Brocade ICX Series (cheap & powerful 10gbE/40gbE switching)

[thimplicity]

@thimplicity

both ICX6450-24P and 7250-24P are nice. Just keep in mind that 6450-24P is like half the price of a 7250-24P (24 port SKUs are usually more expensive on the second hand market, because they need less power).

If you don't care about money, take the 7250-24P. Otherwise you're most likely going to be happy with the 6450-24P, except if you're planning to do weird network stunts... But also, if you were planning weird networks stunts, you probably wouldn't be asking whether you should choose the 7250 or 6450

I care about the money, but I also want to use the switch for a while, so have it "future-proof" to an extend is important. For me power consumption is also important and to have a balance between that and what requirements I have. I tend to think big and then do not use all of it. Trusting the RUCKUS documentation the difference is 21W idle vs 50W idle for the PoE models, which translates into $33 additional cost per year for where I live.

I do not think I am planning any stunts beyond VLANs and inner-VLAN routing, which requires L3 capabilities, that the other contenders in my case (Ubiquiti and Mikrotik) do not seem to have to the extend the Brocades do.

Another challenge I need to think about is space/size and heat dissipation. My media enclosure that will house the PoE switch is 14 inches wide and the 7250 is 11 inches and the 6550 9.5 inches deep. I think I will continue to use the fans you can see below, but cut a whole in the door and have the bottom one suck "cold" air in and the top one push warm air out. See a picture of the current setup (also with an ICX switch) below:

 

[KaneTW]

I had similar issues going between an XL710 in 4x10 mode and a 7250 using a generic breakout DAC that was listed as "compatible" by the eBay seller. I switched it out for an Intel-coded 10Gtek QSFP+ 40G SR4 optic, MTP to 4xLC breakout fiber, and Brocade SFP+ optics on the switch side. So far the CRC errors have disappeared. I also have an Intel coded breakout DAC coming soon from FS.com that I'm going to try as well.

Interesting. I just finished my FPGA sniffer and with it in the data path (which is nothing more than two PHYs directly linked together), I had connectivity.

 

[SmashedSqwurl]

Interesting. I just finished my FPGA sniffer and with it in the data path (which is nothing more than two PHYs directly linked together), I had connectivity.

One thing I noticed was that it received packets just fine, but sending packets was a CRC errorfest. My (mostly baseless) theory right now is that the card has a hard time figuring out TX power with generic DACs.

 

[KaneTW]

One thing I noticed was that it received packets just fine, but sending packets was a CRC errorfest. My (mostly baseless) theory right now is that the card has a hard time figuring out TX power with generic DACs.

For me it's the opposite. Receiving (and only with 802.1Q!) is an error fest, transmitting is ok. Doesn't help the Intel debug tools for this card are glitchy as ****.

 

[kpfleming]

I care about the money, but I also want to use the switch for a while, so have it "future-proof" to an extend is important. For me power consumption is also important and to have a balance between that and what requirements I have. I tend to think big and then do not use all of it. Trusting the RUCKUS documentation the difference is 21W idle vs 50W idle for the PoE models, which translates into $33 additional cost per year for where I live.

I do not think I am planning any stunts beyond VLANs and inner-VLAN routing, which requires L3 capabilities, that the other contenders in my case (Ubiquiti and Mikrotik) do not seem to have to the extend the Brocades do.

Another challenge I need to think about is space/size and heat dissipation. My media enclosure that will house the PoE switch is 14 inches wide and the 7250 is 11 inches and the 6550 9.5 inches deep. I think I will continue to use the fans you can see below, but cut a whole in the door and have the bottom one suck "cold" air in and the top one push warm air out. See a picture of the current setup (also with an ICX switch) below:

View attachment 30859

I would not expect either a 6450-24P or a 7250-24P to survive in that enclosure. They need quite significant amounts of airflow.

 

[thimplicity]

I would not expect either a 6450-24P or a 7250-24P to survive in that enclosure. They need quite significant amounts of airflow.

This is a great point. If I choose one of the two, I would go with the 6450 in the enclosure. Do you think the risk is too high? The current fanless brocade is doing well, but also only has half the ports.

