Network Switch Positioning

Streaming Audio
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A question for the network experts on the Forum.

Presently I use a Netgear GS105 Network Switch and a pair of TP-Link MC100CM Fibre Media converters, which is inside the cabinet that the Linn Selekt DSM sits on.

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This is connected to the first Network Switch, Netgear GS105 near the Fibre Mesh Router, unfortunately, this has only one spare RJ45 socket. All the Ethernet cables are CatSnake 6a Floating. And the Fibre Patch Lead is OM1.

Reading some comments on the Forum about using Cisco switches and looking at some used ones on eBay, but need a bit of guidance with what I’m thinking of doing.

Considering a Cisco Netwotk Switch, (either 2960 or 3560), with an IEC plug, so that it has an earth / ground plus a SFP socket. This would go near the Fibre Mesh Router in the Halkway, replacing the first Netgear GS105. This in turn would feed the upstairs and downstairs switches.

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Are these difficult to set up or are they “Plug and Play"?

This would give me the following options;

  1. Keep the Netgear GS105 to feed the TV only, keeping the iFI Power2 SMPS. Feed one TP-Link MC100CM with a Fibre Patch Lead from the Cisco via a SFP Plug.
  2. Remove the Netgear GS105 and iFI SMPS, use an inline Ethernet coupler. Feed one TP-Link MC100CM with a Fibre Patch Lead from the Cisco.
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Option 1, would have less connections in the cable run, plus one less MC100CM, one less iFI SMPSs in the near vicinity of the Linn DMS. A longer Fibre Lead run.

Option 2, would have less connections in the cable run, plus one less Netgear GS105 and one less MC100CM, two less iFI SMPSs in the near vicinity of the Linn DMS. A longer Fibre Patch Lead run.

Regarding the SFP Module 1000Base, would this be suitable for the Cisco Network Switch, as the MC100CM is 100Base or does it require a SFP Module 100Base? Having a problem finding a 100Base version, also some are shown as SFP or SFP+, are they compatible?

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Regarding the Fibre Patch Lead looking at this OM1 version.

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One question is, how flexible and resilient are they, would it be OK in my trunking?
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The top channel is power, the middle channel is loudspeaker cable and the bottom channel is data cables.

Apologies for all the questions and any incorrect terminology, please feel free to correct, as advised earlier, this is new to me but very interesting.

DG…

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I am no network expert. I have had Cisco 2960 and had networking problems with it. It also runs hot.

I use Netgear GS108 for TV gear now.

Taken out EE8 which was powered by Farad into PhoenixNet.

Using PhoenixNet for HiFi streaming.

Could the GS108 do the job? Or GS324?

What is benefit of having a Cisco that runs hot? Could cause more problems in closed cabinet.

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The Cisco will be in the Hallway, near the Fibre Mesh Router, to replace the existing Netgear GS105 network switch, well away from the Hi-Fi.

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One of the main benefits I’m looking for is to have network switch with a SFP Socket.

DG…

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You need someone who is an IT switch expert. It’s not my area. Cisco 2960 were all the rage on here. Now forum members are using EE8, PhoenixNet and other audiophile switches.

But what you want is more specialist.

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I had a 2960 with inbuilt power supply. One reason for getting rid of it was that it used 40W of power 24/7. It also caused a few problems in terms of consistency. Cisco make some much simpler unmanaged switches that have an external supply, which may be worth looking at.

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Not sure what you are trying to achieve … ?

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Just musing over removing switches and other kit away from the Linn DSM.

Probably got too much time on my hands, since not out on the bike.

DG…

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Not sure if your network topology would work with it, but the EE16 switch, earthed, good internal PSU, can be configured to two 8-port zones giving galvanic isolation between devices connected to each zone. Current available at quite a good price here in the UK.

The above configuration might well surpass the Ethernet-fibre-Ethernet configuration you have today.

Only a thought though, YMMV.

ATB, J

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If factory reset (which is likely if you have bought second hand) these Cisco switches are plug and play to work in a default configuration.

I have one of these in use currently. The only observation when acting as PoE power source they can get rather warm.

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Assuming you’re referring to the Cisco switches, you might need access to the Cisco documents for your specific switch, even if it’s a button press job.

I may be mistaken as my experience is several years ago …….

ATB, J

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An unmanaged switch is the most basic, and it’s what most consumers will buy, as it requires the least amount of set-up and is also the least expensive. An unmanaged switch is just that, unmanaged.

TP-Link TL-SG105S-M2 | 5-Port 2.5G Multi-Gigabit Unmanaged Network Switch, Ethernet Splitter | 2.5G Bandwidth | Plug & Play | Desktop/Wall-Mount | Fanless Metal Design | Limited Lifetime Protection

TP-Link TL-SG108S-M2 | 8-Port 2.5G Multi-Gigabit Unmanaged Network Switch, Ethernet Splitter | 2.5G Bandwidth | Plug & Play | Desktop/Wall-Mount | Fanless Metal Design | Limited Lifetime Protection

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If the belief these things make a difference then I would not want the ethernet coupler involved.

Why?

Don’t know really, audiophile reasons.

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And no processor banging away checking and implementing all those configuration management rules, even the default set - got to be electrically quieter, like for like, no?

ATB, J

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That’s for sure like for like

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According to a review by Robert Youman from Positive Feedback, the ethernet switch does make an impact on audio streaming quality. He notes that when using the switch to stream audio online, the detail of the music is equal to the best files stored locally on his hard drive. He says he even prefers it to vinyl recordings in some cases.

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An Ethernet switch cannot have the ability to make a signal “better.” It cannot change it. The signal is the same with any switch as long as it’s not defective. We’re dealing with binary code. 1’s & 0’s.

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I don’t know whether to go to bed or get the popcorn out.
:yawning_face::popcorn:

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I am not sure that is relevant. The quality and capability of a switch can control the amount perturbations or noise coupling to the streamer via the Ethernet connection at the physical and link level, as well as controlling unwanted network stack processing in the streamer causing unwanted noise.
I think the effects of noise shaping has been brought to the fore with the recent experiences by some with the latest firmware experiences.
Also we are not dealing with binary code at this level… we are dealing with various analogue voltage modulation techniques carried across the Ethernet lead that represent symbols, not binary code.… dependent on the sync speed. Bimary code is an abstraction or dencapsulation that exists further up the stack.

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Resist you must Simon, resist you must…! :crazy_face:

SC

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Indeed, just posting out that simplistic layman abstractions don’t represent the specifics of real life and careful engineering design :grinning:

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