New User - suggested router & switch recommendation wanted

[budgallxp]

New Sonic user here, well almost installation is set for next Thursday morning. My home network includes 6 PC’s, 2 laptops,a networked Laser Printer and a couple of NAS for backup. Internet provider is Comcast, using a Motorola DOCCIS 3.1 cable modem connected to a ASUS RT-AC68U Router and a TP-Link 16 port switch and ZYXEL 8 Port switch.

My original goal was to upgrade the router, switches and network cards to 10 G until I discovered that the cost far exceeded the available cash. I have now decided that maybe I should be thinking 2.5 G instead. I am about to start shopping. Does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations of which router and switch I should buy. In my limited research to date it has been difficult to find a router with more than one 2.5G port. I think the router would need at least two 2.5G ports, one for the WAN connection and the second for the LAN connection to the switch. Am I wrong about that? I will need 12 2.5G ports on the switch so either a pair of 8 port switches or a 16 port switch would work. Any suggestions and sources to what I am looking for will be appreciated.

Thank you

Bud Gallagher

[dane]

I would strongly suggest you stick with the Sonic-provided and managed router, the 10Gbps version is the Eero Max7. The recent issues with TP-Link (https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/202 ... -to-china/) reinforce the benefits of using the managed (and secured) solution from Sonic.

Behind that, for wired devices, any 10Gbps or 2.5Gbps switch, or if your devices are all 1Gbps, even a 10Gbps fed 1Gbps switch should be a good solution. The most inexpensive solution I found is this Netgear unit: https://amzn.to/4ane7It It has a single 10Gbps uplink, and multiple 1Gbps ports. You can find a similar setup with 2.5G or even 10G ports, albeit at higher cost.

The appropriate Eero units will accept 2.5G, so feeding those that can be wired this way, where you have existing wiring, can make for a very solid WiFi solution. Use the wireless mesh to feed units in areas with no cabling, but cable the ones where wiring exists.

But my main point: for the managed devices, opt for the Sonic-provided Eero router and WiFi mesh. For the simple unmanaged switches, deploy a cost and speed appropriate commodity solution like Netgear, Cisco, etc.

[conradpino]

@dane make a good point. Any advanced technology has an after purchase price in dollars, time, and often both.

As an IT professional, my network engineering skills are professional level so I get great value from MikroTik (MT) equipment but it still costs me in time since MT has enterprise class features and performance, but their software is sometimes buggy and support is on-line and takes time. No matter who's equipment you buy, you have made the greater time commitment.

Sonic rented equipment has it's time cost, submit request on web site, or email, or SMS, or phone call but Sonic can access device to collect diagnostics whereas you will be more involved with your equipment vendor's technical support to collect and submit diagnostics.

An Internet connections means you must dance so how do you want to pay, with money or time?

[dane]

The peril is consumer off the shelf equipment that seldom gets managed or updated. Firmware bugs arise, security and stability issues - and nobody takes responsibility. Thus TP-Link’s issues. They have surged in recent years to become the largest quantity of consumer equipment - but that equipment isn’t being appropriately updated and secured. Thus the threat of a ban by the US government. It’s a serious issue.

[conradpino]

@dane, I cannot agree more. IMO anyone unable to self-support equipment they buy should just not buy.

Since I have skills and MikroTik has long term RouterOS updates for legacy hardware, I take the risk, pay in time as needed, and will bail out at the excessive point.

[budgallxp]

#dane and conradino

Thank you for your quick replies. I have decided to wait awhile before updating.I didn't mention I am also surrendering the TV portion of Comcast and plan to go the Roku and You Tube route. So to keep peace in the family getting that to work and getting wife comfortable with the new way of watching TV should be my prime concern,

I had not thought much about using The Sonic router but after during a bit of research that looks like a good option.

Thank you for your imput.

Bud

[ngufra]

If you are not sure what you are doing, i would also recommend getting the hardware rented from sonic for the router.

The switch for your wired devices can be any unmanaged switch and i have a strong feeling that except when testing you could not tell the difference between 1 Gbps and 2.5 Gbps.
Many of your devices probably only negociate at 1 Gbps anyway. And even if they did not, 1Gbps is plenty enough for a printer for example.
For the same price, I prefer older used business class devices rather than consumer class newer devices as the provide more features, but for an unmanaged switch there aren't that many options. Will you need some poe ports for some cameras or network access points?

[budgallxp]

@ ngufra
Thank you for your reply.
I really don't have many computer needs anymore. I'm well past retirement age now and computers are now a toy to tinker and play with. Still have one (the only) old customers who insists I not totally retire.

Ports for access points or cameras are not in any plans at the moment but I have dealt with them in the past.

Bud

[panman59]

ASUS Tri-band Wifi Router, 10GIG capable.