POE network switch

[PandaBear]

You definitely don't need 10Gig for security cameras, my Unifi 4K cameras only link at 100Mbit and use about 8-15Mbit depending on the encoding.

I have a Chinese equivalent of something that Reolink offers (some no name brand that I'm sure is just importing Chinese stuff and put a basic firmware on it) that runs 4 cameras and the NVR has 8 ports on it, support only 100mbps if I remember right. Even with 16 cameras with a GOOD NVR from a reputable US brand it probably won't exceed 2.5gbps. The cost of running a Cisco switch would likely be enough to split the vlan out into a dedicated dumb physical switch away from the non security camera stuff with some dumb PoE injector that won't burn up the switch. There is no better security than physical isolation.

 

[rijndael]

I have an 8MP Reolink camera, the “clear” live feed is ~8 mbps video stream

 

[OVERKILL]

The -LL models are non-PoE and "Lite" instead of standard networking features, so avoid them entirely.

I think it's always good practice to check the specs of the model on Cisco's site for this reason. While the naming convention isn't complicated for people that deal with them regularly, it's pretty easy for Joe Average to end up with something he doesn't want by buying what he thinks is the same thing that was recommended, but ultimately lacks the features he's looking for.

Firmware can also be transferred to the switch by writing it to a standard FAT-formatted USB flash drive then mounting that drive in the front panel USB port.

Good point, though I've never done it that way, always from either TFTP or FTP.

 

[rijndael]

On some of the platforms, like Nexus 9K, the CoPP policy is too restrictive and trying to copy in an image takes a lot longer than I think it should. You can watch the policer dropping your transfer packets.

I haven't been able to use tftp in years, the minute you add in any noticable latency, the ping-pong nature of TFTP coupled with file sizes > 1GB makes it seem like we're back in the days of T1s.

For a local switch at home and a small image, they all work fine.

 

[OVERKILL]

On some of the platforms, like Nexus 9K, the CoPP policy is too restrictive and trying to copy in an image takes a lot longer than I think it should. You can watch the policer dropping your transfer packets.

I haven't been able to use tftp in years, the minute you add in any noticable latency, the ping-pong nature of TFTP coupled with file sizes > 1GB makes it seem like we're back in the days of T1s.

For a local switch at home and a small image, they all work fine.

Yeah, the L2 switch images are pretty small at around 30-40MB, even with the optional webUI. You get into the larger Linux-based images for the more capable units and the strategy changes. That said, none of our sites are large enough to warrant something like a Nexus 9K, lol.

 

[terry274]

@OVERKILL @rijndael I received the switch today. Yeah, I need help. I can connect to an ethernet port to my computer and login. This is what I see:

If I click the Telnet link a screen flashes up on my computer and goes away in less than one second. The Monitor the router link will open up some commands but I don't know what to do.
The Web Console link doen't work. Apparently I need specific firmware for that to work.
Do I need an adapter to connect to a console? DB9 to RJ45?

Firmware is 15.2(7)E9
When I search the Cisco website I find firmware 15.2(7)E99 but no E9

Whats my next move?

 

[OVERKILL]

@OVERKILL @rijndael I received the switch today. Yeah, I need help. I can connect to an ethernet port to my computer and login. This is what I see:

View attachment 293155

If I click the Telnet link a screen flashes up on my computer and goes away in less than one second. The Monitor the router link will open up some commands but I don't know what to do.
The Web Console link doen't work. Apparently I need specific firmware for that to work.
Do I need an adapter to connect to a console? DB9 to RJ45?

Firmware is 15.2(7)E9
When I search the Cisco website I find firmware 15.2(7)E99 but no E9

View attachment 293156

Whats my next move?

Latest software for that switch is 15.2.7E12MD, April 10th, 2025.
https://software.cisco.com/download/home/284795736/type/280805680/release/15.2.7E12

It sounds like you'd LIKE to have the webUI for monitoring and stuff? (you don't have that currently).

Step 1:
Get yourself a copy of putty

Step 2:
Try to telnet or ssh into 10.0.2.1

Once you've confirmed that you can get into it from putty, we can get into more configuration. It looks like it's been configured to hand out DHCP leases, which I'm sure you don't want, lol.