Which switch

[=/adrenaline/=]

Looking at getting a new 24 port switch, been looking at D-Link but there a bit pricey. I have been recommend to look into a place called Data & Cabling Warehouse but can't find a phone number or address in the phone book (their in Christchurch) as they are apprently low priced and good (so if you know their address/phone number please post). What I want to know is what switch you would recommend. The switch would be used for the odd LAN at my place with about 20 people on it for gaming (obviously) and file sharing. Should I stick with D-Link or try something else?

Cheers

N

[WhiteDragon]

No complaints with the 8-port C-net switch I'm using atm. Apparently they are a subsidiary of Intel. Whether or not that is a good thing though... ;)

[whetu]

if you're looking at a 24port switch, you should really avoid the cheap brands and look at the likes of allied telesyn or cisco... look for upgradeability in the form of module ports.. just remember a switch is a switch is a switch at the end of the day, but you get what you pay for.

If you really must buy cheap, give Planet a look.


Good, Fast, Cheap: Pick any two (you can't have all three).

[Wibber]

IMO if you aint planning to use more than 30 odd ppl then any mid level brad switch will do ya, like planet, cnet, edimax

[_N_]

D-Link is midrange, a while ago (like more than a year), I ended up getting a 24 (8x3) switch from D-Link for $700 or so (it wasn't for me).
Cisco ones cost around $2k.

But the main difference I saw was the cache size on them? how does that affect them?

[Artifice]

cache size is important.
when you have 20 odd people on a lan all trying to leech movies off each other then the extra ram is used for packet buffering.
and that can help improve your network responce quite a bit.

[SerN]

Edimax Switches have always worked for me and would be just as cheap if not cheaper than D-link.

[max]

www.tastech.co.nz has 24 port switches for $200, I reckon anything like that would be fine. Sure you could get one with Gbit ports etc but do you want to spend $600+?

computer and data cabling:
http://www.whitepages.co.nz/quick/search?key=computer+and+data+cabling&lkey=christchurch&loc=ALL&listing_type=ALL&exact_spelling=0&x=0&y=0

but i dont think they are very cheap.
Cisco and allied telesyn are like 2-5k.

[max]

or you could get 3 of these with free postage:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/mcat-0002-0358-/0002-0358-0509-/auction-5509119.htm :)

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by whetu
if you're looking at a 24port switch, you should really avoid the cheap brands and look at the likes of allied telesyn or cisco... look for upgradeability in the form of module ports.. just remember a switch is a switch is a switch at the end of the day, but you get what you pay for.

If you really must buy cheap, give Planet a look.

I'd actually disagree.

For what he's doing, management options won't be needed - and in that case, buying high-end brands is just a waste of $$$s. And in either case, buying Cisco means spending at LEAST double or triple what you'll pay for the same thing ( port-wise ) from the cheaper brands.

Having said that - DO NOT BUY UNBRANDED GEAR, or ultra-cheap gear off TradeMe/EBay etc. Trust me, I've seen lots of that stuff die very fast!

I also HATE ( with a vengance ) those so called 'module ports'. They are the biggest load of BALLS ever. Normally the only 'option' you get with them ( especially at the level he's looking at ) is whether the ports are fibre or copper. Only, they'll charge you over $100 EACH per gigabit port - despite the fact that they contain no chip, no switching, and no management - they're overpriced plugs.

Switch makers mainly make modular switches NOT because they're easy to upgrade - they make them because they can put ridiculously high markup ( several 1000% ) on those modules ;). Even in the case of fully modular switching architectures, the markup on the modules is very high. You will save a lot of money if you buy as a package up front. A LOT.


I too would reccomend brands like Edimax and Planet. But if you're not buying a managed switch ( and given the huge price jump, that's likely ), you may be able to afford D-Link/Netgear/C-NET. That's a good option, not because their switches are ub3r-fast++, but just because you'll get excellent warranty options :).

[=/adrenaline/=]

Thanks all who replied, all the advice was taken on board and will help a great deal for the purchase :D

Cheers

Nathan

[ktulu]

There's one on trademe at the moment....
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Networking-modems/Hubs-switches/auction-5516277.htm

[=/adrenaline/=]

Originally posted by ktulu
There's one on trademe at the moment....
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Networking-modems/Hubs-switches/auction-5516277.htm

Looks cool, what does one of these usually go for retail then?

Phoned Computer and Data Cabling and got the price for an Edimax 24 port switch at $326 + GST, got a five year warranty which is very tempting. Any advice on that one?

Cheers

Nathan

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by ktulu
There's one on trademe at the moment....
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Computers/Networking-modems/Hubs-switches/auction-5516277.htm

That's a HUB not a SWITCH.

In other words, if everybody leeches at the same time - there's 100Mb shared between all 20 of them, NOT 100Mb each!

[DansteR]

Originally posted by max
or you could get 3 of these with free postage:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/mcat-0002-0358-/0002-0358-0509-/auction-5509119.htm :)

I have a switch very simmaler to that, its a micronet 16port, but is rackmount (propper, steal case etc)

ive had it running at a couple of lans and has been fine, serverd our home network for the last few months perfectly.

i paid bout $200 for mine i think so if that model is of comparable speed etc i'de grab it quick smart.

[FKF]

A big vote here for Allied Telesyn. We lent 2 x 24port AT switches to SIGMA Lan down here a couple of weeks ago. Being a biggish LAN they have used a number of brands of switch, including some big names like Cisco and Dlink and he said the AT is the best one they have used by far.

They retail about the $400 mark, well worth it IMHO.

[ktulu]

Originally posted by KingJackal
That's a HUB not a SWITCH.

In other words, if everybody leeches at the same time - there's 100Mb shared between all 20 of them, NOT 100Mb each!

oops, my bad... I just saw 10/100 and thought it was a switch.

[Sydog]

Originally posted by FKF
A big vote here for Allied Telesyn. We lent 2 x 24port AT switches to SIGMA Lan down here a couple of weeks ago. Being a biggish LAN they have used a number of brands of switch, including some big names like Cisco and Dlink and he said the AT is the best one they have used by far.

They retail about the $400 mark, well worth it IMHO.

Big Byte right :)

[FKF]

Originally posted by Sydog
Big Byte right :)

A medal for that man.