Interactive scorecard and NetResults: Gigabit ethernet switches
Every network is unique. This calculator lets you change the weights given to scores from our review to see which product might be best suited for your needs. Here's how it works: In each category, our reviewers rated the apps on a 1-10 basis. These ratings are then multiplied by the percentage weighting, and then added up to give an overall product score. Any score above 9 is considered "world class." For each category below, assign the percentage weight you think is most appropriate. The percent-o-meter box on the right will keep track of your weightings to let you know when you've reached 100%. When you fill in the last box, hit your enter key, and you'll see how the apps rate (along with our final scores for comparison).
| NetStruct- ure 470T |
OptiSwitch-800F | TigerSwitch 1000 | AT9006 SX/SC |
||||
| Layer | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |||
| Performance | 9.4 | 8.7 | 8.4 | 8.3 | |||
|
Mgmt./ admin./ config. |
8.3 | 7.3 | 7 | 6.5 | |||
| Features | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Install- ation/ ease of use/doc. |
9.1 | 8.3 | 8.7 | 7.3 | |||
| Our total | 8.5 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 7.2 | YOUR TOTAL | ||
NetResults
ProCurve 9304
RATING: 9.63
COMPANY: Hewlett-Packard, (650) 857-1501
COST: $47,997.
PROS: Extensive feature set,
including Layer 3 capabilities; excellent performance, documentation, and
configuration flexibility and scalability.
CONS: No online help in Web
management interface; CLI interface can be overwhelming due to the amount
of commands implemented.
BigIron 4000
RATING: 9.60
COMPANY: Foundry Networks, (408) 586-1700
COST: Starts at $44,985.
PROS: Extensive feature set,
including Layer 3 capabilities; excellent performance, configuration
flexibility and scalability.
CONS: No online help in Web management
interface; CLI interface can be overwhelming due to the amount of commands
implemented.
ProCurve 6308
RATING: 9.30
COMPANY: Hewlett-Packard, (650) 857-1501
COST: Starts at $19,249.
PROS: Extensive feature set, including Layer 3
capabilities; excellent performance; redundant power supply.
CONS: No online help in Web management interface; CLI interface can be
overwhelming due to the amount of commands implemented.
NetStructure 480T
RATING: 9.10
COMPANY: Intel, (800) 538-3373
COST: Starts at $18,990.
PROS: Layer 3 functionality at a very reasonable price;
excellent performance; eight quality-of-service priority queues.
CONS: Web
management does not cover all the options available in the CLI; CLI is not
very intuitive and is hard to use.
NetStructure 470F
RATING: 8.50
COMPANY: Intel, (800) 538-3373
COST: Starts
at $7,499.
PROS: Excellent Web management interface, well-organized and
presented; best performer among Layer 2 switches tested.
CON: Does not
support autonegotiation on fiber ports, which causes
a problem connecting to a device that is autonegotiation enabled.
OptiSwitch-800F
RATING: 7.90
COMPANY: Nbase-Xyplex, (800) 654-5056
COST: Starts at $6,265.
PROS: Very well-organized CLI
online help - commands are arranged in logical groupings; easy to navigate;
dual removable power supply and flexible configuration (port modules are
swappable rather than fixed).
CONS: No Web management interface (only CLI
through console and Telnet); CLI language is somewhat cryptic.
TigerSwitch 1000
RATING: 7.50
COMPANY: SMC Networks, (800) 762-4968
COST:
Starts at $6,740.
PROS: Compact and lightweight - the smallest of all the
switches tested; good Web management interface; pretty straightforward and
easy to use.
CONS: Console interface could be better organized; console
port in the back.
AT-9006SX/SC
RATING: 7.20
COMPANY: Allied Telesyn, (800) 428-4835
COST: $5,384.
PROS: Limited lifetime warranty; free
technical support; supports BOOTP and DHCP; least expensive of all devices reviewed.
CONS: No adjustable per-port broadcast storm control; no media access control filtering; poorly
implemented console interface.
