[non-Linux] Recommendations for managed switches

[Bob Bell]

On Fri, Oct 17, 2003 at 10:12:43AM -0400, bscott at ntisys.com wrote:
>   I'm just curious if anyone here has any recent opinions on managed
> Ethernet switches?

I hadn't touched HP Procurve switches before I started working for HP.
However, my impression of them has been pretty positive.  They meet all
of the requirements you list below.  The only caveat I've found, though,
is that they don't seem to support jumbo frames, so if that's an
unmentioned "must" for you, you may need to look elsewhere.

>   In this case, we sill be starting at around 48 ports, but would like to be
> able to scale down to 24 and up to 96, as needed.  10/100 for most ports,
> with a few gigabit ports for servers and such.  Rackmount, of course.
> 
>   Plain old Ethernet (gigabit, of course) is an acceptable interconnect
> between switch modules, although something a bit more sophisticated is
> preferred (e.g., stackable with proprietary interconnect, or a modular
> chassis).  That's not a requirement, though, so if it's significantly
> cheaper to go with multiple independently managed units, we'll do that.
> 
>   Management, via both local serial port, and/or some kind of IP-based
> interface (web, Telnet, SSH), is a requirement.  Unmanaged switches need not
> apply.  Anything that requires proprietary software that only runs on
> Microsoft platforms is right out.
> 
>   I've got opinions and experience of my own, but nothing recent on managed
> gigabit.  And I've got lots of opinions from other forums.  But I know there
> are a lot of knowledgeable people in this forum whose opinions I respect
> (even Derek's :), so I figured I would ask here, too.
> 
>   My apologies for the non-Linux content.  The networks in question do have
> Linux servers on them.  :-)

-- 
Bob Bell