I'm looking to acquire a few new core switches for our network which would be a major upgrade from the cheap unmanaged things we currently have. Basically, just users, servers, and other simple network devices will be plugged into them but I'd like to start doing some testing with iSCSI for various non-production reasons. I have no allegiance to a particular vendor although I do have a Cisco background. I'd like them to be at least 10/100/1000 (no need for power over ethernet) and include many of the features that are most important to me in a managed switch, including:
* vlans * mstp or some well established form of per vlan spanning tree * acl's * port mirroring or what cisco calls span sessions * snmp * ssh enabled remote management * support w/ updates and bugfixes
I need at least 48 ports per device and obviously would like them to be "fast". Most importantly, I'd like to know what you guys prefer as operations dudes and what pitfalls to avoid. Also, are there other features you folks would demand to have in your switches that I haven't mentioned? I can provide more information if you'd like. Thanks.
Oh, cost is sort of an issue (small/medium sized business) but right now insight from you guys is what's important and I can work out the cost issue later. Thanks again.