Mixing Smart Switches on LAN & using SFP

[tokyojerry]

Hi. I recently purchased NETGEAR GS110TP ProSafe 8-port Gigabit PoE Smart Switch

(review article: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanw...mart-switch-with-2-gigabit-fiber-sfp-reviewed )

I am now considering to get a second smart switch with greater number of ports. I am considering TP-Link-TL-SG2216WEB, 16-port switch as the second switch.

Q.1
Would I have any problems to connect two switches from two different vendors (NetGear and TP-Link) via SFP and fiber optic cable? Does it have to be the same vendor and/or model even?

Q.2
Is not being IPv6-ready (TP-Link-TL-SG2216WEB) a hindrance or a bad thing since that is the up-and-coming standard, if and/or when it ever takes off?

I am relatively new to the world of switches and will surely appreciate appropriate and postive comments. Thanks.

Jerry
Tokyo, Japan

 

[theonlyski]

Q.1 from my experience, its hit or miss. In theory it should work if they're the same type of interface... Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Make sure you 'cross' the connectors on one side, I've seen plenty of people that can't get it to work, miss this. You may need to verify compatibility on the trunking if it's something you're using.

Q.2 I wouldn't worry about IPv6 for a while. Our enterprise is running v4 and has absolutely no plans or intentions to go v6, we have no reason to and it wouldn't benefit us at all.