Re: Ubiquity switches - Thoughts??

[ssouth]

Re: Ubiquity switches - Thoughts??

 

Hi

 

We are in the process of upgrading the school's fibre backbone to 10Gb, some of the cabling runs have already been done, but we have yet to replace any switches.

 

We have always had HP \ Aruba switches and generally speaking I've been very happy with them (reliability, performance, ease of use). I am though tempted to look at the range of ubiquity switches, due to the very competitive prices.

 

What are people's thoughts? If you have some, how have they performed, reliability etc.

 

Thanks in advance.

[localzuk]

We have them across the Trust here (though, Connect the Classroom is replacing them soon). They work well enough. We've had a couple die over the years. And they only have a 1 year warranty - those in warranty, you have to ship out of country at your own expense to get remedied.

 

So, they're cheap and cheerful. A good entry-level system IMO. Just plan around not having warranty support - we simply had a spare of each type of switch on a shelf ready to swap in instead.

[DrCheese]

If you need stacking at all, then they are a non starter. You also can't really use them as core switches if you need any kind of layer 3 routing

 

But other than that they're good for the price & as localzuk says, they're so cheap you can afford to keep a spare on hand in the event of failure.

[dmj]

I'd have a good look at the TPlink Jetstream range as comparison.

[localzuk]

If you need stacking at all, then they are a non starter. You also can't really use them as core switches if you need any kind of layer 3 routing

But other than that they're good for the price & as localzuk says, they're so cheap you can afford to keep a spare on hand in the event of failure.

Oh, yeah, we use a Aruba 5406R zl2 for our core switch. But, the "Ubiquiti way" would be to have a UDM or similar as the routing part of it and then everything aggregated with some of their fibre switches.

[mrbios]

They're cheap, they work, ideally i'd have a spare of each model in use rather than relying on any warranties. However stock of them nationally is awful at the moment. and as mentioned above, no real L3 solutions with Ubiquiti.

 

I'm looking at going down the route of Aruba InstantOn switches (1930 range) instead as a cheap alternative due to stock issues, added bonus that those still have the HP limited lifetime warranty.

[DGardiner]

Oh, yeah, we use a Aruba 5406R zl2 for our core switch. But, the "Ubiquiti way" would be to have a UDM or similar as the routing part of it and then everything aggregated with some of their fibre switches.

 

The gen2 switches support layer3, to what extent im not too sure but its in there now after a while of coming soon

[ssouth]

We have them across the Trust here (though, Connect the Classroom is replacing them soon). They work well enough. We've had a couple die over the years. And they only have a 1 year warranty - those in warranty, you have to ship out of country at your own expense to get remedied.

 

So, they're cheap and cheerful. A good entry-level system IMO. Just plan around not having warranty support - we simply had a spare of each type of switch on a shelf ready to swap in instead.

 

How do you find the setup \ software \ VLAN setup etc

[DGardiner]

How do you find the setup \ software \ VLAN setup etc

 

We do all our routing on the ISP provided router so weve not had to do anything on them so to speak.

 

Vlans are a few clicks, wifi if you venture is just a simple.

 

Get the occasional issues with firmwares(WIFI rather than switches) whenever a major version jump occurs but i feel like were in a good period at the minute as the current stuff has stabilised.

 

Asa localzuk said, theyre cheap enough in comparison to others to save a wedge and buy a spare for the shelf as your contingency.

[localzuk]

How do you find the setup \ software \ VLAN setup etc

VLAN setup is super simple. You can either assign individual VLANs to ports via the web panel, or via an app. Or, you can make a profile which has multiple VLANS, and you can apply that.

[chazzy2501]

The switches are getting less features and cost more. but have a stupid touch screen now... not a happy camper here. I stated here treat them like they have no support and no warranty. Keep a few spares. The POE switches recently have become less powerful and they've quietly downgraded some models to half and half's.

[timbo343]

They're cheap, they work, ideally i'd have a spare of each model in use rather than relying on any warranties. However stock of them nationally is awful at the moment. and as mentioned above, no real L3 solutions with Ubiquiti.

 

I'm looking at going down the route of Aruba InstantOn switches (1930 range) instead as a cheap alternative due to stock issues, added bonus that those still have the HP limited lifetime warranty.

 

The 1930s might be a good call as we have some 1960s and i'm impressed with them!

[mrbios]

The 1930s might be a good call as we have some 1960s and i'm impressed with them!

 

Good to know, thank you. I've not read too much into them yet, still investigating, but in looking into pricing, features etc. They look like a pretty solid alternative that ticks the boxes of the DfE recommendations that ubiquiti falls short on.

 

I know the "InstantOn" WiFi stuff has a quantity limitation of 25 APs, but i presume there's no similar limitation for wired devices?

[Aprice]

We tend to avoid the Ubiquiti switches now, we've had so many fail, Usually on the power supplies and all of them under 5 years old but still out of warranty. This includes a mix of Edgeswitch, Unifi and Toughswitches.

 

My personal preference is the full fat Aruba switches, the Instant Ons are fine for very basic switches, but I remember the interfaces being a bit messy with a load of features only being available in the local managed mode and others in the cloud only mode, and the decision which to use had to be made at setup.

[ssouth]

We tend to avoid the Ubiquiti switches now, we've had so many fail, Usually on the power supplies and all of them under 5 years old but still out of warranty. This includes a mix of Edgeswitch, Unifi and Toughswitches.

 

My personal preference is the full fat Aruba switches, the Instant Ons are fine for very basic switches, but I remember the interfaces being a bit messy with a load of features only being available in the local managed mode and others in the cloud only mode, and the decision which to use had to be made at setup.

