Cheapest Cisco gigabit switch?

So I don’t need a gigabit cisco switch, but I’m upgrading my home network and working on my CCNA. I know I can get a linksys one for much cheaper, but I thought having that would only help my studies.

Is it possible to find a gigabit Cisco switch sub $500 bucks say on ebay and if so what model should I be looking for?

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schpenxel

pwjohnston wrote: »

So I don’t need a gigabit cisco switch, but I’m upgrading my home network and working on my CCNA. I know I can get a linksys one for much cheaper, but I thought having that would only help my studies.

Is it possible to find a gigabit Cisco switch sub $500 bucks say on ebay and if so what model should I be looking for?

gigabit on all ports or just a few for trunking? why do you need gigabit?

pwjohnston

schpenxel wrote: »

gigabit on all ports or just a few for trunking? why do you need gigabit?

Gigabit on all ports, but I only really need like 8 ports. I thought though the 24 or 48's would be more plentiful in the used bins.

I'm setting up a home NAS with OpenFiler which I'm going offset all my data there so I need/want fast transfer.

I'm probably going to end up getting one of these:

Newegg.com - Cisco Small Business SLM2008 10/100/1000Mbps Switch 8 x RJ45 8K MAC Address Table - Switches

But I thought if I could get a real cisco switch with the IOS that basically forces me to use it to make changes and would help with my tests.

I'm not the cisco guy at my work so every little bit helps.

wastedtime

From my understanding the Cisco small business switches don't use a CLI interface (although I am sure they are still great switches) so if you are wanting a gigabit switch that you can use the CLI on I would recommend a 3508 XL with 8 1000Base-T GBICs. that is going to cost about $100 for the switch and ~$200 for 8 of the GBICs.

ncsugrad2002

wastedtime wrote: »

From my understanding the Cisco small business switches don't use a CLI interface (although I am sure they are still great switches) so if you are wanting a gigabit switch that you can use the CLI on I would recommend a 3508 XL with 8 1000Base-T GBICs. that is going to cost about $100 for the switch and ~$200 for 8 of the GBICs.

I agree. Probably the cheapest way to go for what you want.

Also, the GBIC's are VERY cheap on eBay. there are some going for under $10 right now.

exx1976

pwjohnston wrote: »

Gigabit on all ports, but I only really need like 8 ports. I thought though the 24 or 48's would be more plentiful in the used bins.

I'm setting up a home NAS with OpenFiler which I'm going offset all my data there so I need/want fast transfer.

I'm probably going to end up getting one of these:

Newegg.com - Cisco Small Business SLM2008 10/100/1000Mbps Switch 8 x RJ45 8K MAC Address Table - Switches

But I thought if I could get a real cisco switch with the IOS that basically forces me to use it to make changes and would help with my tests.

I'm not the cisco guy at my work so every little bit helps.

You might also consider checking some of the places that sell refurb Cisco equipment. World Data Products comes to mind, but I'm sure there a many, many others.

And, as others have said, eBay is also a great place to look.

Forsaken_GA

If your price range is 500 and under, and you only need 8 ports, look at getting a a 3550-12T, 10 gige ports, 2 gbic ports. The ones currently (as I type this) on ebay are way overpriced, but you can generally find them for under 500. I personally think this is the best option, as it gives you native gige ports, plus gives you a layer 3 switch if you want to continue past CCNA level studies

apd123

wastedtime wrote: »

From my understanding the Cisco small business switches don't use a CLI interface (although I am sure they are still great switches) so if you are wanting a gigabit switch that you can use the CLI on I would recommend a 3508 XL with 8 1000Base-T GBICs. that is going to cost about $100 for the switch and ~$200 for 8 of the GBICs.

It is my experience that you should not be so sure.

wastedtime

apd123 wrote: »

It is my experience that you should not be so sure.

I am just trying to give Cisco the benefit of the doubt. That’s all.

desertmouse

the Cisco "Small Business" switches are lets just say, less than ideal. They use funky names for everything, the web interface is hokey, and the just generally suck. Although this is of course just my opinion - but I have deployed a few of these and stopped. If you weren't going to use it for Cisco studies I'd say get HP instead. Sorry to derail thread. Just don't say nobody warned ya...

pwjohnston

desertmouse wrote: »

the Cisco "Small Business" switches are lets just say, less than ideal. They use funky names for everything, the web interface is hokey, and the just generally suck. Although this is of course just my opinion - but I have deployed a few of these and stopped. If you weren't going to use it for Cisco studies I'd say get HP instead. Sorry to derail thread. Just don't say nobody warned ya...

Just to be clear, I think there was some confusion above. I need a gigabit switch for my home LAN. I was going to buy the Linksys/Cisco listed above *just* to do the job. I had not planned on using it for any of the Cisco tests.