 

[KaneTW]

Update on the XL710 issue: only particular packet sizes work. (with ping -s, so wire size is a bit different)

with tagged VLAN 30, these are the packets that work

19 20 21 22 27 28 29 30 35 36 37 38 43 44 45 46 51 52 53 54 59 60 61 62 67 68 69 70 75 76 77 78 83 84 85 86 91 92 93 94 99 100 101 102 107 108 109 110 115 116 117 118 123 124 125 126 131 132 133 134 139 140 141 142 147 148 149 150 155 156 157 158 163 164 165 166 171 172 173 174 179 180 181 182 187 188 189 190 195 196 197 198 203 204 205 206 211 212 213 214 219 220 221 222 227 228 229 230 235 236 237 238 243 244 245 246 251 252 253 254 259 260 261 262 267 268 269 270 275 276 277 278 283 284 285 286 291 292 293 294 299 300 301 302 307 308 309 310 315 316 317 318 323 324 325 326 331 332 333 334 339 340 341 342 347 348 349 350 355 356 357 358 363 364 365 366 371 372 373 374 379 380 381 382 387 388 389 390 395 396 397 398 403 404 405 406 411 412 413 414 419 420 421 422 427 428 429 430 435 436 437 438 443 444 445 446 451 452 453 454 459 460 461 462 467 468 469 470 475 476 477 478 483 484 485 486 491 492 493 494 499 500 501 502 507 508 509 510 515 516 517 518 523 524 525 526 531 532 533 534 539 540 541 542 547 548 549 550 555 556 557 558 563 564 565 566 571 572 573 574 579 580 581 582 587 588 589 590 595 596 597 598 603 604 605 606 611 612 613 614 619 620 621 622 627 628 629 630 635 636 637 638 643 644 645 646 651 652 653 654 659 660 661 662 667 668 669 670 675 676 677 678 683 684 685 686 691 692 693 694 699 700 701 702 707 708 709 710 715 716 717 718 723 724 725 726 731 732 733 734 739 740 741 742 747 748 749 750 755 756 757 758 763 764 765 766 771 772 773 774 779 780 781 782 787 788 789 790 795 796 797 798 803 804 805 806 811 812 813 814 819 820 821 822 827 828 829 830 835 836 837 838 843 844 845 846 851 852 853 854 859 860 861 862 867 868 869 870 875 876 877 878 883 884 885 886 891 892 893 894 899 900 901 902 907 908 909 910 915 916 917 918 923 924 925 926 931 932 933 934 939 940 941 942 947 948 949 950 955 956 957 958 963 964 965 966 971 972 973 974 979 980 981 982 987 988 989 990 995 996 997 998 1003 1004 1005 1006 1011 1012 1013 1014 1019 1020 1021 1022 1027 1028 1029 1030 1035 1036 1037 1038 1043 1044 1045 1046 1051 1052 1053 1054 1059 1060 1061 1062 1067 1068 1069 1070 1075 1076 1077 1078 1083 1084 1085 1086 1091 1092 1093 1094 1099 1100 1101 1102 1107 1108 1109 1110 1115 1116 1117 1118 1123 1124 1125 1126 1131 1132 1133 1134 1139 1140 1141 1142 1147 1148 1149 1150 1155 1156 1157 1158 1163 1164 1165 1166 1171 1172 1173 1174 1179 1180 1181 1182 1187 1188 1189 1190 1195 1196 1197 1198 1203 1204 1205 1206 1211 1212 1213 1214 1219 1220 1221 1222 1227 1228 1229 1230 1235 1236 1237 1238 1243 1244 1245 1246 1251 1252 1253 1254 1259 1260 1261 1262 1267 1268 1269 1270 1275 1276 1277 1278 1283 1284 1285 1286 1291 1292 1293 1294 1299 1300 1301 1302 1307 1308 1309 1310 1315 1316 1317 1318 1323 1324 1325 1326 1331 1332 1333 1334 1339 1340 1341 1342 1347 1348 1349 1350 1355 1356 1357 1358 1363 1364 1365 1366 1371 1372 1373 1374 1379 1380 1381 1382 1387 1388 1389 1390 1395 1396 1397 1398 1403 1404 1405 1406 1411 1412 1413 1414 1419 1420 1421 1422 1427 1428 1429 1430 1435 1436 1437 1438 1443 1444 1445 1446 1451 1452 1453 1454 1459 1460 1461 1462 1467 1468 1469 1470

