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    pFsense Hardware purchase 2020

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    • S
      shyam.srinivasan @A Former User
      last edited by shyam.srinivasan

      @jwj Any recommendation on the switches please, 2 options ? considering L2/L3 feature.
      Yes agree with this approach, going with the non POE switch , later add as need arises, that will save couple of 100 $$ thank you

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      • ?
        A Former User @shyam.srinivasan
        last edited by A Former User

        @shyam-srinivasan I have a cisco. It's a good switch. Certainly not the least expensive option. If your lucky you can find great deals used. Failed startups will sell off newish gear all the time. Stay away from enterprise stuff.

        TP-Link has a bad reputation. Cheap and not very cheerful.

        This is a nice switch:

        https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/switches/sg350-28-28-port-gigabit-managed-switch/model.html

        This isn't much help outside of the US, but:

        https://www.amazon.com/Systems-SG350-28-K9-NA-SG350-28-28-Port-Gigabit/dp/B01MAYENL6/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=SG350-28&qid=1608496186&sr=8-3

        Some like Netgear. I have no experience so I'll not say more than that. Some like Unifi from Ubiquiti. I dislike Ubiquiti! You'll get a lot of different recommendations from different people...

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        • S
          shyam.srinivasan @A Former User
          last edited by

          @jwj said in pFsense Hardware purchase 2020:

          https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/switches/sg350-28-28-port-gigabit-managed-switch/model.html

          I like this recommendation it also support 10Gig, many thanks, I will start looking out for this - in my region on Amazon 267$

          I will look for any used for this model, and see if I am lucky ..

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          • ?
            A Former User @shyam.srinivasan
            last edited by

            @shyam-srinivasan Not sure about the 10gb. 10gb fiber uplink on the combo ports maybe, I'd have to look. Ok, just looked. SFP not SFP+ so no 10gb.

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            • S
              shyam.srinivasan @A Former User
              last edited by

              @jwj :( thought for a moment I had everything I needed , ok I will have to further look to pick a model that support 10gig just in case if I decide to connect my NAS on 10gig, in future, if the price goes over the budge then I will roll back to this switch as plan A.

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              • ?
                A Former User @shyam.srinivasan
                last edited by A Former User

                @shyam-srinivasan What are doing with your NAS that would need a 10gb connection? Do you have any "client" devices (Your PC) that have a 10gb nic? I can stream HD video from my NAS to 3 devices (3 people watching HD movies from plex) on a gig connection with no issues. 10gb is a LOT of bandwidth...

                Your going to have to splash a lot of coin on a 10gb switch.

                Edited to add: anything other than a high end NAS filled with fast SSD's isn't going be able to pull the data off the disks fast enough to need a 10gb connection.

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                • S
                  shyam.srinivasan @A Former User
                  last edited by shyam.srinivasan

                  @jwj In my previous comment I stated, I do not have any device with 10gig interface yet, but was only considering future proof, since lots of coins are going out of my pocket for very limited use and as you pointed out 1gig is quit adequate for home use for streaming, I will stick with your first recommendation and look for CISCO SG350-28 switch, see if I get lucky finding a used one..

                  I use my NAS for network photo editing - as primary use, not using as Plex - but in future when I have the firewall in place have plans to host for sharing photos with family members ..

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                  • ?
                    A Former User @shyam.srinivasan
                    last edited by

                    @shyam-srinivasan OK. If I had a 500,000 photo library on my NAS and wanted to access it with lightroom (local catalog, of course), yeah, 10gb makes sense. You'd need it on both your NAS and PC. That is one case were 10gb can be justified.

                    What I do is I keep my current project(s) local on my MAC and edit from there. Move things in and out as needed. Lightroom, Capture One handle the idea of "offline" images very well. But, yeah, 10gb for that is nice. Do you have fast storage in your NAS? SSD?

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                    • S
                      shyam.srinivasan @A Former User
                      last edited by shyam.srinivasan

                      @jwj NAS storage not SSD , SSD turned out to be expensive for 3TB.

                      QQ, I see to options on amazon for new switches.

                      1. CISCO SG350-28-K9 28-Port Gigabit Managed Switch
                        24x GbE (1000Base-T) | 4x SFP | Managed, VLAN-fähig, Rackmount
                        Internes Netzteil | Device Type:-Switch - 28 ports - L3 - Managed
                        Enclosure Type:- Rack-mountable 1U | Subtype:- Gigabit Ethernet
                        Performance:- Switching capacity: 56 Gbps | Voltage Required :-AC 120/230 V (50/60 Hz)
                        Ports:- 24 x 10/100/1000 + 2 x Gigabit SFP + 2 x combo Gigabit SFP

                      2)Cisco SG350-28 28-Port Managed Switch
                      24 x 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet ports for cost effective connectivity with desktop computers
                      2 x Gigabit Ethernet combo + 2 SFP for higher bandwidth connection
                      Ease of use with Web UI, CLI, Smart Network Application and Cisco FindIT Network Manager

                      Are there two models in this category ?? if so I am not seeing what's the difference between them and the price for option 2) is lesser by 10$

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                      • ?
                        A Former User @shyam.srinivasan
                        last edited by

                        @shyam-srinivasan Not that I'm aware of. Could be different regions? Amazon can be bad about things like that. Are any of those authorized Cisco resellers? If you get something that dies in a few months that matters.

