Seeking a suggestion
Seeking a suggestion
Searching for a switch that matches or surpasses the Dell X1018P capabilities, fitting neatly in a conference room table while being fanless or quiet. We require management tools, VLAN support, configuration backup, and PoE functionality. No need for SFP ports, but we're aiming to upgrade an outdated model into something more reliable. The biggest consideration is size—its footprint must fit the available space, ideally as compact as possible.
The spec sheet lists the X1018P measurements as 1.62" x 8.23" x 17.72" or 4.125cm x 20.9cm x 45cm. A compatible option is the TL-SG1218MPE V3.20, though it's positioned differently—possibly a minor fit concern. It's also slightly taller and narrower: 1.7" x 7.1" x 17.3" or 4.4cm x 18cm x 44cm.
I've worked with it before. It has two fans, and some users mention it can be quite noisy. That's a common issue when placing it in a conference room near a table. However, if you're familiar with it and it operates quietly, I'm confident in its performance.
I don’t have prior experience with it, sadly. It’s the only option that matches what you described. I didn’t perform a full search, but the X1018P looks compact enough for a 16+ port managed PoE switch. Regarding fans, it’s unlikely you’ll find a fanless model fitting these requirements. Between its small size, management capabilities, many ports, and PoE power delivery, it’s hard to imagine something quiet without at least some cooling. Managing a few hundred watts in limited space usually means either fans or a large heatsink—fanless and compact options don’t seem feasible here. Someone else might have better ideas that are quieter.
I’ve checked the details, but there’s no clear information about that product. I searched online, but nothing came up. I’ve tried using comparable switches for outdoor use, and they functioned well, so maybe it works too.
Perhaps the NETGEAR GS324TP model? It's a S350 Smart Switch with a lower POE budget at 190 watts versus around 250 watts for your Dell. Do you really need just about 100 watts? It seems to switch faster—52 Gbit compared to 36 Gbit. It includes fans on the sides, and the datasheet says they're quite low noise at 32 dB. If you skip the PoE part, those fans should slow down or run at low speeds, making it quieter. Trendnet offers some switches that match this spec but mention fans up to 52 dB. I’m not sure if they offer variable speed; Amazon’s listing says otherwise. Electronics are available on Amazon.com.