Switch to Switch

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Switch to Switch

Yorkshirekid

193 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#274506 26-Aug-2020 10:17

I have an 8port TP-Link on my home network and all the ports are now full. So I'm thinking - a 16port - but the space I have to house it is limited. I know I can daisy-chain two 8ports but what I don't know if I would get better performance from x2 8ports or x1 16port?

I'm assuming x1 16port would be the best option and if so, does anyone know of a smaller unit on the market please? I don't care if it's managed or not. I don't need PoE either.

I would appreciate a few comments on this please.

[IF YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW]

trig42

5889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2094

ID Verified

#2549857 26-Aug-2020 10:36

For most things it will not matter. Especially if both switches are gigabit. You will not notice that they are daisy chained.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
13036 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3896

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

Subscriber

#2549868 26-Aug-2020 10:52

99% of the time daisy chaining is a good option, just don't cause loops!

you can probably pickup a cheap 2nd hand 24 port switch.

#include <std_disclaimer>

Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

nztim

4012 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2710

ID Verified

Trusted

TEAMnetwork

Subscriber

#2549878 26-Aug-2020 11:10

hio77:

99% of the time daisy chaining is a good option, just don't cause loops!

Didn't you know? Loops are fun! the switch lights up like a Christmas Tree!

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

Lias

5655 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3978

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2550340 26-Aug-2020 21:07

The 16 port is better in that it should allow gig transfers on every port simultaneously, and it also gives you 16 ports total. With daisy chaining, you lose a port from each switch for the connection between the two of them, so only 14 ports total, and you are also introducing a bottleneck. Not exactly a real world scenario, but if all 7 devices on Switch A were trying to transmit large amounts of data to the 7 devices on port B, you'd only have a total speed of 1gb split 7 ways, because all the traffic would bottleneck at the 1gb connection between the switches. Whereas with the 16 port in a similar theoretical scenario, half of your devices could send to the other devices at 1gbs each because the switch (well unless it's a total piece of crap) provides the internal switching capacity to do that.

To be fair, most home users would probably not notice this bottleneck, but if you regularly transfer large amounts of data around your house you might.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup. Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

phrozenpenguin

868 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 90

#2550390 26-Aug-2020 22:17

It is worth looking at a bunch of different models; you can get 16 port switches that are the same if not smaller than some 8 port! I hunted for a while, and then had to wait for stock, of a 16 port managed switch to fit in a small space I had.

bignose

143 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 22

#2550798 27-Aug-2020 17:08

Yorkshirekid:

I'm assuming x1 16port would be the best option and if so, does anyone know of a smaller unit on the market please? I don't care if it's managed or not. I don't need PoE either.

which dimensions are critical - width? height? depth? (or the ever popular 'all of the above')

A lot of switches just presume they're going in a rack when you get up to 16+ ports, so burn space needlessly (so often a big box with heaps of empty space in it) - however there are a few 16-24 port units that manage to not waste space (netgear gs316 and gs324 spring to mind)

HP

Shop now for HP laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

Yorkshirekid

193 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2551818 29-Aug-2020 10:42

Ok thanks all. Having taken all this in I've gone for the netgear gs316 as it is the best fit for purpose.

I really appreciate all the input.

Cheers

[IF YOU DON'T KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW]