Topic: Workgroup Switches

[MacGyver]

In all of the upgrades we have going on, we decided we were going to need some small switches for DMZ areas, etc.  I know from experience that the cheap desktop 4 port jobs tend to be lacking in throughput, so we stepped up a little and got some 8 port, PoE, Gigabit switches; so they say.  I slapped the first one in earlier today and throughput went from about 150 x 50 to 9 x 9.  Gigabit my @$$.

Any suggestions?  Small switch 4-8 ports, PoE is a nice add-on.  We don't anything too big due to space limitations in the work area.

[Marc Haycook]

I've got to say Meraki again. They have a great little switch with two PoE versions, depending on the total wattage requirements.

I've got this version with an AP and a VoIP phone using PoE.

https://meraki.cisco.com/products/switches/ms120-8

[MacGyver]

Doesn't their model require ongoing licensing fees?

[Marc Haycook]

It does... that's how they get you. The good thing is they aren't that expense if you just need smaller switches or APs. Even the firewalls aren't too bad.

The plus side, as long as that license is paid-up, they will provide replacement hardware in the event of a hardware failure.

On a side note, there are firmware hacks to get around the perpetual licensing - however I haven't done this or researched the topic.

[MacGyver]

I'm big on business models where people pay me every month, but tend to stay away from them when it's the other way around.   

It's not the one thing that's $6/month.  It's the trend of allowing one after another.  We've steered away from them.