Affordable 2.5G options available.
Affordable 2.5G options available.
In a cost-focused environment, what remains valuable in 2.5G switch options? Several models stand out: QNap QSW-1105-5T offers five 2.5Gbps ports at around $130; TP-Link TL-SG105-M2 and TL-SG108-M2 provide five 2.5Gbps ports; Netgear GS110MX and SX10 deliver eight 1Gbps and two 10Gbps ports; MS510TX has four 1Gbps and two 2.5Gbps ports; DLink’s DMS-106XT features five 2.5Gbps ports at $299. Also worth noting is a model with five 2.5Gbps ports and one 10Gbps port.
ZyXEL introduced the XGS1210-12, essentially a managed version of the unmanaged XGS1010-12. The Netgear GS110EMX serves as a managed variant of the GS110MX. Generally, it's comparable to other models. QNAP QSW-M2108-2C offers eight 2.5Gbps ports plus two 10Gbps ports (SFP and copper combo). Priced at $300 on Amazon, it's a solid deal. The Netgear MS510TXM costs $460 and includes four 2.5Gbps ports, four 10Gbps copper ports, and two SFP+ ports. These are the latest 2.5Gbps switches under $500 that haven't been covered before.
Netgear's explanations about Smart-Managed Pro and Plus seem unclear. For instance, the GS110EMX is labeled Plus but lacks SNMP support, whereas the MS510TXP is the Pro model with SNMP enabled. It appears they may have overlooked this distinction, as their site categories don't refer to Plus switches as smart devices, even though they are web-managed products.
I'm not sure why suppliers don't include a minimum of one 1Gbps port on five ports in 2.5Gbps switches. If a QNap QSW-1105-5T or similar 5-port switch had a dedicated 1Gbps port for downlink to a slower switch, it would be an ideal "best buy" device. Without that feature, users must sacrifice one high-bandwidth port to connect slower devices like printers, TVs, and smart gadgets.
I think it bothers me more when 10Gbit switches use PoE while only having Gigabit ports. Probably PoE comes from your main switch, making that port your uplink and expecting a 10Gbit connection too? It’s also puzzling how Netgear calls 10-port switches as 8 when two are 10Gbit. There really isn’t a dedicated uplink port anymore (at least on these smart devices)—it’s just another switch port or two, so why not treat them the same? The only real dedicated port is the management port, and even then it doesn’t make much sense to exclude other ports from being used.
I mean the switches that rely entirely on PoE power. That's the usual setup. The count of ports usually means the number of access points, which is key. If you need to link 8 computers, get an 8-port switch. For 24 computers, choose a 24-port switch. It makes sense if you consider it. Just verify the uplink ports to ensure compatibility with the other device you're connecting.
I'm focusing on the MikroTik CRS305-1G-4S+IN model that supports PoE. It can be powered via PoE, but using it in a single location is problematic because it only has one 1G uplink port while my NAS is connected through a main switch. This setup restricts its placement and seems counterintuitive. Unlike the other eight ports, this one doesn't provide PoE output. The device connects to the SFP+ port via DAC, and the 10G-BASE-T port links to another switch that also has a separate 10G port for my gaming PC. Treating it as incompatible with standard clients doesn't make sense since it's essentially a 10-port switch regardless of interpretation.
I understand you have flexibility in how you use these devices. It’s not required to connect as an uplink, though your choice is unusual. These switches are mainly aimed at enterprise customers, where they won’t typically rely on SFP ports for client connections. Unless you specifically need to expand a network to 24 devices, standard 24-port switches are the right fit. That aligns well with their intended audience.
Regarding MikroTik, it seems unclear if you meant PoE as an uplink. They’ve even marked it “boot,” suggesting it’s for management purposes rather than power delivery. The ability to supply power is a helpful feature but not the main function. It might be a small annoyance for home users, while businesses appreciate this standard capability.
Smart management isn't quite enterprise-level, but it's worth noting. The focus here is on SOHO gear. These switches stand out mainly because they operate quietly, which is a key advantage for smaller setups. It seems unusual that they're offering such high-speed ports—4x1Gbit, 2x2.5Gbit, 2x5Gbit—all with PoE+, yet no widely known devices combine multi-gig speeds and PoE functionality; most still stick to 1Gbit.