On Dec 10, 2011, at 9:35 AM, Alan McKay <alan.mckay at gmail.com> wrote: >> The Dell 6224 or 6248 switches are priced low > > Hmmm, we seem to have different definitions of "priced low" :-) > > http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?s=bsd&c=ca&l=en&cs=cabsdt1&k=PowerConnect+6224&cat=all&x=0&y=0 > > $2000 for the 24 port. > > I can get a Cisco small business switch for less than 1/4 that. > Speaking of which, would this one be OK for iSCSI? > > http://www.shoprbc.com/ca/shop/product_details.php?pid=71436 Actually the 5424 would be a better then the 6224, the base is around $1200, if you call a rep you can probably get 33% off, given it's year end, often they will have a buy one get one free which equates to 50% off. As far as the Cisco Small Business line is concerned, that line was formed from the acquisition of Linksys, so it's basically Linksys small business switches and you get what you pay for. If this is for a home media server, then I'm sure it will be more then adequate, if this is a business system I would invest in equipment whose cost is in relation to the cost of the data contained within. You wouldn't want a cheap switch that locks up when the traffic gets heavy to ruin your data integrity. Lump the cost of the switches, nics and cables into the total cost of the storage solution and justify that cost by the cost of the integrity of the data it contains. There is your business rational for the investment. -Ross