with untagged VLAN (but still 30 on the switch)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 23 24 25 26 31 32 33 34 39 40 41 42 47 48 49 50 55 56 57 58 63 64 65 66 71 72 73 74 79 80 81 82 87 88 89 90 95 96 97 98 103 104 105 106 111 112 113 114 119 120 121 122 127 128 129 130 135 136 137 138 143 144 145 146 151 152 153 154 159 160 161 162 167 168 169 170 175 176 177 178 183 184 185 186 191 192 193 194 199 200 201 202 207 208 209 210 215 216 217 218 223 224 225 226 231 232 233 234 239 240 241 242 247 248 249 250 255 256 257 258 263 264 265 266 271 272 273 274 279 280 281 282 287 288 289 290 295 296 297 298 303 304 305 306 311 312 313 314 319 320 321 322 327 328 329 330 335 336 337 338 343 344 345 346 351 352 353 354 359 360 361 362 367 368 369 370 375 376 377 378 383 384 385 386 391 392 393 394 399 400 401 402 407 408 409 410 415 416 417 418 423 424 425 426 431 432 433 434 439 440 441 442 447 448 449 450 455 456 457 458 463 464 465 466 471 472 473 474 479 480 481 482 487 488 489 490 495 496 497 498 503 504 505 506 511 512 513 514 519 520 521 522 527 528 529 530 535 536 537 538 543 544 545 546 551 552 553 554 559 560 561 562 567 568 569 570 575 576 577 578 583 584 585 586 591 592 593 594 599 600 601 602 607 608 609 610 615 616 617 618 623 624 625 626 631 632 633 634 639 640 641 642 647 648 649 650 655 656 657 658 663 664 665 666 671 672 673 674 679 680 681 682 687 688 689 690 695 696 697 698 703 704 705 706 711 712 713 714 719 720 721 722 727 728 729 730 735 736 737 738 743 744 745 746 751 752 753 754 759 760 761 762 767 768 769 770 775 776 777 778 783 784 785 786 791 792 793 794 799 800 801 802 807 808 809 810 815 816 817 818 823 824 825 826 831 832 833 834 839 840 841 842 847 848 849 850 855 856 857 858 863 864 865 866 871 872 873 874 879 880 881 882 887 888 889 890 895 896 897 898 903 904 905 906 911 912 913 914 919 920 921 922 927 928 929 930 935 936 937 938 943 944 945 946 951 952 953 954 959 960 961 962 967 968 969 970 975 976 977 978 983 984 985 986 991 992 993 994 999 1000 1001 1002 1007 1008 1009 1010 1015 1016 1017 1018 1023 1024 1025 1026 1031 1032 1033 1034 1039 1040 1041 1042 1047 1048 1049 1050 1055 1056 1057 1058 1063 1064 1065 1066 1071 1072 1073 1074 1079 1080 1081 1082 1087 1088 1089 1090 1095 1096 1097 1098 1103 1104 1105 1106 1111 1112 1113 1114 1119 1120 1121 1122 1127 1128 1129 1130 1135 1136 1137 1138 1143 1144 1145 1146 1151 1152 1153 1154 1159 1160 1161 1162 1167 1168 1169 1170 1175 1176 1177 1178 1183 1184 1185 1186 1191 1192 1193 1194 1199 1200 1201 1202 1207 1208 1209 1210 1215 1216 1217 1218 1223 1224 1225 1226 1231 1232 1233 1234 1239 1240 1241 1242 1247 1248 1249 1250 1255 1256 1257 1258 1263 1264 1265 1266 1271 1272 1273 1274 1279 1280 1281 1282 1287 1288 1289 1290 1295 1296 1297 1298 1303 1304 1305 1306 1311 1312 1313 1314 1319 1320 1321 1322 1327 1328 1329 1330 1335 1336 1337 1338 1343 1344 1345 1346 1351 1352 1353 1354 1359 1360 1361 1362 1367 1368 1369 1370 1375 1376 1377 1378 1383 1384 1385 1386 1391 1392 1393 1394 1399 1400 1401 1402 1407 1408 1409 1410 1415 1416 1417 1418 1423 1424 1425 1426 1431 1432 1433 1434 1439 1440 1441 1442 1447 1448 1449 1450 1455 1456 1457 1458 1463 1464 1465 1466 1471 1472 1473 1474 1475 1476 1477 1478 1479 1480 1481 1482 1483 1484 1485 1486 1487 1488 1489 1490 1491 1492 1493 1494 1495 1496 1497 1498

