ᐅ Any experience with the Cisco SG250X-24P-K9-EU switch?

Hello everyone,

I am considering using/acquiring a managed switch for the future home network.

In my opinion, it should meet all necessary requirements: Layer 3, routing, IGMPv3, VLAN without a router...

Does anyone have experience with this device or any other comments?

Best regards

Describe your network requirements.

In my opinion, Cisco is not the top choice for networks in single-family homes. Where would that even lead to? Next, someone might ask for products from Extreme Networks or, even worse, Fortinet.

Are you familiar with Cisco equipment? That would be a prerequisite, as the configuration is quite complex (which is also why Cisco training is so ridiculously expensive).

I would rather go for something semi-professional with good manageability and helpful support, such as Ubiquiti.

I initially wanted to go with Ubiquiti. However, I’m put off by the lack of support for IGMPv3 and their reputation for being too expensive for the performance offered, leading to an investment in a more proprietary ecosystem.

Tarnari schrieb:

... Layer 3, routing, IGMPv3, VLAN without router...

Hi, unfortunately, even though I have installed thousands of switches, I have no experience with this device—sorry. Still, I would like to know if you realize what you’re getting into with it?

Because the features mentioned above are not something you can just configure in 5 minutes, and even experienced IT professionals struggle with some of them (VLAN configuration is by no means the same everywhere!). Every manufacturer uses their own specialized terminology. Even Layer 3 routing? Whew. Why? Just because everything is in one device?

If you want to separate networks, you get an old Atom box (I once bought a pallet with about 100 “Terra SecurePoint” units for this purpose, also suitable would be “SOPHOS UTM 110/120 Rev.5,” both with 2-4x Gbps LAN) for very little money and, as a non-expert, rather set up a PFSense / IPFire router (with even more and easier-to-manage features like VPN / DMZ / DHCP / NTP / firewall / routing / DNS (split DNS!) etc.) instead of dealing with the complex routing of a Cisco switch.

My recommendation: separate switch and router...

I have handled the SG250 several times. It runs well, is stable, and free of errors. In fact, the configuration is non-trivial. Depending on the overall ecosystem desired, there are better solutions.

I admit that my main concern is to find a solution that brings Telekom Magenta TV smoothly online without needing to “tinker” with it. We have used it for years, are completely satisfied with the package, and other comparable IPTV alternatives are not available in new constructions.

Ubiquity involves a lot of “tinkering.”
Fritzbox = double NAT, Draytek modem = extensive configuration regarding VLAN 7, Ubiquity router cannot handle IGMPv3, switch doesn’t support true VLAN routing, some configuration that needs to be provisioned but gets lost after every reboot...
meh...

The Cisco device comes recommended from the “Administrator” forum. It seems to offer everything “out of the box.”

IT is my profession, but I am not a networking expert; Windows/Server is more my area.
Still, I think I can get into it.
I admit, though, that I have no experience with Cisco.