5 ms·

Since I run a lot of 10G fiber and use proper 10G switches (none of this Ubiquiti garbage) layer 3 routing from the router itself was an absolute must. I decid

Since I run a lot of 10G fiber and use proper 10G switches (none of this Ubiquiti garbage) layer 3 routing from the router itself was an absolute must. I decided on the PaloAlto Networks PA-220 https://www.paloguard.com/Firewall-PA-220.asp https://www.paloguard.com/Firewall-PA-220.asp . Yes, I know - it's expensive. However, their support is fantastic and my employer agreed to pay for a portion of the licensing since I mostly require this for WFH. Zero issues, passive cooling, top notch security and this thing just freaking purrs.

pdimitar 6y ago
This is likely off-topic but I am looking hard at having home 10Gbps network and I struggle to find noise-less switches that allow copper 10Gbps links. I am okay with buying one fanless Mikrotik 10Gbps switch with SFP cages and buy adapters but I am open to other ideas. Can you recommend quiet 10Gbps switches that support copper links?
- koolk3ychain 6y ago
  Copper links in the form of ethernet 10g base t or copper links as direct attach sfp+ cables? 10g base t ethernet uses quite a bit more power, so those switches are usually always loud. Also, 10g base t tranceivers when used long term can actually damage sfp+ switches and cost wise they make absolutely zero sense. To be frank, in the long run if you plan to make any changes to your setup, buying transceivers from FS.com and fiber cables (even armored fiber) for that matter is about the same price as copper direct attach cables. Also much easier to cable manage and they can be used with cable lengths from 0.2m to 400m in most cases. I currently use a Cisco Nexus 3064 - https://www.ebay.com/p/219487215 https://www.ebay.com/p/219487215 It's kind of loud but I keep my hardware in a closet and to be honest, enterprise hardware like this makes heat and needs fans for a good reason haha. If you're looking for a more consumer entry and don't care about L3 routing Ubiquiti actually makes one hell of a damn good sfp+ "switch" for the money -> https://www.ui.com/unifi-switching/unifi-switch-16-xg/ https://www.ui.com/unifi-switching/unifi-switch-16-xg/ and again - cannot recommend FS.com enough for their service and quality products. Even if it was a little weird that their sales rep immediately added me on LinkedIn?
  - pdimitar 6y ago
    Much appreciate the answer, thank you. Sadly I don't have enough free space currently so I have to bet on fanless tech (but I do enjoy it). I meant normal Cat6 Ethernet 10Gbase-T cables, yep. If not, I can indeed buy a fanless Mikrotik switch with SFP+ cages and just buy 8-10 adapters from SFP+ to 10Gbase-T, I suppose. Bookmarking your link, definitely will look into that switch when I have the proper closet space for server tech.
    - koolk3ychain 6y ago
      No worries! Keep in mind that sfp+ transceivers are "branded" - in that you have to buy the right sfp+ transceiver to match the brand of switch or interface you're using. For instance, intel NIC's generally require intel "marked" transceivers etc. They last a damn long time though. Those small MikroTik switches are also awesome!
      - StillBored 6y ago
        Is that true of the ubiquity? I didn't think they required branded SFPs, they don't on some of their other hardware. Similarly for mikrotik. I usually find that companies with "licensable" features on their hardware are the ones locking their SFPs to their switches/etc in an effort to enforce what is basically a port license (aka buy our $80 SFPs instead of the generic ones we are rebranding so we can make $ on your port usage vs just adding a $$$/port license fee).
        pdimitar 6y ago
        I haven't started redoing my home network in 10Gbps yet but after scanning forums for a few weeks (back in the summer), I've seen many people say that Mikrotik switches work without any issue with several non-Mikrotik DACs (not sure I'm remembering the abbreviation well but it's a small device that converts from SFP+ to 10Gbase-T Ethernet cable).
      - iforgotpassword 6y ago
        There are devices out there to rebrand a transceiver. Probably not worth it for home use, but my employer has one of these, so maybe ask around if you could get wrongly branded ones for cheap.
caeril 6y ago
Why are Ubiquiti switches "garbage"?
- Skunkleton 6y ago
  I'm not sure. We had a 16 port 10G ubiquiti switch in our lab that did as it said on the tin with no issues. IIRC we paid ~$700 for it.
- sliken 6y ago
  Been very happy with mine. Nice management interface, can backup the config to a text file, easy to upgrade, etc.
mayli 6y ago
AFAIK, this PA-220 has nothing to do with 10G and cannot even do line speed routing at 1Gbps. It's an advanced firewall, not a high speed router.

