The processing capabilities of server rigs, NAS units, and mini-PCs make them quite tantalizing, but there are tons of other devices that can level up your computing setup. And I don’t just mean a new CPU or a powerful graphics card, either. Network stacks, when armed with the right devices, can turn painfully slow setups into lightning-fast home labs capable of transferring files in the same amount of time it takes to finish reading this sentence.
Routers are typically the first thing that comes to mind when you think about home network setups. But when my 2.5G switch broke down a few months ago, I ended up splurging my money on a new network switch. Turns out, it was the best possible upgrade for my network setup!
At last, 10GbE speeds are within my grasp
File transfer and backup operations benefit the most
Before I start gushing over my switch, let me say that 10 Gigabit speeds are somewhat overkill for most tech enthusiasts. A 1GbE switch is good enough for the average home labber and won’t get outdated any time soon. Heck, throw in a 2.5G connection for your essential computing devices, and you’ve already future-proofed your setup for another decade.
Me? I can never go back to slower Ethernet standards after going down the 10 Gigabit road. My Zyxel XGS1250-12 switch includes three 10GbE ports, which are more than enough for my essential devices: my everyday PC, a dual-Xeon Proxmox workstation, and a TrueNAS storage server. I tend to transfer ISOs, video footage, and other huge files between the trifecta of 10GbE devices almost every day. Thanks to the blazing-fast speeds offered by my switch, the transfers take a fraction of the time as they otherwise would on my old 2.5G setup.
I also take my backups seriously – to the point where I’ve deployed automated schedules to save the data on my everyday machines and server nodes. Since my gaming PC and Proxmox workstation house most of the heavy files, the 10GbE connection cuts down a lot of transfer time when transferring the backup data between them and my NAS.
Fast loading times when storing games on my NAS
I’m a fan of trying out wacky experiments on my home server. Although storing games on a NAS may sound preposterous, it’s a surprisingly viable project even on a 2.5G connection – provided you’re willing to deal with somewhat slow loading (and fast-travel) times.
However, combining a 10 Gigabit connection with fast NVMe drives makes this project a lot more feasible, and the difference in loading times is barely noticeable unless I use a stopwatch. Likewise, enabling RAM caching on my NAS lets me reuse older HDDs as storage drives for huge, 100GB+ games that I don’t play all that often.
More ports for my paraphernalia
Including an SFP+ connection
Although modern routers have a decent number of Ethernet ports, they are far from enough when you love running as many server nodes as I do. My TP-Link Archer router only has four Ethernet connections, which isn’t enough for the mini-PCs and NAS units in my home lab.
That’s where a network switch comes in handy with its extra Ethernet ports. Aside from the three 10GbE connections, my Zyxel switch includes eight 1G Ethernet sockets. As much as I would’ve liked a 15+ port switch, I’m able to hook up most of my computing devices and smart gadgets to my switch + router combo.
Heck, the Zyxel switch even has an SFP+ port for fibre-channel connections. I plan to grab an Ethernet-to-SFP+ adapter to pair it with a prebuilt NAS, though I’ve also got my eyes on a rather expensive Mellanox PCIe card. In my defence, the urge to work with an FC connection is too overpowering for my nerdy psyche.
VLAN support is the cherry on top
Great for my arsenal of smart home devices
Besides my home lab equipment, I’ve also got a decent collection of smart home gadgets and IoT paraphernalia. But if you’ve ever dealt with smart devices, you might be aware that they are extremely insecure – which is a problem when you’re as paranoid about your security as I am.
As such, I was adamant about buying a managed switch, even if it cost $100 more than its VLAN-less variant. Using Zyxel’s web UI, I’ve set up two VLANs for my smart home: one for my home lab devices and another that encompasses all the smart gizmos and IoT products in my house.
A network switch is a must-have for home labbers
Although I consider my Zyxel 10GbE managed switch a huge upgrade over the old 2.5G unmanaged switch, it’s lacking in one huge aspect: Power-over-Ethernet. My SBCs are scattered all over my living space, and using PoE helped me cut the cable clutter considerably. But between the 10G speeds and support for VLANs, I’m happy with my purchase.