Wot switch?

[Busybub]

Looking to replace an old unmanaged switch which is developing a noisy fan.

 

Never dealt with any managed switches before but looking to go this way with all of our units. Any recommendations for one which is easy to set up?

[Diello]

Look at the HP ProCurves - brilliant.

 

What do you need? e.g. speed /no. of ports?

[Sirbendy]

crack the top off and replace the fan..?

[Busybub]

@Bendy

 

The thought had occured but the unit is well out of warranty so it's a definite replacement job.

 

@Diello

 

Have been thinking about HPs but there are so many models it's a question of where to start looking!

 

To start with, need a 24 port jobbie with a view to adding a second one later to split up computer distribution between them, and have some redundancy if one goes down. May be getting a fiber upgrade to the network next year, but at the least it would be nice to have some copper gigabit uplinks of some description.

 

Seen trunked fiber on another site, can this be done with copper?

[Geoff]

2626 will do the job nicely then.

 

ProCurve Networking by HP - Switch 2600 Series - Overview

[plexer]

Or go for a 2610-48 £385.

 

Ben

[dgsmith]

2626 is out of date now. We're going for the 2x10-XX group of switches, which is a better spec overall and roughly the same price!

 

Alternatively, if you don't want a fully managed switch (but want management functionality), then maybe a Procurve 1800-24 would be better suited (price is alot cheaper), and all gig ports!

[Geoff]

Are the 2610's available now? I couldn't get one last time I tried (although I got hold of a 2810 just fine).

[plexer]

Looks like they are as European Electronique have them in stock.

 

Ben

[localzuk]

As do Insight.

[dgsmith]

Are the 2610's available now? I couldn't get one last time I tried (although I got hold of a 2810 just fine).

 

Misco have them in stock right now, as do many others online retailers we use.

[Diello]

To start with, need a 24 port jobbie with a view to adding a second one later to split up computer distribution between them, and have some redundancy if one goes down. May be getting a fiber upgrade to the network next year, but at the least it would be nice to have some copper gigabit uplinks of some description.

 

Seen trunked fiber on another site, can this be done with copper?

 

Depends what your price point is - and how important the switch is!

 

Personally - I'd go for the 2810-24G - gives you 24 triple sensing ports, plus 4 GBIC ports for you to go fibre later. However, at about £850... maybe not!!

 

If you're happy to stay with 10/100 though, go for the 2610-24 for about £300. Gives you 2 dual-personality ports for either GB uplinks, or some GBICs.

 

Yes - you can trunk copper - easy as pie. (Just remember to do it on both switches... as one of our cabling guys didn't the other month!)

[Busybub]

Thanks for the suggestions chaps. Had a look at the 2626 and 2610, seems to be heading the 2610 direction at the mo as it doesn't seem to be much more.

 

2810 is definitely out of reach. Have an unexpectedly large surplus to dispose of in the course of looking at this but there's a bunch of other stuff to get too.

 

Otherwise, re: setup, is it just web interface based? Any other tools required or anything to download from HP?

[Diello]

Otherwise, re: setup, is it just web interface based? Any other tools required or anything to download from HP?

 

You get a web interface and a CLI. Just plug in, setup, and go really. You can just plug and play, but much better to setup a static IP. You also get a PCM (ProCurve Manager) CD which gives you a nice GUI app for monitoring and configuration etc., you can upgrade to PCM Plus, but only worth it if your whole network is PC based. Personally I'm not a fan of it simply because it's Java and a HIDEOUS resource hog.

 

You should consider downloading the latest firmware from HP and installing that via TFTP before it goes live. Software for Switches - ProCurve Networking by HP

[dhicks]

Never dealt with any managed switches before but looking to go this way with all of our units. Any recommendations for one which is easy to set up?

 

We've just bought a bunch of HP 1800-24Gs. Silent, fanless, 24-ports of gigabit speed, 2 ports can be used for fibre connections. Web managed interface. £300-odd from Insight.

 

--

David Hicks

[K.C.Leblanc]

Check your cabinet is deep enough.