-LINK Smart Switches anyone?

pfBasic

Just hit the "reply" button and not "quote" then… ::)

johnpoz

"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..

smbdownloadcisco.png_thumb

fmatthew5876

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.

dennypage

@bingo600:

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.

bingo600

I'm certainly interested , if shipping (or DK customs) isn't a killer.
I'm in DK

/Bingo

dennypage

@bingo600:

I'm certainly interested , if shipping isn't a killer.
I'm in DK

If DK is Denmark, then I think shipping would definitely be a killer. A quick check of shipping cost shows 3x of what I would consider a reasonable commercial value.

bingo600

I was afraid so … :(

But thanx for the nice offer anyway.

/Bingo

ChefRayB

Does the offer extend to others :) I live in Canada, how much ground shipping 5 weeks shipping & handling would it cost me ? Put on label gift, used switch, value < $20 CAD (Duty free) , RMA lable (Duty Free). :D

dennypage

FWIW, I have a couple of TP-Link TL-SG2008s as well. Also free to good home for shipping/handling. Preferably, somewhere not requiring customs forms (US). And a TP-Link TL-SG2216. Not quite free, but very reasonable price.

Ditto for a Cisco SG300-10 and an SG300-20.

I seem to collect switches. :)

jahonix

This guy could probably use a >8 port switch https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=130095.0
Maybe send him an e-Mail?

SirShaggy

Hi Chris,

We got one today with the server, Thank You!

thuety

I have the TL-SG108E and I'm quite confused by the separation of the VLAN membership and the PVID.
If I set a port to untagged and member of a VLAN (like 70), why do I have to manually set the PVID (to 70) for this port AGAIN?
Is there any use case when the PVID doesn't need to be set to that VLAN ID?
thanks

Derelict

Because they are junk.

robi

They are not junk. They are pretty reliable pieces of hardware, especially for their price.

@thuety:

I have the TL-SG108E and I'm quite confused by the separation of the VLAN membership and the PVID.
If I set a port to untagged and member of a VLAN (like 70), why do I have to manually set the PVID (to 70) for this port AGAIN?
Is there any use case when the PVID doesn't need to be set to that VLAN ID?
thanks

The interfaces on various TP-Link switch types vary depending on their "feature level".
If you look at the config file you can export as a backup from the web interface using a text editor, you'll see lots of cisco IOS-style commands. Some TP-Link models only support "GENERAL" type to be specified for ports, that means the ingress and the egress direction of packets has to be specified separately, for example on TL-SG2210P or T1600G-52TS:```
interface gigabitEthernet 1/0/6
switchport general allowed vlan 420 untagged
switchport pvid 420


Other higher-class models like TL-SG5428 or T2600G-28MPS have this single command, for the same function:```
interface gigabitEthernet 1/0/6
  switchport access vlan 420

This reflects on the web interface too, PVID is set automatically if port type is ACCESS.
Either CLI or WebIf, one model has two commands to be entered, the other has only one. Why is that, I don't know, but I suppose it's for marketing reasons - perhaps they try to make pricier models look more professional.

It's not like you have to configure hundreds of ports every day. One can live with this in any standard or mid-size office environment, and not pay 10x price for a Cisco labelled noisy box.
Apart from this, they work as expected. Running cold, silent, 24 hours a day for many years. Set it and forget it.

johnpoz

The cheap ones this thread is about does not allow for text export of the config that I can see the file you can download is not in normal text format.

Are you saying there is a way to remove vlan 1 from ports? It does not seem possible with the low end model that is discussion here. TL-SG108E, and there seems to be a cosmetic bug that marks like any tagged packet as bad.. While this does not make the switch junk - it does prevent actual use of the counters for any sort of troubleshooting in any sense where tag vlans are used.

I would not call them junk like Derelict - but they are lacking some basics that would make them great little devices for the price point for any small setup for sure. But they still doing what they are meant to do.. Working error counters, and the ability to remove vlan 1 would make them more useful to be sure.

robi

@johnpoz:

The cheap ones this thread is about does not allow for text export of the config that I can see the file you can download is not in normal text format.

All models I quoted above and TL-SG2216, TL-SG2008 from my experience, can export config backup from web interface. They give you a file with .cfg extension, which you can edit with any text editor.

johnpoz

And those are not the one that you actually quoted being discussed.

you quoted
https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=76022.msg721163#msg721163

Which clearly stated the "I have the TL-SG108E" Which while it allows you to download a backup cfg file - it is not text editable file.

robi

Back in 2014, when I opened this thread, I intended it to be genearally about TP-Link switches, not only particular models. Since this is not TP-Link's support forum, I guess we don't really have to be so strict.
Yes I quoted a certain message reffering to that type, but nowhere in my answer I stated that that specific model has to have this feature. I outlined though, that there are many switch families in the TP-Link product line, and simply because the lowest end model is not a full-featured piece, that doesn't mean that higher models aren't.

johnpoz

"not a full-featured piece, that doesn't mean that higher models aren't."

Agreed.. My point was you were pointing to something that the user/post you quoted can not do is all.

robi

Well that's true….

But what the user can do however (based on information in this topic) is to choose the apropriate model to suit his/her needs. Unfortunately manufacturers (all of them, not only tplink) don't make publicly available detailed tech documentation, most of the advanced features are being discovered by trial and error, after one buys the hardware.

This is the reason why I always describe in detail my experiences with certain devices, so that people looking forward to acquire them, could perhaps save time and money wasting on hardware unsuitable for their needs, or on hardware which could be overkilling/overpriced.