But then I thought, if I'm spending the money and I need the experience maybe I should look into getting a real Cisco switch.

ncsugrad2002

pwjohnston wrote: »

Just to be clear, I think there was some confusion above. I need a gigabit switch for my home LAN. I was going to buy the Linksys/Cisco listed above *just* to do the job. I had not planned on using it for any of the Cisco tests.

But then I thought, if I'm spending the money and I need the experience maybe I should look into getting a real Cisco switch.

Are you sure you can utilize a gigabit switch? I see a lot of people buy these expensive/super fast switches only to realize something else (hard drives usually) ends up being a bottleneck and can't get anywhere near the transfer rates they thought they could.

But yeah.. the one everyone has been suggesting earlier in this thread is a good switch and within budget. Why not just go for that one?

pwjohnston

ncsugrad2002 wrote: »

Are you sure you can utilize a gigabit switch? I see a lot of people buy these expensive/super fast switches only to realize something else (hard drives usually) ends up being a bottleneck and can't get anywhere near the transfer rates they thought they could.

But yeah.. the one everyone has been suggesting earlier in this thread is a good switch and within budget. Why not just go for that one?

I am sure that testing my old unit doesn't work as a Media Server with Openfiler.
Openfiler - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I currently have Openfiler 2.3 on an old Athlon 1.3Ghz processor with 768Mb DDR-2100 and 2x 500gb IDE drives in a RAID 1.

This setup is being used ONLY so I can get comfortable with openfiler and to try and determine the best path.

I would LIKE to try and put open filer on this:
Newegg.com - acer Aspire Easystore H340 Intel Atom 1.6Ghz 2GB 1TB GBLAN 4 Bay Hotswap Windows Home Server - Server Systems

In a RAID 10. It would have 4x 7200 RPM SATA drives and 2gb DDR2 667, but an Atom 230. I don't think the process will be that big of a problem though.

It comes with a 10/100/1000 nic. Right now the test system hiccups, but the only thing that maxes out is the RAM. It's not really being pushed though.

pwjohnston

Ohhh what about this?

Cisco Catalyst 2940 - Find lowest price on Cisco Catalyst 2940 8-Port Ethernet Switch (WS-C2940-8TT-S) at Shopping.com

Cisco Catalyst 2940 8-Port Ethernet Switch (WS-C2940-8TT-S)

he Cisco Catalyst 2940 Series switches are small, standalone, managed switches with eight Fast Ethernet ports and a single integrated Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet uplink. The switches are designed to be used outside the wiring closet in the end-user workspace, and feature a durable metal shell, no fan for silent operation, easy wall or under-the-desk mounting, a security lock slot to prevent theft, and an available cable guard to secure the Ethernet cables and switch

ncsugrad2002

Is there a particular reason you're avoiding the suggestions made earlier? They're cheaper and more flexible.

pwjohnston

ncsugrad2002 wrote: »

Are you sure you can utilize a gigabit switch? I see a lot of people buy these expensive/super fast switches only to realize something else (hard drives usually) ends up being a bottleneck and can't get anywhere near the transfer rates they thought they could.

Oh ya I forgot to mention that I am considering getting a HW RAID on a new dual core system too. I'm def not going to go SAS unless I found some good drives dirt cheap. And I don't think SAS and cheap go in the same sentence.

I'm really trying to go the more compact route.

pwjohnston

ncsugrad2002 wrote: »

Is there a particular reason you're avoiding the suggestions made earlier? They're cheaper and more flexible.

No, I just was digging around. Well no on the 3508 XL with 8 1000Base-T GBICs, the 3550-12T however, the cheapest I've found it for has been $650 and that seemed to be the exception. Generally around $1200.

ncsugrad2002

pwjohnston wrote: »

No, I just was digging around. Well no on the 3508 XL with 8 1000Base-T GBICs, the 3550-12T however, the cheapest I've found it for has been $650 and that seemed to be the exception. Generally around $1200.

yea the 3550 is a layer 3 switch.. they aren't cheap. but the other one should do what you need i would think

wastedtime

Well if you don't need more then a port or 2 that is gigabit and you are looking at cisco certs. A 2950T-24 type wouldn't be bad and you should be able to do it for less then 200. It has 2 Gigabit ports and if I am not mistaken it uses the enhanced memory image.

pwjohnston

wastedtime wrote: »

Well if you don't need more then a port or 2 that is gigabit and you are looking at cisco certs. A 2950T-24 type wouldn't be bad and you should be able to do it for less then 200. It has 2 Gigabit ports and if I am not mistaken it uses the enhanced memory image.

Oh crap I didn't realize was only on the uplink. nevermind.

mikej412

Cisco Catalyst Switch Guide pdf

Switch Performance pdf on the Cisco Partner Central Portable Product Sheets web page.

pwjohnston

mikej412 wrote: »

Cisco Catalyst Switch Guide pdf

Switch Performance pdf on the Cisco Partner Central Portable Product Sheets web page.

Sweet, thanks.