Network switch with long support life

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jonobk

New Member
Feb 19, 2011
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Winnipeg
Hello,

I'm looking to purchase a new main switch for my home. My current tplink (24-1g and 4sfp+ ports) hasn't had a firmware update in ages.

I've been looking at replacements from Netgear, Ubiquti, and Mikrotic. However, I'm having a hard time determining how long they will receive updates for.

Any suggestions on which companies and product lines get regular patches for a long time.

Thanks,
Jonathan
 
R

RTM

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2014
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Mikrotik is pretty awesome at providing updates.
I can't find an exact policy or page that states how long to expect firmware updates, but really old devices like the RB230 (more than 10 years old) is still supported.

I also believe that the Ruckus/Brocade ICX switches that are also quite popular here receive updates for a long period of time, though I do not have any good examples of this.

You can probably get long firmware support on devices from the likes of Cisco and Juniper, but most (not all) require support subscriptions, which I assume is not what you want.
 
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i386

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Mar 18, 2016
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Are we talking about full blown enterprise switches with redundant power supplies and specific cooling/environment requirements?
Just contact the vendor and get a support contract, if you need 10 years support you can get that (but it will cost you both arms and five legs :p)

jonobk said:
My current tplink (24-1g and 4sfp+ ports) hasn't had a firmware update in ages.
Click to expand...
T1700G-28TQ?
Are you missing features? Or why the "need" for updates?
 
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jonobk

New Member
Feb 19, 2011
18
10
3
Winnipeg
RTM said:
Mikrotik is pretty awesome at providing updates.
I can't find an exact policy or page that states how long to expect firmware updates, but really old devices like the RB230 (more than 10 years old) is still supported.

I also believe that the Ruckus/Brocade ICX switches that are also quite popular here receive updates for a long period of time, though I do not have any good examples of this.

You can probably get long firmware support on devices from the likes of Cisco and Juniper, but most (not all) require support subscriptions, which I assume is not what you want.
Click to expand...
Mikrotik looks like a strong contender. Their pricing for new switches is fantastic, and as you mentioned it looks like they support stuff for a really long time. Their documentation states at least 5 years, which is better than tp-link and Ubiquiti from what I've experienced.
 
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jonobk

New Member
Feb 19, 2011
18
10
3
Winnipeg
i386 said:
Are we talking about full blown enterprise switches with redundant power supplies and specific cooling/environment requirements?
Just contact the vendor and get a support contract, if you need 10 years support you can get that (but it will cost you both arms and five legs :p)


T1700G-28TQ?
Are you missing features? Or why the "need" for updates?
Click to expand...
Yes, correct! The T1700g-28TQ is what I'm using, and it's been running just fine - no performance concerns.

Ideally, I'd like a switch that had poe so I don't need to use injectors for my few APs, and had 2.5Gb for new machines that support that. However, my main driver for looking is the lack of patching. I can't believe that they have no security vulnerabilities that have required patching in years. I try to keep the rest of my devices (computers, phones, etc.) running recent oses/firmware/patches. The thought that the device which all my traffic flows through is the least up-to-date device kinda scares me. Also, I tried to use a modern certificate for TLS, which was a non-starter.
 
J

jonobk

New Member
Feb 19, 2011
18
10
3
Winnipeg
Oh, the Brocade icx7250-24 with poe is looking pretty great. Although, with a full-time job and a young child I'm a little daunted about having to become a network engineer to get it working!
 
T

tubs-ffm

Active Member
Sep 1, 2013
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jonobk said:
Oh, the Brocade icx7250-24 with poe is looking pretty great. Although, with a full-time job and a young child I'm a little daunted about having to become a network engineer to get it working!
Click to expand...
Keep in mind the impact of the noise of the fans. Like most of the 1U rack devices these are not made to place in the living room or in an office. The smaller brother ICX 7150-24P can run in "silent mode" with fans switched of in case of only a little bit PoE power is used.
 
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sic0048

Active Member
Dec 24, 2018
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Just get something used on EBay from one of the many, many recyclers. There are plenty of enterprise grade network switches that still have plenty of life left for a fraction of new. Will they last 10 years? I don't know. But at these prices you can buy one every few years and still spend less than buying a new switch with a long warranty/support life cycle.
 
T

tubs-ffm

Active Member
Sep 1, 2013
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kpfleming said:
And the 7150-C12P does not even have fans, and can be stacked to provide more ports (and are often available quite cheaply).
Click to expand...
"cheaply"?
If you have a source, please let me know. I am looking on ebay since month and only can find expensive offers. A 7250-24P and a 7150-24P I got cheap a while ago..
 
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