Recommend me some switches

[button_ripple]

I wonder if anyone can guess what this post is about??

Right, currently here is the layout of our network:

1 core switch - Dlink Gigabit unmanaged switch (about 3-4 years old), this connects the servers, our "office" and wireless access points for 1 building (6). This also connects the fibre link to our other building.

1 dlink 10/100 unmanaged switch in the other building. This also connects the fibre at the other end. It has no access points and has only 6 people connected to it. It also links to the ICT Suite Switch (by CAT 5). (about 3-4 years old)

1 unbranded 10/100 unmanaged switch for 15 computers, 4 WAPS. (about 5-7 years old).

What would you recommend? We don't have a large budget but the above switches could all do with a replacement.

[Michael]

I recommend getting rid of that unbranded 10/100 switch. As a general rule, I would recommend you stick with one brand of network equipment (for everything) - switches and access points.

DLink are ok, but I always use HP simply because I've never had a problem with them. They also come with a lifetime warranty.

Although your servers (from what you're describing) are running at gigabit, is your network backbone operating at gigabit? This ensures your workstations receive a full 10/100 link, but it also means servers can push out more information across the network in a shorter period.

You may want to consider looking at managed solutions, however if you've been running unmanaged for so long, this may be unnecessary and a lot cheaper too!

[dhicks]

What would you recommend? We don't have a large budget

Snap! I'm ordering 3 HP ProCurve 1800-24G switches from Oliis at £191+VAT each. If I read the specification sheet correctly: fanless, gigabit, 24 ports, 48Mbps backplane, web-managed interface.

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David Hicks

[Michael]

Snap! I'm ordering 3 HP ProCurve 1800-24G switches from Oliis at £191+VAT each. If I read the specification sheet correctly: fanless, gigabit, 24 ports, 48Mbps backplane, web-managed interface.

Should be 48Gbps and there are 2 x uplink ports too

[button_ripple]

do we need a managed switch for wireless networks??

also need some help with wireless access points - what would people recommend as some heavy duty access points.

[Michael]

You don't necessarily need a managed switch, however you could look at a PoE switch (Power over Ethernet) if your access points support it.

For better 'management' of your access points, I'd recommend you allocate them static IP addresses. I can highly recommend the HP 10ag. They're really good value for money!

[dgsmith]

For our switch replacement in the summer, we're very likely going to go with a HP solution (2810-24 and 2810-48, as our budget is tight too).

We bought a few D-Link 2100/7100 WAPs a few months ago, but are unimpressed by their tendancy to lockup and generally stop responding. We've also just bought 2 HP 10ag WAPs about a week ago, so can't really comment just yet, but purely through recommendations on here. The D-Links on one hand can automatically set their own channel according to what is around them, whereas the HPs ones can't (from what we can see). Regardless, as long as they are stable and reliable, that'll do us!

[Michael]

I've used some D-Link 7100's in the past and I wasn't very impressed. A few months back at one of my schools, an access point just stopped working despite everything appearing normal LED wise.

I was forced to reset to factory default. Not something I expect to do bearing in mind it was a few months old. The HP 10ag are a much superior product and performance is very reliable