 

Sounds like the weak point is the power supplies, which is a shame.

 

I find the latest Aruba GUI a bit confusing, it took me ages to work out VLANS.

 

Thanks for the feedback

[timbo343]

Good to know, thank you. I've not read too much into them yet, still investigating, but in looking into pricing, features etc. They look like a pretty solid alternative that ticks the boxes of the DfE recommendations that ubiquiti falls short on.

 

I know the "InstantOn" WiFi stuff has a quantity limitation of 25 APs, but i presume there's no similar limitation for wired devices?

 

In terms of wired devices, i have a 48 port 1960 pretty much full with desktop PCs connected to it and it's working fine.

[supportman]

We replaced all HP, Aruba, Netgear switches with Ubiquity a few years ago, its been great.

 

Not had any fail and the central management is excellent.

[Davit2005]

If the Unifi switches have the features you need go with them. Keep spares if you can for quick replacement.

 

They do lack features available from other makes of switches you'd might need at the core and need to check i.e. virtual stacking, dynamic routing, redundant layer 3 but if you don't need them features then it don't matter.

 

As for the interface on the Aruba we always use the cli.

Edited March 20, 2023 by Davit2005

[timbo343]

Good to know, thank you. I've not read too much into them yet, still investigating, but in looking into pricing, features etc. They look like a pretty solid alternative that ticks the boxes of the DfE recommendations that ubiquiti falls short on.

 

I know the "InstantOn" WiFi stuff has a quantity limitation of 25 APs, but i presume there's no similar limitation for wired devices?

 

I think the main difference between the 1930 and 1960 obviously price as the 1930 non poe looks more inline with the ubiquiti stuff but the 1960 has 2x 10G 10BaseT and 2x SPF+ ports.

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Aruba_Instant_On_1960_vs_Aruba_Instant_On_1930/BHitems/1672887-REG_1561169-REG

[mrbios]

I think the main difference between the 1930 and 1960 obviously price as the 1930 non poe looks more inline with the ubiquiti stuff but the 1960 has 2x 10G 10BaseT and 2x SPF+ ports.

 

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/compare/Aruba_Instant_On_1960_vs_Aruba_Instant_On_1930/BHitems/1672887-REG_1561169-REG

 

Ah yea that's why i was looking at the 1930 i think, for the most part i didn't need the BaseT as being mostly Ubiquiti currently, i've got SFP+ everywhere. One or two areas i might put a 1960 in to benefit from the BaseT, but minimal... nice to have the option though, unlike ubiquiti where the only option for a 10Gb BaseT is to use a gbic, but they have a max cable length of 30m. (tried one at about 40m, was intermittent lol)

[MatthewL]

We have some Unifi, they do for small sites, personally I prefer our Aruba switches, pros and cons to both, both do the job, ones cheaper than the other, if I was to buy switches it would be Aruba personally, Unifi for a budget.

[RedwayNetworks_Michael]

Alternative to look at could be Cambium Networks, they offer cloud management and they also come with support. They do still lack a core switch and also stacking.

Ive done a fair few Cambium projects and used Aruba 5400 chassis switches as core and then had Edge and Wireless on Cambium for customer to have the cloud management at a good cost but still have the support.

 

That said im also an Aruba fan and their support is very good but stock issues are still a major issue. Several projects of mine are going to be coming to 18months soon, thats if stock arrives when they say as it moves further away every month.

[computer_expert]

Good to know, thank you. I've not read too much into them yet, still investigating, but in looking into pricing, features etc. They look like a pretty solid alternative that ticks the boxes of the DfE recommendations that ubiquiti falls short on.

 

I know the "InstantOn" WiFi stuff has a quantity limitation of 25 APs, but i presume there's no similar limitation for wired devices?

 

It's been increased to 50 devices recently (e.g 49 switches & 1 AP or 20 switches & 30 APs) per site with a max of 150 sites I believe.

 

The instant on switches can be locally managed (and give you a lot more features than when connected to the ION portal).

[mrbios]

It's been increased to 50 devices recently (e.g 49 switches & 1 AP or 20 switches & 30 APs) per site with a max of 150 sites I believe.

 

The instant on switches can be locally managed (and give you a lot more features than when connected to the ION portal).

 

Thanks, that confirms my thoughts about wired devices being included in those limitations then. Is that limit based purely on the cloud management of them? So you could have more than 50 if you manage them locally? As I'm looking at wired solutions only, i don't think i'd be going over 50 switches, so as long as i don't get Aruba InstantOn wireless (highly unlikely) i should be able to manage up to 50 switches in their cloud management? (Sorry to hijack your thread a bit here @ssouth with my own questions, hopefully they're helpful to you too though lol)

[computer_expert]

Thanks, that confirms my thoughts about wired devices being included in those limitations then. Is that limit based purely on the cloud management of them? So you could have more than 50 if you manage them locally? As I'm looking at wired solutions only, i don't think i'd be going over 50 switches, so as long as i don't get Aruba InstantOn wireless (highly unlikely) i should be able to manage up to 50 switches in their cloud management? (Sorry to hijack your thread a bit here @ssouth with my own questions, hopefully they're helpful to you too though lol)

 

I guess you could have as many instant on switches as you want if they are not connected to the ION portal, but management may be a bit of a headache. If you connect them to the ION portal, then you can only have 50 devices per site, but you could have multiple sites (a site per building/floor etc). The switches also do not have a CLI and are web managed only.

 

The switches can be managed outside of the portal, but the access points cannot (for that you would need to move up to the Instant (IAP) series of AP)