Alternative to NetGear 10GBase-T (copper) switches

[Arwen]

Up until recently, NetGear had the 2 cheapest 10GBase-T (copper) Ethernet switches;

8 port - XS708E un-managed plus, about $850 US
12 port - XS712T smart switch, about $1,500 US

Plenty of vendors had 2 or 4 up-link ports that were 10GBase-T. But more than 4? None
that were reasonably priced. Even some of those switches with 2/4 10GBase-T ports had
like 48 x 1Gbps ports raising the cost beyond some of our budgets.

Just found one that can compete;

ZyXEL XS1920, 12 ports 10GBase-T, (2 as combo SFP+), about $1,250 US

I've owned a ZyXEL 8 port 10/100Mbps with an additional 1Gbps uplink port. It worked
fine for over 5 years. (Had a need for many 10/100Mbps ports, so could not justify all
1Gbps until recently. Things like Roku, printer, old media server, UPS, A.C. control and
terminal server.)

Even just replaced that with a ZyXEL GS2200-8, which has 10 ports of 1GBase-T, (2 of
which are combo SFPs).

I'm not ready to do 10Gbps Ethernet at home, yet. Perhaps by the end of the year.

Any of you have alternatives?

If so, make mention if it's managable.

 

[Arwen]

Another 10GBase-T switch with modest number of ports and cost;

D-Link DXS-121-12T, 8 ports 10GBase-T, 2 10G SFP+, 2 combo 10GBase-T or SFP+, managable, about $1,550 US

 

[jgreco]

I would definitely wait. With the advent of Xeon D, we are much more likely to see 10G copper ports evolving into the "norm" for servers over the next year or three. Netgear obviously was early to market on the XS708E but I'd still consider it a little pricey. We ought to see entry-level 10G hitting the market soonish.

 

[Arwen]

Yes, I am waiting. Probably til the end of the year.

But, when I do buy, I want to get something that is managable AND from a company with 10Gbps copper experience.
Hopefully, vendors will have more choices in chips by then, and keep heat generated lower than today.