What POE Switch Do you use? Looking for Advice.

[nbstl68]

I finally bought a computer, going to use BI...Now I need a POE switch for my cameras (and other things)...And this is where I'm a bit nervous..I have never used a switch before and looking for some advice here.

What types \ brands of switches do some of you currently have in place?
Are the bigger commercial switches much more complicated to set up, (like Cisco) and use that the smaller (like 8 port Linksys) consumer models that have nice web user interfaces?


In my case I'll eventually have 12+ POE cameras, probably 4MP. In addition to using it for the cameras and BI computer, I'd also like to use just one switch for all things home networked from a central location. This would be 1 DSL modem\router for internet, 2 computers, a couple of TVs, 2 Android set top boxes, 1 IP phone and a DirecTV internet connection.

So to that end I've been looking at 24 port (or even 48 port as some are so cheap so why not?) used POE switches on eBay. Some examples:
Extreme Networks Summit X450E-24P 24-Port PoE Gigabit Ethernet Switch
or
Linksys SRW248G4
or
Cisco WS-C3524-PWR-XL-EN Catalyst 3500

I can get these pretty darn cheap on eBay but these are "commercial \ business" switches and I'm concerned I would not have the skill to set up \ configure and manage one of these without a pretty web user interface. Also these are older switches no longer supported by the mfgs. in most cases, with the exception of the Extreme Networks Summit switch.

Has anyone had experience with such switches as those above to tell me if anything like these would be a good purchase decision or would using these be getting in way over my head?


Also I was considering connecting multiple 8 port consumer switches like this if I can get them cheap enough.
Netgear 8-Port Gigabit Switch

Is connecting multiple switches a good idea or a bad idea?

Is a "managed" switch a better route than an "un-managed" switch, or is that just more complexity I don't need?

Are Gigabit speed ports needed with this many devices?

Any tips, direction or other suggestions on the above choices or other options from those experienced with using switches would be appreciated.

Is there maybe a "beginner's guide to switches 101" on the site somewhere I missed in my searches?

 

[bp2008]

A "managed switch" is just a switch with a web interface and configuration options. You don't really need this. Sometimes it can be useful to look at port statistics or reboot the switch remotely, but you can usually get away without this.

The thing you need to be aware of with the really large PoE switches is that they are ... large ... and they have amazingly noisy fans in them. If you are putting this anywhere that continuous noise would be a problem, don't use a large switch. Use multiple smaller switches that don't make noise. That may mean only 8 PoE ports per switch, and a bit more clutter, but no noise.

You definitely want computers to all be connected to gigabit ports. Many PoE switches have few or no gigabit ports, so keep this in mind. You may need yet another switch that has gigabit capability to link everything else together.

 

[jasauders]

As far as 8 port switches go...

I use this at home. My dad also uses this same switch.

My in laws use this switch.

Both are very quiet/pretty much entirely silent. We've had no problems with either. The BV Tech is a slightly larger switch, but uses a regular power cord. The TrendNET is a smaller switch, but with an equal-sized power brick.

 

[bp2008]

There are some slightly more cost-effective 9 port PoE switches (8 poe ports, 1 extra to uplink to a gigabit router or switch)

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=9+poe+switch

Do take note of the maximum power capability of any PoE switch, sometimes called the power budget. You usually can't go over the power budget with fixed cameras because they don't draw enough power, but if you start adding PTZs to the mix, it is something to pay attention to.

 

[nbstl68]

I was looking at the budget on these...the commercial ones all have a lot of power..15.3W per port across all 24 or 48 usually....I have not looked at individual cameras requirements yet but I was assuming typical fixed lense cameras with IR running would all use less than 15W each.
I believe some PTZs like the 10x bullet one people talk about a lot here may even work.
Sounded like I'd have to link in a POE plus switch or injector to a line if I did do a bigger PTZ at some point.
Can you to a POE+ injector on an existing POE port or would that blow up or something with two sources of power being applied?