This is incredibly cursed.

 

[LodeRunner]

This is a great point. If I choose one of the two, I would go with the 6450 in the enclosure. Do you think the risk is too high? The current fanless brocade is doing well, but also only has half the ports.

To be perfectly honest, if that enclosure is in an area where noise doesn't matter (too much or at all), I'd just get a 1 or 2U vertical or horizontal mount and hang the switch that way.

Edit: here's an example of a 1u vertical from StarTech: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Mount-Patch-Panel-Bracket/dp/B0BM8YN69V

 

[SmashedSqwurl]

Update on the XL710 issue: only particular packet sizes work. (with ping -s, so wire size is a bit different)

with tagged VLAN 30, these are the packets that work

19 20 21 22 27 28 29 30 35 36 37 38 43 44 45 46 51 52 53 54 59 60 61 62 67 68 69 70 75 76 77 78 83 84 85 86 91 92 93 94 99 100 101 102 107 108 109 110 115 116 117 118 123 124 125 126 131 132 133 134 139 140 141 142 147 148 149 150 155 156 157 158 163 164 165 166 171 172 173 174 179 180 181 182 187 188 189 190 195 196 197 198 203 204 205 206 211 212 213 214 219 220 221 222 227 228 229 230 235 236 237 238 243 244 245 246 251 252 253 254 259 260 261 262 267 268 269 270 275 276 277 278 283 284 285 286 291 292 293 294 299 300 301 302 307 308 309 310 315 316 317 318 323 324 325 326 331 332 333 334 339 340 341 342 347 348 349 350 355 356 357 358 363 364 365 366 371 372 373 374 379 380 381 382 387 388 389 390 395 396 397 398 403 404 405 406 411 412 413 414 419 420 421 422 427 428 429 430 435 436 437 438 443 444 445 446 451 452 453 454 459 460 461 462 467 468 469 470 475 476 477 478 483 484 485 486 491 492 493 494 499 500 501 502 507 508 509 510 515 516 517 518 523 524 525 526 531 532 533 534 539 540 541 542 547 548 549 550 555 556 557 558 563 564 565 566 571 572 573 574 579 580 581 582 587 588 589 590 595 596 597 598 603 604 605 606 611 612 613 614 619 620 621 622 627 628 629 630 635 636 637 638 643 644 645 646 651 652 653 654 659 660 661 662 667 668 669 670 675 676 677 678 683 684 685 686 691 692 693 694 699 700 701 702 707 708 709 710 715 716 717 718 723 724 725 726 731 732 733 734 739 740 741 742 747 748 749 750 755 756 757 758 763 764 765 766 771 772 773 774 779 780 781 782 787 788 789 790 795 796 797 798 803 804 805 806 811 812 813 814 819 820 821 822 827 828 829 830 835 836 837 838 843 844 845 846 851 852 853 854 859 860 861 862 867 868 869 870 875 876 877 878 883 884 885 886 891 892 893 894 899 900 901 902 907 908 909 910 915 916 917 918 923 924 925 926 931 932 933 934 939 940 941 942 947 948 949 950 955 956 957 958 963 964 965 966 971 972 973 974 979 980 981 982 987 988 989 990 995 996 997 998 1003 1004 1005 1006 1011 1012 1013 1014 1019 1020 1021 1022 1027 1028 1029 1030 1035 1036 1037 1038 1043 1044 1045 1046 1051 1052 1053 1054 1059 1060 1061 1062 1067 1068 1069 1070 1075 1076 1077 1078 1083 1084 1085 1086 1091 1092 1093 1094 1099 1100 1101 1102 1107 1108 1109 1110 1115 1116 1117 1118 1123 1124 1125 1126 1131 1132 1133 1134 1139 1140 1141 1142 1147 1148 1149 1150 1155 1156 1157 1158 1163 1164 1165 1166 1171 1172 1173 1174 1179 1180 1181 1182 1187 1188 1189 1190 1195 1196 1197 1198 1203 1204 1205 1206 1211 1212 1213 1214 1219 1220 1221 1222 1227 1228 1229 1230 1235 1236 1237 1238 1243 1244 1245 1246 1251 1252 1253 1254 1259 1260 1261 1262 1267 1268 1269 1270 1275 1276 1277 1278 1283 1284 1285 1286 1291 1292 1293 1294 1299 1300 1301 1302 1307 1308 1309 1310 1315 1316 1317 1318 1323 1324 1325 1326 1331 1332 1333 1334 1339 1340 1341 1342 1347 1348 1349 1350 1355 1356 1357 1358 1363 1364 1365 1366 1371 1372 1373 1374 1379 1380 1381 1382 1387 1388 1389 1390 1395 1396 1397 1398 1403 1404 1405 1406 1411 1412 1413 1414 1419 1420 1421 1422 1427 1428 1429 1430 1435 1436 1437 1438 1443 1444 1445 1446 1451 1452 1453 1454 1459 1460 1461 1462 1467 1468 1469 1470

