Switch comparison

[ljCharlie]

I'm in the process of purchasing a two 24 or one 48 ports switch. By looking at the Cisco switch, it is WAY too expensive. We are a small business non-profit organization with around 40 machines. Will anyone tell me the really big advantage of a Cisco switch over some other brand such as 3Com, Dell, Netgear, Linksys, and HP etc.? Like I said, Cisco switch is very expensive and I'm not sure if it is worth the money in comparison to some other brand.

Any suggestion is appreciated.

ljCharlie

[mbossman2]

It depends on the switch.

Which Cisco switches are you looking at? 2950's? 3550's? 3560's?

It also depends upon what you use your network for:

If you use your network as a a file and print sharing network and internet access - then connectivity is your concern and it really doesn't matter.

If, on the other hand, you forsee doing "advanced" things on your network (ie IP telephony, on-demand/streaming video) or require more in depth security than just a firewall or want to tweak things like application priority or rate limitation etc - then you will want to look at more of a "name" brand or enterprise level solution.

[ljCharlie]

Thank you for the response. I'm looking at the Cisco 2950 and the NETGEAR FS750AT 48-Port 10/100 Switch or 3Com SuperStack 3 Switch 4250T 48-Port Switch.

ljCharlie

[mbossman2]

OK.

Couple of things:

the Netgear is a different type of switch than the Cisco and 3Com. the Netgear is an "unmanaged" switch, that is to say, is a switch that allows no "remote" control capabilities or reporting. In addition, the Netgear product will not/does not offer any additional security or tweak-ability (like rate limiting etc) that a managed switch will offer.

Now, as to the 3Com, this product is very similar to the Cisco when it comes to management and "basic' performance. where the Cisco switches differentiate themselves are in the available "services" that the switch offers:

Quality of Service - the ability of the switch to identify packet types and give priority of 1 traffic type over a another. For example: you have an application that is CRITICAL to your functioning, wouldn't you want to be able to say that this type of traffic goes ahead of everything else?

Security - Things like Private VLAN's (IE you have a PC on port 2, you want to limit access of that PC to accessing the internet ONLY, you can place that port on its own VLAN and share that VLAN with the internet gateway's port and the ONLY place it can go is the internet...and this is done on the switch level as opposed to on the PC which can make it susceptible to some "hacking" the PC and gaining access to the network).

Management - all Cisco desktop switches use the same interface for remote control, so you need to learn only 1 interface as opposed to other companies, who have different interfaces for different switches.

Now, I've said a lot, but lets cut it down to brass tacks:

If all you are looking for is basic connectivity to your network: file sharing, sharing printers and accessing the internet and all the systems are in 1 location AND that is all you see yourself doing for the next 2 or 3 years, then an unmanaged switch is the way to go.

If, on the other hand, you are looking at 2 or more locations and a centralized IT staff then a managed switch is the way to go.

if, finally, you are looking at more advanced functions (voice, video and data on your network) or more indepth security than just a firewall then Cisco (with its higher cost) really is the only solution for the whole enchilada in the switching market.

(BTW, check you private messages)

[ljCharlie]

Wow! Thank you! I learned a lot. I'll take all that into consideration when we decide on the switch.

Again, thank you very much!

ljCharlie