After a cheap L2 managed switch

[Norphy]

Hi,

 

This is personal, not for work.

 

I want a cheap, L2 manage switch with support for 802.1q VLANs. It doesn't need more than 8 ports. It needs to be gigabit. I don't need PoE. As much as I'd like something like an HPE/Aruba 2530-8G, that's far too much money!

 

Does anyone have any recommendations? The cheaper, the better.

 

Cheers!

[Chris_Cook]

Unifi is my goto option at the moment. If you want really budget, then maybe a Netgear GS108E?

[Davit2005]

Hi,

 

This is personal, not for work.

 

I want a cheap, L2 manage switch with support for 802.1q VLANs. It doesn't need more than 8 ports. It needs to be gigabit. I don't need PoE. As much as I'd like something like an HPE/Aruba 2530-8G, that's far too much money!

 

Does anyone have any recommendations? The cheaper, the better.

 

Cheers!

 

If you are not bothered about using the Ubiquiti controller to manage then I'd look at the EdgeSwitches, these are much better in my opinion, certainly if you are comfortable with other manufacturers switch GUI interfaces, although you do miss some of the visibility features of the controller.

 

A while ago I had 3 EdgeSwitches (1 X ES24 and 2 X ES-16-XG) . I originally bought a US-8-150w for home but didn't really like it, I still have the Unifi APs but now on HP switches and it all works together.

Edited May 6, 2020 by Davit2005

[pete]

Is refurb/ebay an option (assuming it's not a power-hungry screaming monster)?

 

And is the 8-port form-factor a necessity, or would a refurb 24-port be fine provided it's quiet?

 

(example refurb pricing below)

 

https://www.techbuyer.com/networking/switches/hp-procurve/hp-procurve-switches?price=0-121.51898734177215

[Norphy]

Is refurb/ebay an option (assuming it's not a power-hungry screaming monster)?

 

And is the 8-port form-factor a necessity, or would a refurb 24-port be fine provided it's quiet?

 

(example refurb pricing below)

 

https://www.techbuyer.com/networking/switches/hp-procurve/hp-procurve-switches?price=0-121.51898734177215

 

I’m open to refurbs. 8 ports isn’t a hard and fast requirement but being fanless and utterly silent is. This is going in the cupboard underneath the TV in my living room, I don’t want to be listening to a screechy 40mm fan. The switch will also need to survive living in an unventilated cupboard as well.

[Norphy]

Unifi is my goto option at the moment. If you want really budget, then maybe a Netgear GS108E?

 

Can you give me an example of something in Unifi’s rage which meets these criteria? I don’t want to be running a controller to manage it, it needs to be completely stand alone.

[computer_expert]

The unifi switches need the controller for the initial config, but it can then be switched off until you need to change a setting/update firmware etc.

 

The edgeswitches mentioned above are standalone as far as i'm aware (but can be managed by UNMS if needed, UNMS isn't the same as the unifi controller though). Not much of a issue as you don't need POE but I think the POE edgeswitches only support the non standard Ubiquiti 24v POE.

 

edit - On further inspection some of the POE edgeswitches support both POE types (ES-8-150W) but others don't (ES-10X).

 

Even the non POE edgeswitches are still ~£50 ish more than the gs108tv2 (around £52)

Edited May 6, 2020 by computer_expert

[Chris_Cook]

It does depend what you want it for. Unifi stuff needs the controller to configure it, but it doesn't have to run any other time. Either the US-8 (under £100) or a USW-Flex-mini 5 port (about £26). I have a unifi AP in my garage, and the software is on my laptop. I don't think I've run it for over a year. I should probably fire it up soon and do the firmware updates.

 

If its for a home lab then I'd probably go for that. For home theater or if you don't want a separate management console, the netgear switch I suggested is probably the better option - I'm just not as keen in a production environment.

 

HP is also rock solid, especially at those prices. Fan noise might be an issue. Not sure the HP warranty is valid for a second owner, but at that price I wouldn't really worry.

 

Do you need this switch to route between the VLANs, or is something else on your network doing that?

[Norphy]

I’ve got something else to do the routing, hence just wanting L2. I do however need something to segregate Internet and General traffic and I can’t do it across two devices.

[Norphy]

I’ve seen some ProCurve 1800-8G switches on eBay. I think they’d fit the bill perfectly

[Davit2005]

I’ve seen some ProCurve 1800-8G switches on eBay. I think they’d fit the bill perfectly

 

I still have an 1810-8g which I bought over 10 years ago. One of the ports is PoE in port to supply power to the switch, although that feature gave up the ghost about 5years back so relying on the ext PSU now. It is in a cupboard acting as spare.

 

There is another choice of a HP 1910, these have web based GUI as well as the CLI, you need a password to get into the CLI and do anything though (I still have that switch as well I think, I need a clear out, lol). As far as I am aware the Ubiquiti UNMS can only manage backups of the EdgeSwitches with no management (or that's what it only did a year back)

Edited May 7, 2020 by Davit2005

[pete]

^ I've got a 7 year old 1810-24G bolted to a shelving unit next to me in the home office and I can't hear it.

 

It's not fancy, but it's reliable.

[Davit2005]

^ I've got a 7 year old 1810-24G bolted to a shelving unit next to me in the home office and I can't hear it.

 

It's not fancy, but it's reliable.

 

Previous job a few years ago we had about 11-12 1800/1810 switches on site and they never missed a beat. The 1810's are a little bit easier when it came to doing vlans though, lol.

 

Both 1800s and 1810s are web based management only so take backups if you like playing with settings specially with vlans, trunks and management settings.

[MatthewL]

We picked up some DLink DGS-1100-08P they seem to be ok, got a few in the office and bought 2 for home, were less than £40 but with current situation that is likely to have rocketed. Infact my PC I am replying to is connected to one since I installed 140 days ago no reboots of the switch or anything.