Inquiries regarding switches, 2.5Gb speed, and my new NAS device
Inquiries regarding switches, 2.5Gb speed, and my new NAS device
I own a 2.5Gb router and modem setup. This means one connection on the router is 2.5Gb, while the other three are 1Gb. If I connect the 2.5Gb port from my router to a switch and then link my three PCs and NAS to that switch, would all devices receive the full 2.5Gb bandwidth to the NAS? Since every port on the switch supports 2.5Gb, it seems possible for them to share that capacity. The NAS is a four Seagate EXOS 14TB RAID 10 array. I’m uncertain if an SSD cache is necessary at this stage, as the maximum bandwidth is limited and the RAID configuration should handle most loads. Your concerns about saturation are valid, especially given your current usage patterns. I’ve struggled to find detailed information on this subject before, but based on what I’ve seen, it appears reasonable. Please correct me if my understanding is incorrect. This is entirely new territory for me—previously I had only 15Mb internet and basic local storage. I recently upgraded to 1Gb and now 2.5Gb equipment, so this feels like a significant step up. I’m eager to grasp the details before proceeding with purchases and testing. Thank you! P.S. Some might think I’m overcomplicating it, but having a NAS for backups and media storage is essential. It doesn’t need to be as fast as a gaming cache, but being able to access it later would be helpful. I’m trying to sort this out step by step instead of guessing.
Certainly, the process functions as described, provided each of the three PCs possesses 2.5Gbit NICs.
It's possible to achieve this, though the cost of 2.5g switches might not justify it. Personally, I'd opt for a 10gbps switch: https://www.amazon.com/MikroTik-CRS305-1...07LFKGP1L/ and four 10g cards per computer and NAS. The router supports four 10g ports and one 1gps port; the switch can link to the router via the 1gps connection, while the four ports serve the NAS and three computers. Another choice is the TP-Link TL-SX3008F at $229: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-TL-SX3008...0973T7BGL/. The MikroTik 8x10g +1g model costs around $280: https://www.amazon.com/MikroTik-Desktop-...07NFXN4SS/. Each computer would have two network cards—one for internet and one for direct NAS access. Any device needing NAS access can use the 1gps link. Tengins are cheaper but not compatible with Windows 11 due to Intel's stance, while X540 cards offer another switch alternative: https://www.amazon.com/12-Port-Gigabit-U...084MLC83G/.
This approach is quite smart. I hadn’t considered customizing the NAS for a 10Gb card without paying a premium for a ready-made solution. It also suggests investing more in an NVME cache to match the speed, which could be costly. Thanks for the tip! I wasn’t sure if spending $100 on a 2.5Gb switch made sense when 10Gb was closer to $200. I thought it wouldn’t matter since the router only supported 2.5Gb, but I hadn’t thought about isolating internet and data traffic like that. Great idea. Unfortunately, my PC is an ITX model so it won’t support 10Gb, though it will still get fully saturated. Sorry if I’m not familiar—I really value your feedback.
The cost of 10Gbit cards tends to be high, often doubling the price of 2.5Gbit models, and you usually find them only at roughly five times the cost of standard options. If you already have 2.5Gbit network interfaces, the upgrade becomes more complex. The switch supports only SFP+ ports, so you’ll need matching SFP+ 10Gbit cards for each port or use DAC if all devices are within a short distance. Alternatively, you can install SFP+ to copper adapters in each switch port, though these add extra expense. Copper adapters also generate more heat, prompting the switch to suggest limiting them to two per port. Generally, a 2.5Gbit setup is likely more economical overall.