with untagged VLAN (but still 30 on the switch)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 23 24 25 26 31 32 33 34 39 40 41 42 47 48 49 50 55 56 57 58 63 64 65 66 71 72 73 74 79 80 81 82 87 88 89 90 95 96 97 98 103 104 105 106 111 112 113 114 119 120 121 122 127 128 129 130 135 136 137 138 143 144 145 146 151 152 153 154 159 160 161 162 167 168 169 170 175 176 177 178 183 184 185 186 191 192 193 194 199 200 201 202 207 208 209 210 215 216 217 218 223 224 225 226 231 232 233 234 239 240 241 242 247 248 249 250 255 256 257 258 263 264 265 266 271 272 273 274 279 280 281 282 287 288 289 290 295 296 297 298 303 304 305 306 311 312 313 314 319 320 321 322 327 328 329 330 335 336 337 338 343 344 345 346 351 352 353 354 359 360 361 362 367 368 369 370 375 376 377 378 383 384 385 386 391 392 393 394 399 400 401 402 407 408 409 410 415 416 417 418 423 424 425 426 431 432 433 434 439 440 441 442 447 448 449 450 455 456 457 458 463 464 465 466 471 472 473 474 479 480 481 482 487 488 489 490 495 496 497 498 503 504 505 506 511 512 513 514 519 520 521 522 527 528 529 530 535 536 537 538 543 544 545 546 551 552 553 554 559 560 561 562 567 568 569 570 575 576 577 578 583 584 585 586 591 592 593 594 599 600 601 602 607 608 609 610 615 616 617 618 623 624 625 626 631 632 633 634 639 640 641 642 647 648 649 650 655 656 657 658 663 664 665 666 671 672 673 674 679 680 681 682 687 688 689 690 695 696 697 698 703 704 705 706 711 712 713 714 719 720 721 722 727 728 729 730 735 736 737 738 743 744 745 746 751 752 753 754 759 760 761 762 767 768 769 770 775 776 777 778 783 784 785 786 791 792 793 794 799 800 801 802 807 808 809 810 815 816 817 818 823 824 825 826 831 832 833 834 839 840 841 842 847 848 849 850 855 856 857 858 863 864 865 866 871 872 873 874 879 880 881 882 887 888 889 890 895 896 897 898 903 904 905 906 911 912 913 914 919 920 921 922 927 928 929 930 935 936 937 938 943 944 945 946 951 952 953 954 959 960 961 962 967 968 969 970 975 976 977 978 983 984 985 986 991 992 993 994 999 1000 1001 1002 1007 1008 1009 1010 1015 1016 1017 1018 1023 1024 1025 1026 1031 1032 1033 1034 1039 1040 1041 1042 1047 1048 1049 1050 1055 1056 1057 1058 1063 1064 1065 1066 1071 1072 1073 1074 1079 1080 1081 1082 1087 1088 1089 1090 1095 1096 1097 1098 1103 1104 1105 1106 1111 1112 1113 1114 1119 1120 1121 1122 1127 1128 1129 1130 1135 1136 1137 1138 1143 1144 1145 1146 1151 1152 1153 1154 1159 1160 1161 1162 1167 1168 1169 1170 1175 1176 1177 1178 1183 1184 1185 1186 1191 1192 1193 1194 1199 1200 1201 1202 1207 1208 1209 1210 1215 1216 1217 1218 1223 1224 1225 1226 1231 1232 1233 1234 1239 1240 1241 1242 1247 1248 1249 1250 1255 1256 1257 1258 1263 1264 1265 1266 1271 1272 1273 1274 1279 1280 1281 1282 1287 1288 1289 1290 1295 1296 1297 1298 1303 1304 1305 1306 1311 1312 1313 1314 1319 1320 1321 1322 1327 1328 1329 1330 1335 1336 1337 1338 1343 1344 1345 1346 1351 1352 1353 1354 1359 1360 1361 1362 1367 1368 1369 1370 1375 1376 1377 1378 1383 1384 1385 1386 1391 1392 1393 1394 1399 1400 1401 1402 1407 1408 1409 1410 1415 1416 1417 1418 1423 1424 1425 1426 1431 1432 1433 1434 1439 1440 1441 1442 1447 1448 1449 1450 1455 1456 1457 1458 1463 1464 1465 1466 1471 1472 1473 1474 1475 1476 1477 1478 1479 1480 1481 1482 1483 1484 1485 1486 1487 1488 1489 1490 1491 1492 1493 1494 1495 1496 1497 1498

