Price : Too low to display
The SLM2024 offers twenty-four (24) 10/100/1000 Gigabit Copper ports with two (2) shared copper or optical (SFP) uplink interfaces for connecting the switch to the core network. The simplified user interface is an intuitive management tool enabling you to quickly utilize the comprehensive feature-set of the switch, resulting in a better optimized network.
This review is from : Cisco SLM2024 24-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Smart Switch with 2 Combo SFPs
Does a lot cost a little... setup was a snap for me . Not sure about the other reviews, but this thing does WAY more than other switches in its price range. Yes, you need to use IE for setting it up (who doesn't have access to IE?) and it helps to read the manual (linksys forums are helpful too), but setup wasn't that difficult.
Does link aggregation (Yes!), does VLANs fairly easily (once you get the hang of it - another YES!).
If you are looking for a switch with 24 GigE ports that you can just plug gear into and have it just work, it'll do that. But if you've got bigger ideas in mind, it'll do those too.
Does a lot cost a little... setup was a snap for me . Not sure about the other reviews, but this thing does WAY more than other switches in its price range. Yes, you need to use IE for setting it up (who doesn't have access to IE?) and it helps to read the manual (linksys forums are helpful too), but setup wasn't that difficult.
Does link aggregation (Yes!), does VLANs fairly easily (once you get the hang of it - another YES!).
If you are looking for a switch with 24 GigE ports that you can just plug gear into and have it just work, it'll do that. But if you've got bigger ideas in mind, it'll do those too.
Cisco SLM2024 24-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Smart Switch with 2 Combo SFPs Reviews
Very good switch for the price . For the money this is a very, very good deal. Key reasons (and these may be more specific to me - but if you dont need these features then I dont understand why you would seek a managed switch):
* Support for VLANs - huge +. Allows you to segment a number of "lans" on the switch and dynamically.
* COS support - this allows you to prioritize the traffic (layer-2 only) which is equally useful.
* GBIC support - if you ever want to expand the switch, and also includes support for STP protocol to sort out switch loops.
* Link Aggregation
for a few hundred $$? If the the browser support makes this a 1-star switch then my suggestion is to return it, and spend a lot more on an Cisco IOS switch, HP Pro-curve or Juniper switch.. plenty of support there. It is worth dinging it - but not completely.
Setup for VLANs is a bit wonky, and the documentation is poor imho. Documentation that simply tells you that a feature is called "X" and the options are "A,B and C" is useless - thats what the UI is for. Documentation that states a problem domain (I want to set up two VLANs) and walks you through the steps necessary to do that on *this* switch is far more useful. Another ding.
My only other complaint (for a grade) is the backup/restore process could be a little better described.
A quick word of warning - this seems to be a layer-2 switch ONLY, which means you cannot route between VLANs - which is a layer-3 activity. So if you want to connect the lans you need to have a router of some sort. If you want to aggregate all the vlans and send it out a common link - then you need a routing device that understands how to sort out the traffic, and more importantly, sort return traffic back to the correct places.
For me - that solution will probably be M0n0wall or PFSense.. but your needs may be very different from mine.
Very good switch for the price . For the money this is a very, very good deal. Key reasons (and these may be more specific to me - but if you dont need these features then I dont understand why you would seek a managed switch):
* Support for VLANs - huge +. Allows you to segment a number of "lans" on the switch and dynamically.
* COS support - this allows you to prioritize the traffic (layer-2 only) which is equally useful.
* GBIC support - if you ever want to expand the switch, and also includes support for STP protocol to sort out switch loops.
* Link Aggregation
for a few hundred $$? If the the browser support makes this a 1-star switch then my suggestion is to return it, and spend a lot more on an Cisco IOS switch, HP Pro-curve or Juniper switch.. plenty of support there. It is worth dinging it - but not completely.
