@EngChiSTH
Thanks for the feedback! I hesitated when I asked about the Brocade being the "best cheap used enterprise 10G switch in 2021" because I know that such a thing doesn't actually exist. Obviously, my specific use-case will dictate what's "best" for me, and what's best for me might not be a good choice for someone else.
The main problem I'm facing is my lack of knowledge/experience, as I'm basically diving headfirst into this world starting from scratch. I have virtually zero networking knowledge. I'm in the process of setting up a homelab to learn more about a variety of IT-related topics and, hopefully, launch an IT career.
As of now, my network consists of a dumb switch plugged into an HP T730 Plus running pfSense. I've recently acquired a half rack and a couple of Dell PowerEdge servers, one of which will operate primarily as a NAS and the other a virtualization server. I have a Windows/Linux PC and a Mac mini that will regularly interact with these servers over the network. My rack sits right next to the desk that houses the Mac and PC, so I won't need to run wire more than a few feet.
I don't have a specific requirement for my network to be 10G, but it seems like it would improve my experience while also compelling me to learn a bit more about the associated tech. I don't know enough at this point to care about the difference between fiber and copper, but my budget is fairly limited - I'd like to keep my spending to a few hundred dollars to begin. I already have 10G SFP+ NICs in the Dell servers, but that budget will need to include a switch + cables + transceivers + a NIC for my Windows/Linux desktop (I'm not worried about the Thunderbolt 3 - SFP+ adapter that the Mac mini will require yet, as that will probably cost half as much as everything else combined). Based on that description, the MikroTik switches seem like a good fit, but I'd prefer to use an enterprise switch with full L3 capabilities.
From what I've read so far, I see no reason why a Brocade ICX switch won't suit my needs; I'm just trying to be (at least a little bit more) thorough before I pull the trigger. Thanks again!
Thanks for the feedback! I hesitated when I asked about the Brocade being the "best cheap used enterprise 10G switch in 2021" because I know that such a thing doesn't actually exist. Obviously, my specific use-case will dictate what's "best" for me, and what's best for me might not be a good choice for someone else.
The main problem I'm facing is my lack of knowledge/experience, as I'm basically diving headfirst into this world starting from scratch. I have virtually zero networking knowledge. I'm in the process of setting up a homelab to learn more about a variety of IT-related topics and, hopefully, launch an IT career.
As of now, my network consists of a dumb switch plugged into an HP T730 Plus running pfSense. I've recently acquired a half rack and a couple of Dell PowerEdge servers, one of which will operate primarily as a NAS and the other a virtualization server. I have a Windows/Linux PC and a Mac mini that will regularly interact with these servers over the network. My rack sits right next to the desk that houses the Mac and PC, so I won't need to run wire more than a few feet.
I don't have a specific requirement for my network to be 10G, but it seems like it would improve my experience while also compelling me to learn a bit more about the associated tech. I don't know enough at this point to care about the difference between fiber and copper, but my budget is fairly limited - I'd like to keep my spending to a few hundred dollars to begin. I already have 10G SFP+ NICs in the Dell servers, but that budget will need to include a switch + cables + transceivers + a NIC for my Windows/Linux desktop (I'm not worried about the Thunderbolt 3 - SFP+ adapter that the Mac mini will require yet, as that will probably cost half as much as everything else combined). Based on that description, the MikroTik switches seem like a good fit, but I'd prefer to use an enterprise switch with full L3 capabilities.
From what I've read so far, I see no reason why a Brocade ICX switch won't suit my needs; I'm just trying to be (at least a little bit more) thorough before I pull the trigger. Thanks again!
Last edited: