[AusNOG] Cheapest half decent 10Gbps switch (for iSCSI only)

[Robert Hudson]

Hi James,

IMHO, you won't get good performance/reliability out of $2k switches for
iSCSI - even if you can turn on jumbo frames (mandatory IMHO for iSCSI),
the buffers won't be deep enough to cope with the load that iSCSI can place
on switches, etc.

Given that a client is involved, you also need to be confident that the
switches won't give you a bad reputation.

I've never been a fan of Dell switches.  I haven't played with their
Force10 kit (because of the bitter taste that PowerConnect left in my
mouth).

I've used Cisco 3750 switches in the past for iSCSI and been disappointed.
Lately, I've taken to using Brocade ICX and VDX-series switches for iSCSI,
and I've been very happy with them.  This has been across a range of
storage (NetApp, Dell EqualLogic, Dell Compellent, HP 3PAR, Nimble
Storage), they've all played nicely (to the point where at least one of
those storage vendor asked for copies of my benchmark results due to the
throughput they were seeing across my Brocade switches).

You could probably go for a 24-port ICX6610 (or two) - they have 24-1Gbps
ports, but also 8 x 10Gbps ports (plus stacking ports on the rear), can run
dual PSUs, can even do PoE if required (if you want to converge data and
storage networks, though I tend to keep anything that requires PoE away
from my storage).  The ICX6450 switches have four 10Gbps ports each, but
again I'd be concerned with using them for iSCSI given the specs.

Alternatively, the VDX switches are great - I recently bought two 6740T
switches which cost me less for both (along with warranty, 40Gbps port
licenses and accessories such as QSFP to SFP+ cables) than the high-end of
the price range you mentioned, and you get 48 x 10Gbps ports each (copper),
but they are at that end of the range, not the $2k - $5k range you were
hoping for.

On 19 April 2015 at 12:47, James Cunningham <jjazza26 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi Guys,
>
> Not sure if this is the correct place to ask this question, so apologies
> in advance - but since most people here run high speed storage networks it
> is probably relevant.
>
> Can I have some recommendations for low end, cost effective, 10Gbps
> switches (for iSCSI use)?
>
> Only need around 8-10 ports per switch, and all the switches I'm looking
> at from the likes of Cisco and Juniper are around $20k-$30k a switch -
> seems pretty extreme really. I'm looking at deploying 2 x 10Gbps iSCSI
> switches for a client for a small VMware project, and am looking for
> suitable switches.
>
> Looking for suggestions for a half decent switch to use here - doesn't
> have to be top of the line with heaps of features, just something very
> basic, as long as it's 10Gbps and has at least 8 ports.
>
> Looking at the Netgear XS712T, these are around the $2k mark, which is in
> the ballpark of what I need. Looked at the Netgear XSM7224 and DELL N4032,
> but these are around the $5k mark per switch (but granted 24 ports with
> dual power supplies)
>
> Suggestions anyone?
>
> Thanks
>
> James
>
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