Setup for VLANs is a bit wonky, and the documentation is poor imho. Documentation that simply tells you that a feature is called "X" and the options are "A,B and C" is useless - thats what the UI is for. Documentation that states a problem domain (I want to set up two VLANs) and walks you through the steps necessary to do that on *this* switch is far more useful. Another ding.
My only other complaint (for a grade) is the backup/restore process could be a little better described.
A quick word of warning - this seems to be a layer-2 switch ONLY, which means you cannot route between VLANs - which is a layer-3 activity. So if you want to connect the lans you need to have a router of some sort. If you want to aggregate all the vlans and send it out a common link - then you need a routing device that understands how to sort out the traffic, and more importantly, sort return traffic back to the correct places.
For me - that solution will probably be M0n0wall or PFSense.. but your needs may be very different from mine.
Cons Review
Good idea and price but poor compatibility . The web interface for this product gets an F. In addition to not working with FireFox (I'm on an all Linux and Mac OS network) this switch's documentation does not say it works ONLY with Internet Explorer. This is, however, the case. This product will probably be returned and Linksys needs to learn how to define the word 'compatibility'. In addition to that I waited 45 minutes for their support line only to find one other random review on Google stating this unit actually doesn't work with FireFox. Take a lesson from every other company I've ever worked with... be compatible with non-microsoft stuff. You might be surprised.
Great Switch . I'm revising my original review.
I would now give this switch 4 out of 5 stars.
I initially had an issue with the Xbox 360 not connecting to it.
There was an option called port fast that I had to disable in the switch.
The switch has been rock solid since I set that - I don't think I've ever even rebooted in the 18 months I've had it.
a few minor annoyances with the switch:
1- it'd be great if they shipped it with settings equiv of an unmanaged switch - it was great that I could turn off port fast, but would others have known to do this?
2- the web interface only works with IE6 - They use some embeded control - so I'll always need to keep a copy of XP in a virtual machine with IE6 to make future changes to the switch.
Otherwise it's been a great switch, I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
It's been great having 24 gigabit ports!
I've had this switch for a few days now, and I'm disappointed that it doesn't seem to work as it should.
- Jack
I would now give this switch 4 out of 5 stars.
I initially had an issue with the Xbox 360 not connecting to it.
There was an option called port fast that I had to disable in the switch.
The switch has been rock solid since I set that - I don't think I've ever even rebooted in the 18 months I've had it.
a few minor annoyances with the switch:
1- it'd be great if they shipped it with settings equiv of an unmanaged switch - it was great that I could turn off port fast, but would others have known to do this?
2- the web interface only works with IE6 - They use some embeded control - so I'll always need to keep a copy of XP in a virtual machine with IE6 to make future changes to the switch.
Otherwise it's been a great switch, I would buy it again in a heartbeat.
It's been great having 24 gigabit ports!
I've had this switch for a few days now, and I'm disappointed that it doesn't seem to work as it should.
- Jack
Feature Cisco SLM2024 24-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Smart Switch with 2 Combo SFPs
- Easy-to-use Web browser interface makes installation quick and effortless
- Grow your network with options like Link Aggregation, Spanning Tree and Portfast
- 802.1x port authentication and MAC-based filtering brings network security down to the switch port level.
- Basic QoS enables the network to be used for networked applications including voice, video and data storage
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Product Details
EAN : 0745883580002UPC : 745883580002
MPN : SLM2024
Brand : Cisco
Weight : 10 pounds
Height : 5 inches
Length : 22 inches
Width : 16 inches
Binding : Personal Computers
Format : CD
Manufacturer : CISCO SYSTEMS - ENTERPRISE
Model : SLM2024
Operating System : N/A
Publisher : CISCO SYSTEMS - ENTERPRISE
SKU : INM89978
Studio : CISCO SYSTEMS - ENTERPRISE
Where To Buy
You can buy Cisco SLM2024 24-Port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Smart Switch with 2 Combo SFPs on Amazon . Click here to Read More
