From: Marc G. Fournier [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > One thing I hate about comparison shopping for computers ... there are > sooooo many options :( > > What is the difference between Layer2 and Layer3, and what does that > affect? > > I see the HP Procurve 2626 (I don't need 50 ports yet) for > ~$600 on the > web ... while I can pick up the Dell PowerConnect 3324 is ~$500 ... > > How do I compare the two? They seem to both use different > terminologies > for what I'd guess are the same thing: > > HP: > Throughput: 2650 - 10.1 mpps (64-byte packets) 2626 - 6.6 > mpps (64-byte packets) > Switching capacity: 2650 - 13.6 Gbps 2626 - 9.6 Gbps > > Dell: > Switch Fabric Capacity 8.8 Gb/s > Forwarding Rate 6.5 Mpps > > So, in both cases, the HP is faster, but ... is that 6.6mpps > "per port" > (ie. the pp?) ... right now, I'm seeing max of around 3Mps going out a > server, with average being well below 1 ... so I can't see > hitting that > high any time soon ... > > Based on the #s for throughput, I can't see a big advantage of HP over > Dell to warrant the extra cost, but I see nothing on Dell about the > Layer2/3 stuff ... but not sure what that gives either ... > > Price wise, both the HP and Dell versions look reasonable, > and I think the > Dell is easier for me to get in Panama (I know there is a > local office for > them there) ... > > I've had one + for Dell ... does anyone have any caveats > against them? Or > kudos too?
Gigabit ethernet has a maximum rate of ~1.5Mpps. This is millions of packets per second. Your server is likely 3Mbps, which if you figure the average packet size is ~400 bytes, is more like 1kpps. If you are not looking for layer 3 (routing), but just a switch, then look @ something like the dlink or linksys(cisco) layer 2 offers, compared vs e.g. a cisco cat2970. DGS-3224TG is what i use. Something like the linksys SR2024 is probably fine. _______________________________________________ [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailing list http://lists.freebsd.org/mailman/listinfo/freebsd-net To unsubscribe, send any mail to "[EMAIL PROTECTED]"
