1

Is any manufacturer selling a 24/48 port POE 1G/10G switch comparable to the 2960X as a better deal than Cisco?

Edge switches don’t need any features, just simple Uplink port, and high reliability.

I think Cisco stopped innovating in their edge switching a long time ago.

12 Spice ups
2

I’ve deployed a number of the Ubiquiti EdgeSwitch devices, and have plans to deploy more. They are robust and functional switches, and in the last 18 months or so the UNMS management platform has been an interesting addition.

I’ve got a 24 port out in a metal building running an AP and a couple of cameras, but all the others are the even more functional 48 port units with both fiber and copper 10GbE.

I just sent two 750w units up to a new office complex we bought 40 miles north, my Electrical Dept and my Industrial Automation group will get everything wired, and I get to step in and just tap a few keys to get it all configured (just ask my Automation boss, he’ll tell you). I like the UBNT gear because it is transparent as to what it is and where it comes from and how to configure it. I’m sure there are backdoors, but unlike Cisco or 3Com, I don’t have to have a secret handshake to access the full featureset.

Wow, did that sound as bitter as it scans? Just saying, why would I pay a premium for SmartNet cybesecurity when they dismiss all warranty claims?

Edit to add: One of the 24 ports has been in a metal building staging area (think highly transient warehouse). It hasn’t had even a burp in over two years. It gets power cycled when the campus goes down for a power systems upgrade (replacing our own switchyard with a transformer). Super solid hardware for me.

6 Spice ups
3

Check out HPE/Aruba, I came from a Cisco environment to the current HPE/Aruba and really enjoying it.

2 Spice ups
4

The HPE/Aruba 2530 comes in a model with two 10G SFP ports. I’ve standardized on the 2530 line for everything that doesn’t need L3. (2920 for that.)

2 Spice ups
5

Cisco hasn’t stopped innovating in their edge switching. Just look at all of the security features in the Catalyst 3850 such as MACsec for encrypting traffic between devices. It seems like you’re not looking at those features and just need basic speed, feed, and power, in which case you have no need for the Cisco premium.

1 Spice up
6

I would take a look at the Dell PowerConnect Line. I have ran some of the switches for YEARS and never had an issue. Some of the models have Layer 2/3 (edge) that might work well in your case. I am not sure exactly what kind of switch you might be looking for so here is Dell’s current line-up: https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/networking/sc/networking-products/switches/ ?

CK

7

^

This is all we run anymore. 99% of the functionality for a 1/4 the price. We keep multiple 24/48s in 250/500/750 on the shelf ready to go.

We run 10Gtek SFPs, 10Gtek DAC cables, and Macroreer 1gE SFPs with zero issues.

1 Spice up
8

We have had good luck with the 48 port 750w ubiquiti switches. The only downside we have found is sfp, sfp+ modules from other vendors that claim to work don’t usually, also polycom phones with vlan tagging provisioned to them didn’t work and had to be reprogrammed to get an IP address.

9

Hey @davel-spiceworks , I just wanted to throw out there Linksys Business Switches as an option, they have a couple that have 24 ports and POE+. Here’s the link for them, if you have any questions or would like to chat more about them please feel free to message me!

@paulyoung9246