pdimitar 6y ago

This is likely off-topic but I am looking hard at having home 10Gbps network and I struggle to find noise-less switches that allow copper 10Gbps links. I am okay with buying one fanless Mikrotik 10Gbps switch with SFP cages and buy adapters but I am open to other ideas. Can you recommend quiet 10Gbps switches that support copper links?

koolk3ychain 6y ago
Copper links in the form of ethernet 10g base t or copper links as direct attach sfp+ cables? 10g base t ethernet uses quite a bit more power, so those switches are usually always loud. Also, 10g base t tranceivers when used long term can actually damage sfp+ switches and cost wise they make absolutely zero sense. To be frank, in the long run if you plan to make any changes to your setup, buying transceivers from FS.com and fiber cables (even armored fiber) for that matter is about the same price as copper direct attach cables. Also much easier to cable manage and they can be used with cable lengths from 0.2m to 400m in most cases. I currently use a Cisco Nexus 3064 - https://www.ebay.com/p/219487215 https://www.ebay.com/p/219487215 It's kind of loud but I keep my hardware in a closet and to be honest, enterprise hardware like this makes heat and needs fans for a good reason haha. If you're looking for a more consumer entry and don't care about L3 routing Ubiquiti actually makes one hell of a damn good sfp+ "switch" for the money -> https://www.ui.com/unifi-switching/unifi-switch-16-xg/ https://www.ui.com/unifi-switching/unifi-switch-16-xg/ and again - cannot recommend FS.com enough for their service and quality products. Even if it was a little weird that their sales rep immediately added me on LinkedIn?
- pdimitar 6y ago
  Much appreciate the answer, thank you. Sadly I don't have enough free space currently so I have to bet on fanless tech (but I do enjoy it). I meant normal Cat6 Ethernet 10Gbase-T cables, yep. If not, I can indeed buy a fanless Mikrotik switch with SFP+ cages and just buy 8-10 adapters from SFP+ to 10Gbase-T, I suppose. Bookmarking your link, definitely will look into that switch when I have the proper closet space for server tech.
  - koolk3ychain 6y ago
    No worries! Keep in mind that sfp+ transceivers are "branded" - in that you have to buy the right sfp+ transceiver to match the brand of switch or interface you're using. For instance, intel NIC's generally require intel "marked" transceivers etc. They last a damn long time though. Those small MikroTik switches are also awesome!
    - StillBored 6y ago
      Is that true of the ubiquity? I didn't think they required branded SFPs, they don't on some of their other hardware. Similarly for mikrotik. I usually find that companies with "licensable" features on their hardware are the ones locking their SFPs to their switches/etc in an effort to enforce what is basically a port license (aka buy our $80 SFPs instead of the generic ones we are rebranding so we can make $ on your port usage vs just adding a $$$/port license fee).
      - pdimitar 6y ago
        I haven't started redoing my home network in 10Gbps yet but after scanning forums for a few weeks (back in the summer), I've seen many people say that Mikrotik switches work without any issue with several non-Mikrotik DACs (not sure I'm remembering the abbreviation well but it's a small device that converts from SFP+ to 10Gbase-T Ethernet cable).
    - iforgotpassword 6y ago
      There are devices out there to rebrand a transceiver. Probably not worth it for home use, but my employer has one of these, so maybe ask around if you could get wrongly branded ones for cheap.

caeril 6y ago

Why are Ubiquiti switches "garbage"?

Skunkleton 6y ago
I'm not sure. We had a 16 port 10G ubiquiti switch in our lab that did as it said on the tin with no issues. IIRC we paid ~$700 for it.
sliken 6y ago
Been very happy with mine. Nice management interface, can backup the config to a text file, easy to upgrade, etc.

mayli 6y ago

AFAIK, this PA-220 has nothing to do with 10G and cannot even do line speed routing at 1Gbps. It's an advanced firewall, not a high speed router.