Windows Server - Ethernet Switch

Asked By RG

08-Feb-10 04:40 PM

Can somebody recommend me a good gigabit switch which works well with windows
network.  I do not need more than 8 ports, but if there is a better switch
that comes with more ports, I would like to hear about it.

The reason I am asking this as I have noticed that the price range between
switches is quite large.

Is there anything specific to windows networking that I need to keep my eye
on.

Thanks in advance

08-Feb-10 05:22 PM

A switch,...of any kind,...would not know Windows Networking if it tripped
over it.  It is like asking what engine is the best one for a blue car as
opposed to a red car.

You get what you pay for.   If you want a "commercial" grade switch you are
looking at a minimum of 12 ports up to maybe about 48 ports.  Expect to pay
several hundred dollars.


--
Phillip Windell

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

08-Feb-10 05:54 PM

You can get a few good retired Cisco Catalyst or Dell xx24 or xx48 24 or 48
port older switches for under $100 on some auction sites that work nicely. I
bought a Cisco Catalyst 3548 Enterprise 48 port with two GB fiber interfaces
for $80 including shipping. Works nicely.

And I agree, Windows, *nix, Macs, etc, switches have no idea what type of
operating system traffic comes from. Among other things, all they look for
on each switch port are MAC addresses, then look for the source and
destination MAC addresses in the packet (layer 2). They are pretty much
basically multi-port bridges with intelligence to be able to "route" (hate
to use that term since they are not routers, and use that term loosely)
traffc from one port to another based on MAC address. Now a layer 3 switch
will handle IP, too, but that is another discussion.

--
Ace

This posting is provided "AS-IS" with no warranties or guarantees and
confers no rights.

Please reply back to the newsgroup or forum for collaboration benefit among
responding engineers, and to help others benefit from your resolution.

Ace Fekay, MVP, MCT, MCITP EA, MCTS Windows 2008 & Exchange 2007, MCSE &
MCSA 2003/2000, MCSA Messaging 2003
Microsoft Certified Trainer
Microsoft MVP - Directory Services

If you feel this is an urgent issue and require immediate assistance, please
contact Microsoft PSS directly. Please check http://support.microsoft.com
for regional support phone numbers.

09-Feb-10 10:50 AM

There are a number of "price beaks" when it comes to switches.  You are only
thinking about the number of ports price break (i.e. 24 ports costs more
than 8 ports, etc).  The next significant price break comes with the
difference between "managed" switches and "non-managed" switches.  Being
(non-managed) switch of the same number of ports.  After that there are many
other price breaks.  Some involve performance and some involve additional
capabilities.  You can pay as much as you want to for a switch.  Just
depends on your needs.

If you do not know why some switches cost more, you probably do not need the
more expensive switches.

-Frank

09-Feb-10 01:31 PM

Hello,

I completely agree with Philip. I would rather pay for a used Catalyst
Switch than get a new Links(cough) for free. I have also purchased
used Cisco Catalyst switches on E-bay  and paid so low, that the
shipping was a major factor in the final price!!!

I have always had good experience with Catalyst. They are built to
last and if you have a technical background, you can do a lot more
with them than you can with most low end unintelligent switches.

Also, 3COM makes a small Gigabit 8 port switch (I forgot the model #
but it has blue lights and an acrilic top cover) that I found to be
reliable and well priced at $ 89.00 new in my local retailer.

Cheers,


Miguel Fra / Falcon ITS
http://www.falconits.com

10-Feb-10 10:28 AM

That would have been Ace,...but you can agree with both of us if you want


--
Phillip Windell

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

11-Feb-10 09:01 PM

Be aware that Cisco gear may require firmware updates and those are NOT
inexpensive.

Also be warned there is a lot of counterfeit gear labeled as Cisco.

I would not be inclined to purchase secondhand cisco gear without knowing
its provenance ahead of time.

12-Feb-10 12:29 AM

Good point. I guess I have been lucky. :-)

I have multiple Cisco accounts through my various customers, and usually
with that customer's account, I have access to updates. If not, then it
does not get updated, but if not using it as a managed device, I have not had
a problem yet with the non-updated switches.

Ace