How the heck do you blow them up? that just isn't normal.

You'd better make sure your data center doesn't have power issues.

I have a cheap SMC at home. But you might want a managed switch. I've been happy with 3Com in the past for remote data center use.

But, then again, I've never had equipment "blow up".

Thanks, so far I've got good feedback on 3com, HP, and Allied Telesys.

Regarding the equipment blowing up, that's called a "metaphor." It means failed. You don't take metaphors literally.

It's as if I were to call you a jerk, I wouldn't be describing the way you walk.

Well, of course, I didn't mean literally "blow up" either. What I meant is that I haven't had equipment just fail like that. It isn't common, especially for something so simple as a low-end switch.

Switches - especially simple/low-end ones - just don't easily fail. That's why I suggested that you look to other causes than an unreliable manufacturer.

Mechanical failure is the most common type of failure in computer equipment. And that's more likely to happen to more complex equipment than switches. Say, a fan failure in a server that could lead to CPU failure if the equipment doesn't have some sort of automatic shutdown. Or fatigue of connectors due to repeated insertion and removal of cards or connectors. But the latter would be limited to equipment that you fiddle with frequently.

A high-end switch will almost certainly have a fan. I think most low-end ones today don't need one. Makes for an interesting trade-off. One might reasonably expect the low-end switch to actually be more reliable.

So, I am surprised to see that you've had two failures in a row, even for Netgear equipment.

A cheapie switch may have poor protection from power surges. Thus, my suggestion to look at poor power regulation as a possible cause. A higher-end switch certainly would have better protection - but you may be masking a bigger problem.

Yeah, me too. I've been running these servers for years on a (I hate to admit this) ultra low-end HP switch I bought _used_ on ebay. I've never had one last less than three years.

That's good advice about the power, and finding a switch with a fan.

Thanks for the input, despite my smart-ass reply it is truly appreciated.

Id say look at Hp procurve or posibly Linksys

Do you realy need a managed gigabit switch? you can pick up second hand 24 port ciscos with gbit uplinks second hand on ebay for a relativly good price.

unless you have a realy big upstream pipe having the servers on a gigabit switch isn't going to give you that much a second and 100 mbs switch with a gigabit uplink is going to give each sever 100/100 mbs

I'me thinking about that or for when we outgrow our toy switch
here.

I've been using Dell's quite happily for years. Relatively painless setup and inexpensive. Not that I've looked at their switches lately, my 2-3 y.o. one is working fine.

I would also question the need for a gigabyte switch. Typically the upstream ports might be gigabit, but the individual ports would be 10/100. Unless you're actually burning more than 100mbits per machine (really unlikely) or your overall traffic is actually at the gigabit level (again, I doubt it) then even the low end switches are going to be overkill.

And buy two. One goes in the datacenter. The other goes in the basement beside that big box of powercords and modems for the day when the primary one blows. Ask yourself/your management if the outages cost them more than the cost of a second switch. Switches are relatively cheap so worth having a spare as backup. It's not something you can find at 3 in the morning when you need one :).