TJ7 Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 So, our ideal requirements are a 48-port switch, ideally with PoE. The drawback is that the designers of our second site decided to place the main comms cabinet in the front office, right next to the admin assistant. If I had worked there at the time, I would have beaten them with sticks until they changed their mind, but it's too late now.... I have tried an Aruba, but it wasn't just a bit noisy, it was something akin to having a small vacuum cleaner next to your ear all day. I'm thinking I'll have to rule out the PoE and use in-line injectors for the APs (sadly!), but does anyone have any recommendations for a quiet, but very solid 48-port Gigabit switch? I'm hoping someone else has found themselves in the same predicament and already arrived at a solution. TLDR: Can anyone recommend a reliable 48-port gigabit switch that makes as little noise as possible (ideally with PoE)? Thanks!
3s-gtech Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 Can you stack two 24s together? You'd be amazed with the difference in volume. I've not used modern 24 port switches to give an example - our 48 port Arubas are noisy - but our old Cisco SG300-28s were silent. Not sure about the 28P. Modern equivalent is https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cisco-28-Port-Gigabit-Managed-SG350-28P-K9-EU/dp/B01H33XB0C
synaesthesia Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 POE means power and warmth, so you'll have noise or something with a short lifespan. Best option, if the switch must stay in situ, is a better cabinet. 1
DaveTheTech Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 The other option would be to swap out the fans for something from Noctua. We had a similar issue - we were able to swap to a passive switch. There was only 1 or 2 APs and we already had some spare injectors. There are sound insulated cabs available.
dhicks Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 the designers of our second site decided to place the main comms cabinet in the front office, right next to the admin assistant Might swapping the comms cabinet for a sound-proofed one be an option? We have one in our ICT teaching room, and I've been surprised at how much of the switch's sound it cuts out. The switch in there has been in place for at least 5 years now, too, and doesn't seem to have had any overheating issues.
Oaktech Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 2 options... Acoustic cabinet or midspan POE injector. POE switches are all noisy, it's just the amount that varies.
TJ7 Posted January 14, 2022 Author Posted January 14, 2022 (edited) I think two 24 port switches is an option. I've pretty much ruled out PoE as can see that it's never going to be quiet. Swapping the cabinet in the location it's in would be a tricky task that I'm not sure me or our site team have the appetite for. Can anyone recommend particularly quiet non-PoE 48 port switches (or 24s)? First hand experience is more valuable than datasheets alone. Edited January 14, 2022 by TJ7
pete Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 Swapping the cabinet in the location it's in would be a tricky task that I'm not sure me or our site team have the appetite for. Ask a decent* local cabling contractor? It should be cheaper than buying new switches. *I mean, clearly not the muppets who put a comms cab in the office.
Chaniel Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 Which Aruba switch did you try? I found the new Aruba 1930's have been pretty quiet for a 48 port PoE switch (JL686A), especially compared to the 48 Port switches I remember from 5+ years ago. We have a cabinet in a classroom and you can't really tell it's there anymore. The non-PoE versions (JL685A) are silent as they have no fans. I concur with others though, swapping the cabinet should be a fairly straightforward task for any networking contractor and would be the best option. Having any repetitive whine of tiny fans near your workspace would drive anyone insane...
TJ7 Posted January 14, 2022 Author Posted January 14, 2022 We tried the JL686A. That's the one that sounded like a vacuum cleaner. It was accepted for a return as "faulty". My assumption is that the fans were spinning up fully when they didn't need to However, having heard them spin up fully, I didn't want to subject anyone to that on a hot day. Thanks for the tip on the JL685A. With in-line injectors, that might be a good option. The cabling contractor option is a possibility. I just need to find that "decent local cabling contractor". "Decent" tends to translate to really rather expensive.
pete Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 (edited) The cabling contractor option is a possibility. I just need to find that "decent local cabling contractor". "Decent" tends to translate to really rather expensive. If you hinted which area of the country you're in, we could provide recommendations. I can recommend the firm we use, but if their staff have to travel too far the bill will include hotel rooms. Edited January 14, 2022 by pete
lmgtfy Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 I think two 24 port switches is an option. I've pretty much ruled out PoE as can see that it's never going to be quiet. Swapping the cabinet in the location it's in would be a tricky task that I'm not sure me or our site team have the appetite for. Can anyone recommend particularly quiet non-PoE 48 port switches (or 24s)? First hand experience is more valuable than datasheets alone. The HPE OfficeConnect Switch 1820 24G PoE+ is quieter than most computers. It only has 12 ports of POE+ but is a great switch. They do a 48 port POE version but it does have a louder fan nothing like the Aruba's mind. https://www.comms-express.com/products/hpe-j9983a-officeconnect-1820-24g-poe-switch//?keyword=&campaign=332060357&ad=109518688929&ADtype=&Productcode=&gclid=CjwKCAiA24SPBhB0EiwAjBgkhisqTY_lMbqYFTR-fVKlT_R776Fvdt7EmsirryJ9Z7cASm5jbbUmiBoCkhwQAvD_BwE The whole 1820 range is very good and quiet. We use it in classrooms and can't fault it.
TJ7 Posted January 14, 2022 Author Posted January 14, 2022 If you hinted which area of the country you're in, we could provide recommendations. I can recommend the firm we use, but if their staff have to travel too far the bill will include hotel rooms. Berkshire/Hampshire/Wiltshire/Oxfordshire all within reasonable travel distance. Thanks.
Jcx500 Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 I would move the cab to a more suitable location if possible.
dhicks Posted January 14, 2022 Posted January 14, 2022 Swapping the cabinet in the location it's in would be a tricky task that I'm not sure me or our site team have the appetite for. Just in case you're thinking you'll need to re-terminate cabling and so on: you can generally remove network cabinets from the wall without having to remove cables terminated in a patch panel, you can generally wiggle the patch panel, with all the cables still connected, out of the back of the cabinet. I don't know the exact setup you're in or what tools you have to hand, and this is something you'd want to leave half a day for and have decent drill for (and, really, leaving it a contractor would probably be quicker and less fuss), but it might be a bit simpler than you might think. Sorry if you've already considered that, I thought I'd better mention just in case you were thinking you'd have to re-terminate everything afterwards.
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