Trying to plan network upgrade, Mikrotik/UniFi/something
from onedayfishsale@sh.itjust.works to homelab@lemmy.ml on 30 Jun 2025 17:29
https://sh.itjust.works/post/41285468

Last week my trusty UniFi US-8-150W caught some stray something from a lightning strike in our backyard. I’m keeping it around to see if I can fix it, but we work from home here so I’m using this as an excuse for some new gear.

APs are UniFi and I’m happy with the management for those (UniFi Network in a container) but am considering Mikrotik options for switching.

I’d like 14+ total ports with at least some 2.5 GbE. I need 6+ PoE+ ports with at least 60 W total (normal load is around 56 W). I’m looking at:

Both options have some compromises and some overkill, which is part of the reason I think I must be missing some better option. Also, space is a consideration. I’d like to stick with 10"-ish format so I don’t have to completely rework my physical setup.

(Also, hi! New to Lemmy but not the fediverse in general.)

#homelab

threaded - newest

jet@hackertalks.com on 30 Jun 2025 18:56 next collapse

techspecs.ui.com/unifi/…/usw-pro-max-16-poe

4 2.5 gbe poe ports

2 sfp+ ports

12 gbe poe ports

A little spendy at $400 usd

Keeps everything in the ubiqui controller

(12.8 x 6.3 x 1.7")… almost 10" I think you could squeeze it in

Nice looking lab!

onedayfishsale@sh.itjust.works on 30 Jun 2025 19:04 collapse

Hmm, that looks interesting. Expensive but same (or cheaper) than my two-switch options. Off to measure up the physical space…

jet@hackertalks.com on 30 Jun 2025 19:20 collapse

I’m actually running a CRS310-8G+2S+IN right now in a otherwise all ubiquity network. No issues. I chose it for fiber termination purposes. The ubiquity topology tool dumps it at the gateway in the graphic (shrug)

onedayfishsale@sh.itjust.works on 02 Jul 2025 17:18 next collapse

Unexciting update: Not enough space for the Pro Max. Maybe if I rearrange everything, but that’s more of a holiday break thing than a right now thing. I’m also looking at a Cisco WS-C2960L-16PS-LL which doesn’t do 2.5 GbE but seems pretty okay otherwise. Looks like a lot of clean used ones out there for well under $100, so maybe a better option for right now.

onedayfishsale@sh.itjust.works on 15 Sep 16:45 collapse

Okay, here’s what I ended up with. I managed to wedge a Cisco WS-C2960L-16PS-LL in there after moving my patch panel slightly. It’s really too big for the space but only an issue if I need to plug/unplug devices.

<img alt="" src="https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/d666ee7b-3d44-4a5d-80b4-7c80da0c2abe.jpeg">

The switch is a compromise, but cheap enough that I won’t feel bad buying something else if we ever get fiber here. Functionally it’s fine, but there are little things like enabling LLDP causes one of my old Ubiquiti APs to boot loop. And (possibly related) I can’t read actual PoE usage from the switch, only budget. But it’s handling all of the power load just fine, and it’s really nice having everything on one switch now.

So this is your typical “new person asks for advice, gets advice, ignores advice” except that I actually returned to say what I ended up doing. 😄 Thanks for the input.