Need assistance setting up an affordable 10GB network.
Need assistance setting up an affordable 10GB network.
Hey everyone, we’re trying to set up an affordable 10GB network. We’re using a file server and nodes linked to a 1GB network, but we’re facing a major slowdown with just two users online. We’re looking for a budget 8-port switch that can be upgraded, no fiber needed—preferably Cat 5e or 6. Also, we need affordable 10GB network cards; Juraj suggested some Intel options and the ASUS ones were tricky to manage. If you have any advice or tips on getting this working smoothly would be super helpful! Our RAID 10 setup has some SSDs planned for future upgrades, but we’re worried about potential drive failures.
I don't have a specific budget mentioned. Could you clarify what you're referring to?
The 10GBase-T model is uncommon, making affordable choices difficult to locate. You may find suitable options only by purchasing new units or monitoring eBay for extended periods. Are you looking for high-end capabilities or just a few 8–10G ports? This offers the most budget-friendly new switch available. https://www.asus.com/Networking/XG-U2008/ https://www.amazon.com/XG-U2008-Unmanage...B01LZMM7ZO If your setup involves NAS drives such as WD Red or Seagate Iron Wolf/Constellation, they can remain functional for more than five years with regular use. I recommend moving to SSDs to fully leverage the 10Gb networking, since HDDs won’t reach speeds beyond 1Gb reliably.
Only one HDD is needed, and it should handle up to 1Gb per line. My 8TB drive supports over 200 MB/s reads, so I’d recommend using an SFP+ configuration.
Great! Most of my work stays with the bigger drives, though I’m happy the performance matches the capacity. The 8 x 5TB units handle around 150MB/s each, giving roughly 700 to 900 MB/s in RAID 5 based on the transfer method and file size. Smaller files will be slower, about 400MB/s thanks to RAID 5.
It sounds like you're weighing affordable options versus premium features. You could opt for basic 10gb networking via fiber, or go for a more expensive setup with 10gb Ethernet. Currently, 1gb switches with 10gb uplinks aren't widely available at low prices. You might spot cheaper 8-port 10gb switches, but finding a budget-friendly model is tough.
Check out www.fs.com for affordable 10Gb SFP+ and DAC cables. It's a great place to find quality options.