Suitable upgrade for an EN108

[AliKelman]

I've got a patch panel in my home (!) with CAT5 wiring running into various rooms from the patch panel. The patch panel is served by a Netgear EN108 switch.  I want to upgrade this to add extra wired connectivity so what would the community recommend that I upgrade to. I would like to have power over internet and also put in some CAT5e connectivity.  Could I also daisychain from my unit

[michaelkenward]

While many questions about routers are generic and could be answered anywhere, some things need specialist knowledge. That includes switches, which don't have much in common with the routers covered here.

You might get more help, and find earlier questions and answers specific to your device, in the appropriate section for your hardware. That's probably here:

Switches - NETGEAR Communities

You might like to search there for messages related to your issue .

I will ask the Netgear moderator to move your message.

[plemans]

Do you have cat 5 or cat 5e? 

The en108 is a really old (22years) 10 base-t switch. So 10mbps switch. 

Pretty much any modern gigabit switch is going much faster than it (provided your wiring supports gigabit speeds) 

[AliKelman]

I'm not sure but I think it is probably Cat5 and not Cat5e. But the cable runs are pretty short. So which Netgear switch should I replace it with? Also would the replacement unit cater for power over Ethernet and what extra Netgear kit should I get for this? I am thinking of putting some webcams on this network.

[plemans]

You can go through and select the ones that hit your requirements. 

https://www.netgear.com/business/wired/switches/

just keep in mind, again, a lot depends on your wiring and what you're going to do. some security systems use their own poe setup. Plus your cables might not meet their minimum requirements. 

so I don't have a simple "buy *** switch" .  You need to figure out what you're actually doing and if you're wiring will support it. 

If it was me? for the time being I'd snag a cheap $20 gigabit switch. you can find 8 port ones all over amazon

[michaelkenward]

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@plemans wrote:

You can go through and select the ones that hit your requirements. 

https://www.netgear.com/business/wired/switches/

That's the way to do it.

Switches are mostly basic devices. Not something to overthink. They are in the "install and ignore" category.

How many ports do you need?

Buy the cheapest that fills the bill. Anything will be better than a 20th century switch, designed for the era of dial-up internet.

[AliKelman]

Thank you - it all looks pretty straight forward. A Netgear GS108UK 8 Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch looks like a suitable one for one replacement. I am still looking for PoE capabilities but I haven't yet drilled through the listings

 

[michaelkenward]

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@AliKelman wrote:

A Netgear GS108UK 8 Port Gigabit Ethernet Network Switch looks like a suitable one for one replacement.

 

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Think forward.How many ports do you need now?

Consider buying the next size up from what you need now. You never know what you might add, and the cost difference between 8 and 16 is small. If you can find 16s.

[AliKelman]

Well I opened the cupboard today and found that I have space for a rack mounted Netgear switch to replace my 22 year old EN108. Which will then leave me some extra space in the cupboard. I could probably pick something up off eBay - any ideas of what might be suitable?

 

[michaelkenward]

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@AliKelman wrote:

I could probably pick something up off eBay - any ideas of what might be suitable?

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Good move.

Anything with gigabit Ethernet and enough ports should fill the bill.

[AliKelman]

I am bidding on a NETGEAR GS728TP-100NAS ProSafe 24 Port Gigabit Poe Smart Switch on eBay at the moment. I should know on Monday morning if I have won it.

[michaelkenward]

Good luck. PoE is new to me.

Well, I did use it man y years ago for something or other – still have the bits lying around – but haven't had the need since,

Did you get the manual for it?

Visit the support pages:

Support | NETGEAR

Feed in your model number and check the documentation.

[schumaku]

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@AliKelman wrote:

NETGEAR GS728TP-100NAS ProSafe 24 Port Gigabit Poe Smart Switch

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Manuals, firmware and more https://www.netgear.com/support/product/GS728TP

[AliKelman]

I won the auction on eBay yesterday for a second hand NETGEAR GS728TP-100NAS ProSafe 24 Port Gigabit Poe Smart Switch. It is deeper than the cabinet but that is not going to be a problem since I can rest it at an angle (see photograph). Tomorrow (Wednesday) I plan to connect it up. I powered it up and everything lit up seemly OK - there is a quiet fan which is not going to be an issue in the cabinet.

[plemans]

Hope it works great for you!

(all the cables just make me want to organize it)

[AliKelman]

I have some shorter leads on order - they should arrive today. It seems to be working OK but I want to tidy it up.