I'm working on a project where we need to combine several span ports to feed into a network intrusion system. I'm looking for a switch that has 16 to 24 10Gb SFP+ ports and 2 or 4 25Gb SFP+ ports for uplinking to the server. Ideally, I need the switch to support spanning ports 1-16 or 24 to one of the 25Gb uplinks. We're not looking for a fully managed switch, but a managed option is okay. Cisco is out of the budget, which is up to £2,000, and I need some suggestions on where to find a suitable switch available in the UK. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
5 Answers
The Aruba 6300 (JL658A) comes to mind, but it's pretty pricey—more than twice your budget. However, you might find what you need with Unifi gear. Their UniFi Hi-Capacity Aggregation switch has the ports and speeds you're looking for, and I've had great experiences with Unifi, especially when working in a budget-strained public sector.
True, but make sure it supports port mirroring how you need it. That aspect can be tricky.
Given your requirements and budget constraints, I’d recommend checking out Mikrotik. Their CRS518-16XS-2XQ model aligns closely with what you're looking for.
If you're looking for big features without the big price tag, it might be tough. I would suggest checking out the Arista 7050SX3, but it might be over your budget. It's a solid option though!
You might want to look for refurbished deals. Enterprise-grade switches with those capabilities generally cost more than your budget, but you could find a decent used one.
To be honest, getting a larger budget might be the best option. Mirroring up to 160Gbps isn't cheap, and that cost usually exceeds £2,000!
Yeah, Unifi's L2 features are pretty good, but once you delve into L3, things can get iffy. Just a heads up!