Netgear is launching two new switches for the 2.5GbE era. The Netgear MS510TXM is the traditional switch while the MS510TXUP is the PoE++ version from the company. Both are 10-port switches with networking connectivity that STH readers are going to be interested in as they mix 1/2.5/5/10GbE onto switch platforms.
Netgear MS510TXM and MS510TXUP Switches
Both switches are very similar. The Netgear MS510TXUP is effectively a PoE++ version of the Netgear MS510TXM.
Each switch has four ports of 1GbE/ 2.5GbE ports. The next four ports operate at 1GbE/ 2.5GbE/ 5GbE/ and 10Gbase-T speeds. Finally, there are two SFP+ ports for fiber 10GbE uplinks.
The big addition is that the Netgear MS510TXUP adds PoE++. This is what Netgear calls its “Ultra60” or up to 60W per port on the RJ45 ports. The switch itself has a PoE power budget of 295W so it is not enough to drive all of the ports at full power, but not all PoE++ devices are using a full 60W so it is common to over-provision power budgets.
The switches are being billed as “Layer 2+/ Layer 3 Lite” switches which is common in the edge market.
Overall, these are decent specs. Some major implications of using the 10GbE ports as uplink ports are that there is up to 50Gbps worth of ports for devices and 20Gbps for uplinks. That is a bit more oversubscription than some other switches we have seen in the space. This is largely due to the fact we are seeing downstream port speeds increase while the uplink ports remain at 10Gbps. In most installations with these switches, that is not going to have an impact. Still, it is just an interesting note of this generation.
Something else that is nice here is that with the higher-speed ports, one can service 2.5GbE ports today, but as higher-end devices become available one can use the ports that can do 5GbE and 10GbE as well.
Final Words
As we move into the new decade, 2.5GbE is going to start displacing 1GbE. There are a number of reasons behind this. We have desktops with low-cost NIC options as one reason, but there is a much larger reason, 1GbE is not fast enough for the emerging WiFi 6(E) infrastructure as a wired backhaul. Furthermore, as 5G becomes more commonplace, the entire wired edge will need to update or become obsolete. While QoS metrics are still favorable on wired connections, if one can get >1Gbps on WiFi, >1Gbps on 5G LTE, and >1Gbps WAN connections, then having a 1GbE wired infrastructure feels decidedly obsolete. It is good to see that Netgear is updating, but we do wish this transition happened faster.
Let us know if these are switches you want us to formally review.
Can’t we just skip 2.5/5Gbe and make more affordable consumer related 10Gbe gear?
Thank You for an excellent ‘heads-up’ article on upcoming multi-gig home switches. …any ideas on economical pricing?
BTW, I do not think ~$600 is economical for 8 x RJ45 ports, when the used SFP+ enterprise gear is so much more affordable;) …unless updating existing infrastructure wiring is no go.
I’d love to see a review of QNAP’s new 2.5Gb line
QNAP QSW-M2108-2C and/or -2S switches
QNAP QHora-301W router
Editorial nit: you twice used the word “overprovision” when you likely meant “oversubscription”!
This is a nice step, but I’m still waiting for cheap unmanaged 10Gbe switches for home use. Is that asking too much?
BadCo – 10Gbase-T doesn’t run on as long of cable lengths. That is the big hold-up.
SF – Many of the 2.5G WiFi 6(E) APs have 2.5Gbase-T links so you get forced to RJ45 or using converters
AS – Good
Fred Lee – This is getting there. You can treat it more as an unmanaged switch https://www.servethehome.com/mikrotik-crs312-4c-8xg-rm-12-port-10gbe-switch-review/ but that’s not in the sub $200-300 level so I agree
Things I found out after I purchased the older multi-gig MS510TX fro my homelab
2.5/5GBe (Multi-Gig) is not supported by VMware, only 1Gbe or 10Gbe rates are supported by the VMWare drivers at the moment. Other BSD or Linux based OS’s could have the same issue, research carefully if you want to connect at these rates. Windows is fine.
Multi-Gig negotiation REQUIRES a switch. A crossover cable will not negotiate at 2.5/5GBe
I would love to see the Multi-GbE (1/2.5/5/10) stuff come out and be ubiquitous. Why not show your customers you are with them now and in the long haul? Oh right, no switch manufacturer does that. Even Netgear that has Multi-GbE switches over charges for them, and they all have wonk configurations. I don’t want to have a spreadsheet to figure out which port does what. Just make them all the same!
Multi gig does not require a switch. I have a point to point connection using a plain cat 5e cable, running 2.5GBe, and two 2.5g realtek cards.
@BogBeast
I have 2 of the Sabrent 5gb USB NICs using standard cat5e between them; auto crossover, works without issue.
my setup is without wol support
crs309-1g-8s+in
x8 s+rj10
Auto-negotiation point-to-point doesn’t need cross-over cable, standard straight through patch cables are best for this.
Do these models require you to use Netgear’s cloud thing?
Other than that, great to see two SFP+ ports! The older MS510TX has only one, which is the main factor preventing me to buy one. However I’m afraid this will land in the €500+ range.
What I personally want is a switch with:
– 2x 10GbE SFP+ ports
– 2x 2.5/5/10GbE RJ45 ports
– 4-8x 1GbE ports
– basic management (VLANs)
– price below €200
I’m currently considering the unmanaged Zyxel XGS1010-12 (€150) with 2x SFP+ and 2×2.5Gbase-T, or the managed XGS1210-12 (€200), but I’d really rather get the QNAP QSW-M408-2C (managed, 2x SFP+, 2x combo SFP+ + 1/2.5/5/10GBase-T) if it was a bit cheaper than its current €290 tag.
Still, the market is a lot better today than three years ago.
They “our” out? Bad grammar. Bad site.
Are these things loud?
25 and 33 fb per the datasheet
@Patrick as someone who is mulling over a move to 2.5Gbe and beyond, and a newcomer to fibre, I’d be interested an article (or series) that takes a look at cost effective and/or future proof ways to upgrade our homes in 2021.
Do these Netgear switches support Private Vlans/port isolation?
I’ve been upgrading to 2.5Gb & 10Gb over the last ~1 year. Mostly with QNAP gear. But Trendnet & Netgear have affordable 2.5Gb unmanaged gear, too. Check out recent reviews from STH.
My old 24 port managed 1Gb switch (vintage 2018) has been all but replaced. I’m still using 3 of the 4 each 1Gb SFP+ ports on that switch just because of the fiber optic connection need. However, using Fiber Optic Media Converters ( AliExpress ~$15 ea.) I can convert over to 2.5Gb RJ45 ports and retire the old managed switch. True the speed will still be only 1Gb (2.5Gb auto stepping down) but I’ll remove an entire switch from the rack. Worth it I think.