Looking for a suitable network switch and a PCIe add-in card recommendation?

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Looking for a suitable network switch and a PCIe add-in card recommendation?

Looking for a suitable network switch and a PCIe add-in card recommendation?

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PomamCZ
Junior Member

15

09-01-2016, 05:46 PM

#1

You're aiming to boost your PC-NAS link from 2.5Gbit to 2.5Gbps. Focus on a PCIe add-in card that supports higher speeds, a switch with multiple 2.5Gbps ports (ideally three or more), and enough connections for eight devices. Look for compatibility with your existing setup and reliable performance.

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PomamCZ

09-01-2016, 05:46 PM #1

You're aiming to boost your PC-NAS link from 2.5Gbit to 2.5Gbps. Focus on a PCIe add-in card that supports higher speeds, a switch with multiple 2.5Gbps ports (ideally three or more), and enough connections for eight devices. Look for compatibility with your existing setup and reliable performance.

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NEMO_066
Junior Member

48

09-02-2016, 07:08 PM

#2

One of the first budget-friendly 2.5G switches was the QNAP QSW-1105-5T. It features just five ports, but you can connect one to a slower GBE switch for devices that need less bandwidth. For 2.5G NICs, I found several models shown below. They appear under different names on Amazon and other sites, so I can't name them precisely. It uses a Realtek chipset and functions well with both Windows and Unraid.

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NEMO_066

09-02-2016, 07:08 PM #2

One of the first budget-friendly 2.5G switches was the QNAP QSW-1105-5T. It features just five ports, but you can connect one to a slower GBE switch for devices that need less bandwidth. For 2.5G NICs, I found several models shown below. They appear under different names on Amazon and other sites, so I can't name them precisely. It uses a Realtek chipset and functions well with both Windows and Unraid.

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tomtiger99
Member

111

09-03-2016, 11:57 PM

#3

Trendnet 8 port 2.5gb switch costs $144 on Amazon. Managed switches aren't essential unless you're handling VLANs or link aggregation. How close are your NAS and PC? If they're nearby or you can run cables, consider a 10GbE switch with a quad port MikroTik and off-SFP+ cards from eBay.

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tomtiger99

09-03-2016, 11:57 PM #3

Trendnet 8 port 2.5gb switch costs $144 on Amazon. Managed switches aren't essential unless you're handling VLANs or link aggregation. How close are your NAS and PC? If they're nearby or you can run cables, consider a 10GbE switch with a quad port MikroTik and off-SFP+ cards from eBay.

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ClemCol1
Member

232

09-09-2016, 03:40 PM

#4

PC and NAS are typically within a couple of meters, but my PC lacks any extra PCI-E ports. Sure, an unmanaged setup might be the best option—though managing static IPs and occasionally opening ports can get tricky.

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ClemCol1

09-09-2016, 03:40 PM #4

PC and NAS are typically within a couple of meters, but my PC lacks any extra PCI-E ports. Sure, an unmanaged setup might be the best option—though managing static IPs and occasionally opening ports can get tricky.

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Dan_playz_MC
Senior Member

461

09-10-2016, 11:10 PM

#5

Key takeaway from this process: TrueNAS struggles with Realtek PCIe network cards by default. Using Intel can simplify things. I managed to get it working with the provided video, but it adds unnecessary complexity for most users.

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Dan_playz_MC

09-10-2016, 11:10 PM #5

Key takeaway from this process: TrueNAS struggles with Realtek PCIe network cards by default. Using Intel can simplify things. I managed to get it working with the provided video, but it adds unnecessary complexity for most users.