Customer Reviews

TRENDnet 16-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch (16x 10/100/1000Mbps Auto-Negotiation and Auto-MDIX ports, 2x Mini-GBIC) TEG-160WS (Black)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

[update 1-15-2011] we are upgrading our backbone to managed switches - the latest batch of trendnet TEG160WS units didn't have a fan inside -- infact to make sure I put a wattmeter on it and they only draw 11watts with 8/16 ports in use at 1gbps. My assumtion is they redesigned the product to be more green since it runs 24/7 and were able to yank the noisy fan. You can still replace the fans on the older units with 40mm fans with ball bearings)
[end of update]

With gigabit ethernet sometimes insufficient to link backbones a common technique has emerged to aggregate to channels to get a 2Gbps link instead. My NAS Raid5 synology array Synology DiskStation 5-Bay (Diskless) Scalable Network Attached Storage DS1010+ (Black) supports this with 2 gig-e jacks on the back, as do several lan cards on servers these days.

The advantage is you can build a backbone between switches that has 2gbps capacity and connect to your server or NAS box with this aggregated 2x speed link, then plug in multiple 1x gig-e devices to the switches along the way. This makes for efficient low cost backbone design and serves the need using off the shelf parts and smart switches like this.

The trendnet switch is also a value compared to the cisco 8 port which runs about $100 - 2 of those would cost more than this and you would use 4 ports just linking the two switches together if you use an aggregate backbone design.

As for the fan noise - it can be quieted down - the fans that come from the factory are cheap 1u size fans, but computer stores for home pc builders sell high quality ball bearing fans that are the same size but do not make the buzz of the trendnet fans. They have the same hole pattern, voltage, and plug so swapout is easy and quiets down your box without sacrificing airflow. I'll post links when I can find some for sale on amazon so other users can kill off the acoustic noise.

one last note - the amazon dimentions are wrong - this is a standard rackmount product measuring 440 x 210 x 44mm (17.3 x 8.3 x 1.73in.)

First of all; my review is based on a purchase price of just $140, so keep that in mind if the product goes up in price.

The Trendnet on review here is one of those products that you buy wondering what is wrong with it. To get a rack mountable managed 16 port Gigabit switch makes you suspicious you are buying a lemon.

But let me make one thing clear: this thing is ROCK SOLID.

I connected mine in January (it is now almost August) and it has been running without a single glitch ever since, with 15 machines on Gigabit.

The web management interface is quite bare, but it offers the minimum you'd need (vnets, port speeds etc...).

In addition to the 16 Gigabit ports, you even get to GBIC slots, but the expansions for that are pretty expensive.

The device has forced cooling through some fans, but that doesn't stop the enclosure from getting pretty hot. You'll want to keep it somewhere cool(ish).

I really can't add anything else here. It works, it always works, and it won't let you down. At around $200 it has to be one of the most affordable managed switches out there.

I've got a virtual machine implementation and VLANs to separate traffic. This switch is solidly built and very inexpensive for the feature set. They (I got two) have been working steadily for 18 mos. The management interface is very intuitive. I can't confirm they are compatible with VMWare nic trunking (enabling 2x1Gbps) which would be nice for iSCSI paths. But, you get the gist that I've enjoyed a lot of features for $160 switch.

The fan in the unit is loud enough that unless it's in a closet it would be annoying to be in the same room with it. I've got it in the basement tying together all the cat5 from around the house and it's terrific to have plenty of Gig ports. I like the Web UI for the unit, too, because it allows me to see traffic patterns easily.

Works like a charm, and with the added basic layer 2 management, it's a great deal for the price. My only comment would be regarding the fan noise, as it is relatively loud. I have it in a small cabinet, in a closet, and it can still be heard over the sound of the two cabinet fans, so it's definitely not for placement in an open office space. Nevertheless, still a great deal for the specs. Let's see how it fairs in the long haul.

Awesome! but we are having little issues with 16bit pcmcia cards holding an IP. Is kinda loud fan for a hub. two 8 port gigabits would allow for almost NO sound. Dont know why 16 ports are so much louder.