New switches

[hede]

Hi
I need a new 5 and a 8 port switch in my network. My router is an apple airport extreme 5th gen. and my cables are mostly Cat7 with a couple of Cat6 ones.
I am using Netgear Gigabit switches at the moment but what is best for my setup?
Thanks.

 

[microchip]

You did not describe your network layout.
You did not mention if you need managed or unmanaged switches

So it's kinda hard to guess

 

[hede]

Sorry.
I am used to unmanaged switches.
I one room i have this:
the Apple airport router, a NAS, a PC, an Apple Tv and a Mac Mini.
The other room i have:
A blue ray player, an Apple Tv, TV, local tv tuner and a music player.
All this on ethernet cable.

 

[abailey]

If you don't need managed switches then most switches are very comparable along the same speed. So if you have Gigabit switches, most unmanaged gigabit switches will be fine. Everyone seems to have their preference. Many people like the Netgear switches, I really like TP-Link switches (both managed and unmanaged). The only gigabit unmanaged switches I have had trouble with were Dlink.

 

[microchip]

When it comes to unmanaged switches, the differences between brands is very little. Most such switches work the same and perform almost the same. I use TP-Link switches but if you prefer some other brand, go for it. You can do very little wrong with unmanaged switches

 

[L&LD]

I agree with microchip, unmanaged switches are very interchangeable with regards to performance and reliability.

I prefer NetGear switches myself, but I have installed more than a few TP-Link for customers that balked at their $12 price tag and they are working perfectly 2 years later.


Buy what's available readily and locally. No need to pay for shipping for products like these, and if there is a problem, you can simply and easily swap another in a few minutes.

 

[ChristineBCW]

I'll vote with L on this. I have a favorite brand but I've had as many flakey consumer units from that as any other.

In general, the worst symptom will be one flakey port. If you have enough 24/7 devices that will stay connected for a day or two for each port, that should be enough testing and will facilitate your Return Process more quickly. Usually, those 'bad ports' show up within the first few days, or never.

I also avoid 5's just because. And if I was going to fill an '8' immediately, then I'd probably buy 16's instead.

 

[fistv]

I'll vote with L on this. I have a favorite brand but I've had as many flakey consumer units from that as any other.

In general, the worst symptom will be one flakey port. If you have enough 24/7 devices that will stay connected for a day or two for each port, that should be enough testing and will facilitate your Return Process more quickly. Usually, those 'bad ports' show up within the first few days, or never.

I also avoid 5's just because. And if I was going to fill an '8' immediately, then I'd probably buy 16's instead.

Strongly agree, better too many ports than just enough for now.

 

[L&LD]

I too agree with ChristineBCW about the extra ports.

Less expensive buying a bigger one now and having a few extra ports than having to buy two or more smaller switches on an ad hoc basis.

 

[ChristineBCW]

Unless, of course, there needs to be physical distance between the two units.

Here's a ZyXel for $70 on NewEgg ("save even more with special code!"). ZyXel's not exactly the most common name but, for back office products, they've been around for a few decades (I remember getting a ZyXel 14.4 modem - much cheaper than the Hays SmartModem alternative - it was all Daddy Warbucks would let me have).

Also, these larger units present a double-edged sword - they come with their own power supply meaning "no power brick to cover up wall-sockets!" But it also means that if the power-supply snap-crackles-poofs, then there is no quick power-brick replacement. Like Roseanne Rosanna Danna said, "It's always somethin'..."

If I'm concerned about appearance of masses of cabling, then these front-facing ports don't help alleviate that. But they're a lot easier to administer! (This is why God invented tan masking tape - break off an inch-strip and jot down the destination's name on each port's cable.)

(You can also find substantially cheaper 16-port switches BUT those are 10/100's, not this 10/100/1000.)

 

[mervincm]

It might not be a bad idea to pickup a single "semi" manageable switch. I had an issue with my Synology NAS dropping packets and I had to enable rx flow control on the port the NAS was connected to. If my switch didn't have that feature, I would have had to purchase a replacement.

Otherwise I agree with the rest, unmanaged switches are pretty much the same user experience, other that power and activity lights.

 

[fistv]

Just ordered one of these for our call center and their 4 printers. Don't trust that 4 year old $40 linksys anymore, it's been locking up lately. HP1810-8G v2 for $96, lifetime warranty and next day replacement.

 

[stevech]

I think Netgear ProLine are good for small/medium business.
metal. Lifetime warranty. I've had good experiences with these for years.

Such switches is how Netgear began. Well before their other adventures.