This is incredibly cursed.

The Intel-coded breakout DAC from FS.com is working like a charm: https://www.fs.com/products/36276.html

EDIT: I think it's likely I just had a bad cable to start with

 

[thimplicity]

To be perfectly honest, if that enclosure is in an area where noise doesn't matter (too much or at all), I'd just get a 1 or 2U vertical or horizontal mount and hang the switch that way.

Edit: here's an example of a 1u vertical from StarTech: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Mount-Patch-Panel-Bracket/dp/B0BM8YN69V

It is in the laundry room. Noise does not matter as much, but the switch would be kind of “in the way”. My current idea is to remove the switch from the enclosure and hang a 6U or 9U closed rack above the enclosure. The dryer “vents” to the outside of the house, so the room is not more humid than then rest of the house. This way I can move the switch in into the rack and also add a UPS. Another idea is to then use the added space to properly terminate all cables into a patch panel and then route the cables from their back out of the enclosure through the drywall (using this) into the rack. Does it make sense to put another patch panel into the rack or would you go from the enclosure panel directly into the switch?

 

[LodeRunner]

You could use a keystone panel with RJ45 keystone couplers and that also gives you fiber and coax options as well. How much slack do you have on those cables as pictured?

As far as an enclosure, because the ICX switches are F>R or R>F airflow, get one that mounts sideways, unless you get open frame and then it doesn’t matter as much.

 

[thimplicity]

You could use a keystone panel with RJ45 keystone couplers and that also gives you fiber and coax options as well. How much slack do you have on those cables as pictured?

As far as an enclosure, because the ICX switches are F>R or R>F airflow, get one that mounts sideways, unless you get open frame and then it doesn’t matter as much.

I dont have a ton of slack on those. They would maybe come down to half of the height of the enclosure.

