Cisco 2960 set up

Yes you can. Reset means that you go back to the factory settings, which means any limitations are erased. A switch is open by default, when connected traffic starts to flow. Configuring a switch comes down to limiting traffic flows, enabling functions  or using specific protocols. 

Just don't try this method with a Nexus9k or Catalyst9k. 

The 8TC-L is probably the one to get. Try to get the seller to do a factory reset first. Then it's just plug and play. 

I reset mine on purchase in the way you describe. Works fine unconfigured.

The Catalyst switches are all similar in terms of what we are looking at. Do however get an 8 port variant if you want to be fan noise free.

Simon

Thanks all - just what I needed.

Just a quick question, ive got a 2960 arriving next week, which port does the cable from my router plug in to? 

Not technically on topic but I have seen several posts saying that the SQ with the Cisco switch is better than with others. I happen to have a Packedge router and switch in my home system. Should I consider "upgrading" ?

I've only just taken the plunge. I have been using a small Cisco 110D with ifi power supply, with no issues whatsoever, so I'm interested in comparing the two. 

Is the 8TC-L not only supporting 100 Mbit? Would it not be wise to directly look out for a switch capable of streaming 1000 Mbit in order to be safe for the future? Which 2960 model would be the right one in this case?

Mine was only £30 brand new. If it needs changing at some point in the future I don't think I'll mind. The 2960 G is the gigabit model 

30£ brand new? You must be kidding :-) 

I know!!! Arriving next week. I hope for an improvement over my current switch. If not, it will find a new home I'm sure. 

Finkfan posted:

I've only just taken the plunge. I have been using a small Cisco 110D with ifi power supply, with no issues whatsoever, so I'm interested in comparing the two. 

I tried (borrowed) a 2960 & unfortunately I decided not to go with it as it was too big to fit in my switch location,  at that time it was a Netgear GS105,  yes it could be done but it was too involved.      The Netgear got moved to the study (PC & printers) & I installed a Cisco SG110D,  SQ change was not detectable (maybe if I'd A/B'd a bit more I might have heard something)  but the NAS LED flashing has a lot less activity on the 'Disk is being accessed' indicator,  I might not have heard anything but something is different.     

I also tried a few different switches with some friends one evening,  including a big pro-level HP,  we could not detect any differences,  the one exception was with my old Netgear FS105, although it worked I suspect it may have been defective.

Zikarus, Naim streamers (all streamers) support 100Mb/s  (100Base-T) 

I used the Netgear which I thought was good but the 2960 to me was a significant improvement sorry upgrade.

If you can find one on the BAY you will be very happy.

zikarus posted:

Is the 8TC-L not only supporting 100 Mbit? Would it not be wise to directly look out for a switch capable of streaming 1000 Mbit in order to be safe for the future? Which 2960 model would be the right one in this case?

all 2960-8tc will be fine. factory reset is recommended.  just plug and play...

jsaudio posted:

Not technically on topic but I have seen several posts saying that the SQ with the Cisco switch is better than with others. I happen to have a Packedge router and switch in my home system. Should I consider "upgrading" ?

the 2960-8tc cisco switch, refurbished and factory reset can be find for 30/60 GBP on bay, so not very expensive.  better dynamics, focus and involvement are often noticed... Try it and if not satisfied, you can return or sell easily.  I had netgear gs105 with additional lpsu before and now this cisco.

zikarus posted:

Is the 8TC-L not only supporting 100 Mbit? Would it not be wise to directly look out for a switch capable of streaming 1000 Mbit in order to be safe for the future? Which 2960 model would be the right one in this case?

Possibly - but unless you are throwing lots of data about like synchronising NASs or transferring very large files very quickly 100Mbps is really fine - and after all it is what Naim uses on their streamers.

There is another consideration, although I haven't played here myself yet, is that 1Gbps connections may well be more electrically noisy compared to 100/10Mbps connections, because on a 100Mbps full duplex connection only two pairs are used and with a 1 Gbps connection all four pairs are used so potentially a 1Gbps could be more electrically noisy.. food for thought.

