New Core Switch

[Warwick_Tech]

Hi All,

 

Looking at new Core switches and this bad boy has appeared on my radar

 

https://www.netgear.com/support/product/M4300-24X24F

 

Only thing is I can't find anything definitive if it's 24 and 24 ports (shared) or independant, so it's 48 seperate connections...

 

I might just be going blind though.

[Chaniel]

Actually looking at core switches as well...

 

Not sure how I feel about Netgear but that looks pretty decent. Just in case you haven't found out yet, the FAQ's do say that the ports are all independent.

 

Anyone got any experience with a recent core switch upgrade? I've always stuck with HP but... budgets.

[PotNoodleTech]

Never bought a netgear before but they have a great selection of switch ports on them and stackable so can mix and match. Looks good!

[Warwick_Tech]

In my experience the Netgear switches are pretty good, and their ability to stack is great; They also have a limited lifetime warranty.

 

However they are let down by a confusing UI that moans about flash and java a lot....

[Sephiroth]

I have a site full of Netgear switches. I have several stacks of M5300 L2+ switches and a core of an M7300 24 port SFP+ with L3 licence. I don't know if their ways have changed recently but check that it is L3 off the bat, and not L2+ with upgrade licence to L3. Also, I would be very careful of their support. We had a core switch failure and had to fight them to replace it. They required a credit card number as collateral on the advanced replacement, or I could wait for the faulty unit to reach them then they would send me a replacement.

 

The switches themselves are really good for the money but because of their shady tactics on replacements, I won't be buying from them again.

 

The last lot of switches we bought (for another campus) were Allied Telesys. Can't fault AT, as they came to site and gave a full survey, then told the supplier what we needed as they don't sell direct. The only problems we had were with the supplier, and they were dealt with quickly by AT.

[IrritableTech]

We've a pair of these https://www.netgear.com/support/product/M4300-12X12F.aspx

We use them for two redundant iSCSI paths. The fact that two can bolt together in a single rack unit was handy due to space limitations.

 

They've run now for three years without missing a beat but we're not doing anything fancy with them. I'm not a fan of the netgear management interface.

[AlanD]

I always used netgear...found them to be good value for money and often bought second hand units for peanuts. Yes the fans can be noisy...and sometimes need replacing..and yes the inconsistent web interfaces and java used on older modules could be irritating.

 

I learnt to avoid the expensive netgear modules costing hundreds of pounds, because the Chinese modules for a tenner or two lasted seemingly forever unlike the genuine modules.

 

By the way, please note the correct spellings of ... independent...and separate. :-)