The Cadillac of non-gigabit speed switches
Cisco is a top-rated brand with well known customer support. Support goes beyond troubleshooting. They will answer any basic or technical questions, and will assist with setups including remotely configuring your parameters online. While this particular switch doesn't support gigabit speed, our whole network is too far away from needing it, if ever. (Remember, your slowest LAN branch determines system speed.) But its embedded software covers everything we need, from VoIP to security to whatever (just read its specs!), and the interface is reasonably maneuverable. If all that is more than what you need, just treat it as a Plug-n-Play switch. The software's default settings let you do just that, and then it adapts to traffic by monitoring the whole network and prioritizing according to those default levels (which you can modify later).
We didn't mount ours in a rack, so I removed the ears and set it on a shelf. Though the fan moves a fair amount of air, it wasn't loud and didn't resonate. Cables route to the front, which doesn't mesh with our layout that well, but if you run them together and use cable ties or Velcro straps, it kind of looks like you planned it that way. And I do like the all-metal case. Gives it some strength if you stack peripherals on top like I did (a cable-modem & router). Ventilation comes in from the sides and out the rear, FYI.
BTW, there's NO power button, so don't bother looking. Like I did.
If you're looking at a used unit, it probably still has a lot of life. They're well made. Really, the fan would be the first thing to go, but it's a Sunon, so it should last a long time anyway. Or it might lose a port, but with 12 ports, that normally wouldn't be so terrible. Overall, unless you get a lemon, which would be doubtful, you really can't go wrong with a 2950 unless the price is approaching $100. A good deal would be $40-50 (in 2014). Beware units that are too cheap, abuse and fan bearings happen!Read full review