I did not consider the loud fan factor of the bigger units...Was just wondering how they work or what I'd need to know to set them up properly without a nice user interface...sounded like you may need ot know some programming language or something for some of these.

But it would be nice to have everything cleanly working and managed from one unit if possible.

So no problem stringing multiple smaller POE switches together then?

 

[bp2008]

You don't need to know anything special to use a managed switch. Just don't mess with their settings and they will work like any unmanaged switch.

Fixed cameras usually take between 3 and 9 watts (less during the day as the IR LEDs are off) depending on how much IR they have built in. PTZs easily take 13+ watts.

As long as the PoE switch is standard compliant (802.3af / 802.3at) then it won't send power to a device that doesn't want it. So yes, you could attach a PoE+ injector to a normal PoE port. The normal PoE port would not provide power, but the injector would.

You can daisy chain switches together if you like. Just add up all the network traffic that needs to flow in and out of any particular port and make sure it doesn't come close to the port's capacity, which will either be 100 Mbps or 1000 Mbps. You don't really need to worry about coming near 1000 Mbps with IP cameras, but you can go well over 100 Mbps with a large install.

 

[nayr]

im using a powerdsine 24 port HiPoe midspan (9024g) I got used off ebay for $100.. it can do over 30w per port, supports GigE.. its going into a 48 port managed dlink switch.

generally branching switches is a bad idea, better to have a single floor switch so you have guaranteed throughput between any 2 ports at full speed.. also makes it easier to keep the network online w/a UPS

 

[FrankOceanXray]

Wow. That seems like a sweet one nayr! I just purchased the this from Amazon. Got a few good reviews and all one package solution.. the one you say is Gigabit and all.. I like overkill!

 

[nbstl68]

im using a powerdsine 24 port HiPoe midspan (9024g)

Thanks @nayre...I see one now for $120 (..more of the same model are like double+ for some reason)...def affordable solution at that price.

How's the fan noise on this type of unit?
bp2008 mentioned the big switches can be pretty loud

What exactly is "Midspan"?
I Googled it and basically says a poe switch...which is what I want...but I also read this about it: "This will allow you to keep your business switch for your IP needs and supplement it with best-in-class midspan technology to power the endpoints"
That kind of implied to me I need to have another switch before it to connect to it. T
Is that true, or is this something I can use stand alone for my solution?

 

[bp2008]

generally branching switches is a bad idea, better to have a single floor switch so you have guaranteed throughput between any 2 ports at full speed.. also makes it easier to keep the network online w/a UPS

Haha, yes, it would be easier to keep my network online with UPS power if I didn't have switches everywhere. My internet modem, router, servers, and 24 port non-poe switch run off one UPS. This is connected to another switch in the opposite corner of the room that is right next to the cat5e cables I ran under the house when I bought the place. One of those cables goes to a switch in a closet next at the other end of the house. This switch is then connected to the big noisy netgear PoE switch in my garage. Every one of these switches has to have a UPS in order for the network to stay online during a power outage. So for traffic to get from my cameras to the Blue Iris server, it all has to pass through 4 switches! Yet it works like a charm

- - - Updated - - -

That kind of implied to me I need to have another switch before it to connect to it. T
Is that true, or is this something I can use stand alone for my solution?

You can use it without another switch. Haha whoopsie. I didn't look closely at the pictures, and it looked like it was actually a switch itself, but now looking at the pictures it is clear it is not as the 24 port unit has 48 RJ45 jacks which are clearly labeled "Data In" and "Data & Power Out".

 

[nayr]

MidSpan requires a switch, it is just a big honkin managed power injector..

The midspan is the loudest thing in my server room, but thats not because its nessicary loud.. its because I got rid of everything else louder than it as they were too loud.. it sounds like a PC running, but nothing like a 1U turbo jet server.. I had an old 48 port 3com GigE floor switch, it used 150w of power and was the loudest thing in there, when I replaced it with a 48 port dlink that took like 20w of power the only thing left that you could tell was making any noise was the midspan.. i would not put one in my bedroom, but if you have a wiring closet I would not expect it to be annoying with the door closed.

 

[PSPCommOp]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Linksys-Cisco-SRW224-24-Port-10-100-2-Port-Gigabit-Switch-w-Webview-/281932438045?hash=item41a47b9a1d:g:uEcAAOSwB4NWu5Yn

I have this but mine has 4 Gigabit ports, not 2.

Works great so far, I've only found one port that doesn't work. I have 5 cameras, one PoE line for external IR illuminator on the 10/100's and 2 of my gigabit ports are used (one for BI PC, the other to the router). No hiccups so far, only complaint is it is LOUD.
Its set up in my laundry room and away from living areas so it isn't an issue but there is a noticeable whine as you open the door to enter.

I like BP's idea of multiple switches, but I am also very happy I went with the 24 port (need to give Nayr credit as his posts in other threads made me rethink what a bigger switch can offer) because I'm running lines to each room now for various smart TV's, streaming devices, etc. Its def nice having the ability to branch out instead of being upset I need to buy another piece of hardware.

It also wasn't hard to set up at all, just logged into it like I log into a camera. Found some youtube videos to help explain how different functions and features work and I'm slowly building up to putting the cameras on their own separate VLAN for security purposes.

 

[nbstl68]

So with a midspan I'd buy a non-poe switch...then also the midspan poe switch to power it?
Is there an advantage of doing that over just a POE switch?

 

[bp2008]

So with a midspan I'd buy a non-poe switch...then also the midspan poe switch to power it?
Is there an advantage of doing that over just a POE switch?

I don't see much of an advantage. Those midspans look like they have higher power budgets but that isn't usually very useful.

 

[nayr]

depends on how big of a trunk switch you need.. I needed 48 ports, and for a 48port poe switch I was looking at a sizable chunk of change.. a 48 port trunk switch with a 24 port PoE+ midspan covers my needs and I managed to accomplish it for ~$160 out the door.. it let me pick whatever switch I wanted instead of being forced to use some old power sucking dinosaur that sounds like a jet.

 

[nbstl68]

$160 for both the switch and the midspan? That would be a deal.

So If I read correctly a couple advantages would be that a non-poe switch and the POE \ POE+ midspan together would use LESS power and produce LESS fan noise than a stand alone POE Switch, yes?
That would be worth looking into if I'm stating that correctly.

 

[mycoma]

I have used these, nice and quiet, no fan.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H58P8RU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[nayr]

those cheap enterprise switches you find used off ebay are usually quite hogs when it comes to power consumption.. I am using a DGS-1210-48 which has a 33W TDP and a mere 12W idle.. the old 3com 48port GigE managed switch I had used 120W at idle.. thats not even including PoE

Got the Dlink for $60 and the PowerDsine for $100, both off ebay.. but I knew what I was looking for and waited for a good opportunity..

I have another 12 port PowerDsine Midspan, it only supports 14W PoE and FastEthernet.. I used it for years before upgrading because I ran out of ports and needed GigE PoE for WiFi, 6012 iirc is the model number, I think you can find those for like $25 now days and they would work well for a network that's only PoE needs were IPCameras.

I have 2 rack mount cabinets in a purpose built room, so adding another device just for PoE was fine by me and gives me some flexability on port usage.. for example I have some PoE powered IR lights, but they dont have a network connection, so they dont waste a switch port..

 

[fenderman]

those cheap enterprise switches you find used off ebay are usually quite hogs when it comes to power consumption.. I am using a DGS-1210-48 which has a 33W TDP and a mere 12W idle.. the old 3com 48port GigE managed switch I had used 120W at idle.. thats not even including PoE

Great point. Power consumption is often overlooked. On devices that are on 24/7 its can make a huge difference.

 

[nayr]

also helps your runtime on battery backup dramatically.. just tossing out that old switch gave me alot more runtime with the power savings I got.. my ALPR server, NAS and other devices safely shutdown immediately.. leaving just the NVR, Modem, Switch and Midspan to ride it out until the battery is flat.. I more than doubled my runtime by changing my switch out.