Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler 16-port gigabit switch recommendation

Does anyone have a model of gigabit switch to recommend? I'm using a D-Link right now, but its fan is dying. It has been for a while, but now I think the unit is starting to overheat, and I have to turn it off, then back on to get my internet connection going again. I mean, I've had to do that in the past, but now it seems to be every few days. The fan was always too loud for my tastes, anyway, even though it's tucked back in a closet-type space. Sooo... I'd prefer a gigabit switch that doesn't need fans to cool it.

16 ports is plenty, but I don't think I can go with less than that. I'm not done wiring to all of the rooms in the house yet.

I'm having trouble finding reviews.

You're going to have trouble finding a fan-free 16 port gigE switch. Awhile back, I was at a lan party with a pair of 8 port fanless switches. They couldn't take having 8 connections to each, and both overheated.

Ouch, that sucks. All right, so fanless is the dream, but I suppose I'll ask for ANY recommendations, then.

Netgear or Linksys. I hate D-Link. Look for a metal case, if possible, you'll get better heat dissipation off of that. And be ready to pay--with gigE switches, you get what you pay for. I mean, you don't exactly have to go Cisco, but... HP might be worth a shot, although they may be 'spensive. And possibly loud.

I personally have had just as bad of luck with Netgear and Linksys as I have with D-Link. Maybe I'm cursed. Who's voodooing me? I'll still check out what they offer.

Oh yeah, I have had pretty good luck with Netgear gig-E switches, now that I think about it. Not a bad product--it could be the size matters. Once they're in a 1U case, it helps with cooling. Mainly since you can fit a fan in.

Newegg.com has a decent selection for a fairly low amount of money. Some reviews there, although I'd take them with a grain of salt.

It really depends on what you're doing with the switch--are you saturating all 16 ports?

No, I'm not saturating anything at this point. I want to have the network in place for when (or if) I have LAN parties, HD media streaming around the house (if Managed Copy ever happens), or whatever else. I can put up with having to reset this switch for a little while longer, until I find the right successor.

Which model(s) of Netgear have you had experience with?

I think it was a GS516, but don't quote me on that. Also a GS524, possibly. I'd have to look on my desk at the office... The second was definitely a managed layer 2 switch; the first probably was, as well, although I didn't know how to use it at the time.

Thanks. I'll probably end up trying a Netgear.

Note of caution: both were used in racks with equipment that was much noisier than they were, so I'm not sure about noise levels.