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                        • ?
                          A Former User @shyam.srinivasan
                          last edited by

                          @shyam-srinivasan Oh Yes. SSD's are crazy expensive relative to HDD. I have 24TB (6x4) in my NAS at the moment. I don't want to know what it would cost to have that much storage SSD's.

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                          • S
                            shyam.srinivasan @A Former User
                            last edited by shyam.srinivasan

                            @jwj no they are not cisco authorised sellers, I will look off amazon for CISCO dealers in my region and buy direct that would help cover any service and warranty.. so there is only one model and not two - not sure why amazon is showing two kinds though ?? 😕

                            with regards to SSD 😑 🖐 staying away to put my coins for better use .. 😸 thank you for today's discussion, its 2:45am here.. will crash and catch up tomorrow .. 🌃

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                            • ?
                              A Former User @shyam.srinivasan
                              last edited by

                              @shyam-srinivasan Sleep well.

                              S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • S
                                shyam.srinivasan @A Former User
                                last edited by shyam.srinivasan

                                @jwj @johnpoz I have found a cafe shutting down and want to sell off their equipment sg300-28-POE-port-gigabit-managed-switch, asking price is about 200$ Question is the power draw, as compared with - CISCO SG350-28-K9 , am 🤔 what to do ? any advise on this switch ?

                                As compared with CISCO SG350-28-K9 (174$), which is seems to be latest and with intelligent power save mode option, but with non POE - 😕

                                for about 26$ less am getting new but not POE, let me know .. which one would be a better pick ..

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                                • ?
                                  A Former User @shyam.srinivasan
                                  last edited by A Former User

                                  @shyam-srinivasan said in pFsense Hardware purchase 2020:

                                  sg300-28-POE

                                  https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/switches/small-business-smart-switches/data_sheet_c78-610061.html

                                  https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/switches/small-business-300-series-managed-switches/models-comparison.html

                                  Offer them $150...

                                  Based on what you have said, I would go with a 350-28 if you can find one for a good price.

                                  You could also see what MikroTik offers that appeals to you and what availability is like for you...

                                  https://mikrotik.com/products/group/switches

                                  https://mikrotik.com/product/CSS326-24G-2SplusRM

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                                  • S
                                    shyam.srinivasan @A Former User
                                    last edited by shyam.srinivasan

                                    @jwj you are suggesting to with POE option SG300 instead of SG350 managed switch non POE version .. ??

                                    since my update there are few new updates..
                                    I was able to find a CICSO dealer who is selling new SG350 managed switch 28 port non POE version for 175$

                                    and the used version of SG300 28 port POE for 202$ ... do I still choose the POE version of SG300 over SG350 managed switch non POE version ?

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                                    • bingo600B
                                      bingo600
                                      last edited by

                                      For my home use i have a few prioritizes req's.

                                      1: Fanless (or super silent fan)
                                      2: Featureset
                                      3: Fairly low power unit (as it will be on 24/7/365)
                                      4: Price

                                      Have you checkked 1 & 3 against a 24+ port PoE switch ?

                                      I can easily pay $100 more for a low power unit , it will often earn it self in saved electricity ..
                                      During the time i use it.

                                      /Bingo

                                      If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a 👍 - "thumbs up"

                                      pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

                                      QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
                                      CPU  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
                                      LAN  : 4 x Intel 211, Disk  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

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                                      • ?
                                        A Former User @shyam.srinivasan
                                        last edited by A Former User

                                        @shyam-srinivasan I'd get the SG350... As you have said POE is something you will add in the future. Get a nice "core" switch and then add a small POE switch (or just use injectors) later as you expand your network with POE powered Access Points and Cameras. Just my $0.02 worth.

                                        As @bingo600 says, a 24 port POE switch is going to have fans, most likely loud fans.

                                        So, nice switch, quiet and power efficient switch. Get more ports than you think you will need. A long term purchase.

                                        Then either figure out your pfsense build or a Netgate Appliance.

                                        After that if you want nice AP's you just add in a small POE (say 8 port) switch to power those devices and budget it together.

                                        You may have said this and I missed it, what do you have now?

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                                        • S
                                          shyam.srinivasan @bingo600
                                          last edited by

                                          @bingo600 you recommendation to go with non POE version if I have understood the comments correct ?

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                                          • ?
                                            A Former User @shyam.srinivasan
                                            last edited by

                                            @shyam-srinivasan Yes.

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