 

[thimplicity]

Three more questions on the Brocade switches:

1. Do the Brocade switches need special SFP+ Fiber (OM4) transceivers? Can y'all recommend a brand or a model? I want to make two fiber runs between my laundry closet and the server rack room.
2. Is there a good tutorial on how to activate L3 inter-VLAN routing set up? Do I need RouterMode for that?
3. Could I update the Brocade ICX7150-C12P to the latest v9 firmware (is that the one with the updated Web GUI?) and is that recommended? I read somewhere that 8095 is best/more stable

Thanks!

 

[NablaSquaredG]

1. Do the Brocade switches need special SFP+ Fiber (OM4) transceivers? Can y'all recommend a brand or a model? I want to make two fiber runs between my laundry closet and the server rack room.

Nope. With newer firmware you can even enable optical monitoring for non-Brocade transceivers.

I usually go with 10GBase-LR transceivers because they can be found for very little money and single mode cable is cheaper than multimode.

1. Is there a good tutorial on how to activate L3 inner-VLAN routing set up? Do I need RouterMode for that?

you mean inter-vlan routing? not inner-vlan routing?

But yes, you need the router firmware.

1. Could I update the Brocade ICX7150-C12P to the latest v9 firmware (is that the one with the updated Web GUI?) and is that recommended? I read somewhere that 8095 is best/more stable

v9 doesn't seem to be particularly great firmware train. 08.00.95k is very solid.

Don't use the webinterface

 

[thimplicity]

Nope. With newer firmware you can even enable optical monitoring for non-Brocade transceivers.

I usually go with 10GBase-LR transceivers because they can be found for very little money and single mode cable is cheaper than multimode.

I have never used a fiber transceiver, can you recommend a specific brand? I think most articles I read online recommend multi mode. Will need to check again. My run will be about 12m.

you mean inter-vlan routing? not inner-vlan routing?

But yes, you need the router firmware.

Yes, sorry, corrected the typo. When I boot from the switch firmware into the router firmware, will I need to set all current VLAN settings again?

v9 doesn't seem to be particularly great firmware train. 08.00.95k is very solid.

Don't use the webinterface

ok, ok - point taken

 

[kpfleming]

I have never used a fiber transceiver, can you recommend a specific brand? I think most articles I read online recommend multi mode. Will need to check again. My run will be about 12m.

I use 10Gtek transceivers in my switches and they work very well, and are inexpensive.

If the run is only 12 meters, you'd be best to stick with multimode fiber, that's a very short run for singlemode fiber transceivers.

Also, your enclosure appears to be a Leviton Connected Home 'structured media center'; there are purpose-built patch panels and other accessories which mount directly onto the back panel. The simplest one you could use is probably the 12-port QuickPort bracket, which lets you use a variety of QuickPort connectors for terminating cables (there are Cat5/Cat6/fiber/etc. QuickPort connectors).

 

[KaneTW]

If the run is only 12 meters, you'd be best to stick with multimode fiber, that's a very short run for singlemode fiber transceivers.

Is it a cost thing, or do you need to toss an attenuator on the xcvr if you use SMF over short distances?

 

[NablaSquaredG]

or do you need to toss an attenuator on the xcvr if you use SMF over short distances?

not for the usual transceivers like LR4 / LR4 Lite. Might be the case for unusual stuff like ER4 / ZR4 etc.. though

Just look through the offers on ebay. I've got a good amount of those here: Infinera TOM-10GE-LRL 10GBase LR LC, 10 Km,1310 nm SFP+ transceiver 130-0300-001 | eBay
Infinera TOM-10GE-LRL for $1.50 per piece

10GBase-LR transceiver, needs SMF

 

[thimplicity]

The simplest one you could use is probably the 12-port QuickPort bracket, which lets you use a variety of QuickPort connectors for terminating cables (there are Cat5/Cat6/fiber/etc. QuickPort connectors).

lol, I literally put that in my Amazon cart yesterday

 

[ClintE]

Hello all,

Haven't posted for a long time since the 6610 is running so well.

Just wondering, is there a way to make one of the 40G breakout ports just straight 40G like the "plain" 40G ports?

TY!