The G versions of the 2960 are the gigabit versions - but I have not evaluated whether they offer the same SQ improvements even when running as 100Mbps ports

Simon

French Rooster posted:

jsaudio posted:

Not technically on topic but I have seen several posts saying that the SQ with the Cisco switch is better than with others. I happen to have a Packedge router and switch in my home system. Should I consider "upgrading" ?

the 2960-8tc cisco switch, refurbished and factory reset can be find for 30/60 GBP on bay, so not very expensive.  better dynamics, focus and involvement are often noticed... Try it and if not satisfied, you can return or sell easily.  I had netgear gs105 with additional lpsu before and now this cisco.

Yep. I don't know anything about computer bits and bobs but took a chance on the 2960-8tc and am very pleased with the lift it gave, much as described by FR above.

G

Thx Simon snd Mike B, you are right, Naim does not support 1Gbit even with the new streaming platform. In my opinion a mistake since a DSD stream even nowadays can easily reach 11Mbyte/s (a 24/192 stream uses around 6 Mbyte) which already takes the 100Mbit (= 12,5Mbyte) to its limit. So there are no reserves for the future...

In my config at home I have to use two switches, one in the lobby which connects my router and NAS with all other rooms and another switch in my living room connecting my Uniti, TV, Amazon Fire, Sonore microRendu and BlueRay player to the www. In that kind of config 1Gbit switches are mandatory in my opinion. And that is without 4k TV to date... ;-)

Interesting I just assumed it was best to leave the switch just for the Naim streamer so it gets exclusive use, or is that incorrect and whatever I plug into the switch benefits BUT does not impede other devices on the switch ?

Please can someone answer Obsydian's question? I too have just bought a s/h 2960-8TC and was wondering whether I should plug everything into it (Airport Extreme, Apple TV and streamer, etc.) or daisy chain two switches reserving 2960 for streamer only? Any difference?

The switch is designed for devices to connect to it - please attach all appropriate devices to the switch such as NAS etc as well as the Streamer - in a way this will have advantages as the network response will be slightly quicker... 

zikarus posted:

Thx Simon snd Mike B, you are right, Naim does not support 1Gbit even with the new streaming platform. In my opinion a mistake since a DSD stream even nowadays can easily reach 11Mbyte/s (a 24/192 stream uses around 6 Mbyte) which already takes the 100Mbit (= 12,5Mbyte) to its limit. So there are no reserves for the future...

Hmm - not sure I follow your maths

Stereo 192/24 PCM = 9.216Mbps = 1.152MBps

Say the regular EthernetII frame has a regular  max length of  1186 bytes (but could be up to 1526 bytes which reduces the overhead further)

This will contain a TCP payload of 1132 bytes

Each frame will also have a preamble and spacing of at least 20bytes on the line

Therefore per second Stereo 192/24 PCM = 1152000Bytes / 1132Bytes =  1018 frames 

So 1018 frames x (1186 + 20) = 1.227708MBps = 9.822Mbps

Therefore a 100Mbps Ethernet port speed with a Stereo 192/24 PCM media stream carried as TCP will  be 9.822% utilised - i.e. there is a huge amount of head room - ergo 100Mbps is more than ample now and plenty of reserve for future formats

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

The switch is designed for devices to connect to it - please attach all appropriate devices to the switch such as NAS etc as well as the Streamer - in a way this will have advantages as the network response will be slightly quicker... 

Thanks Simon, I am trying to make sense of the discussions in various threads... Am I right that from your experience SQ is not compromised with all the devices connected to the same 2960 switch? And there is no benefit to be had from a fancy PS on the switch? However a good cable between switch and streamer might improve SQ? Regards, William

The idea is to isolate the hifi stuff from everything else. In my case I connect the switch to my router (Airport Extreme) and the hifi (272, Qb, Qnap nas) to the switch. 

My 2960 8 TC-L has an internal power supply, so that cannot be changed. 

The switch is plugged into an uninterrupted power supply, along with the router and the Qnap. 

The 272 and the Qnap are connected to the Cisco with AudioQuest Vodka leads, and the Cisco is connected to the Airport with AudioQuest Cinnamon.