The XikeStor SKS7300-4X4T was a very promising switch from a price standpoint. We purchased this unit off of Amazon for $210. At the same time, this does not seem like one we would highly recommend because there were a few clear challenges even as an 8-port (4x SFP+, 4x 10Gbase-T) managed switch. There is a lot of unpack so let us get into it.
We purchased ours last quarter on Amazon (Affiliate link.) Stock is often low there, but you can find it on AliExpress as well (Affiliate link.)
XikeStor SKS7300-4X4T Hardware Overview
The switch itself is in a desktop form factor so it is much smaller than a 1U switch. It also comes with rubber feet, so we are reviewing this in the context of a switch placed on a desk, not one that is tucked away in a rack.
On the left hand side we get our status LEDs as well as our Four SFP+ ports. The ports are labeled 2.5G/10G, but in the firmware you can run them at 1G speeds as well.
The four 10GbE ports as well as the serial console management port and the DC input are on the front right side.
We will show a challenge we had with these in our management section.
On both sides, we have vents.
On the rear, we have the reset button as well as the grounding point.
On the bottom we get our 192.168.10.12 management IP as well as the admin username.
Based on the external overview, you may have thought that the switch was fanless, but that is not the case. There is an internal fan.
That heatsink/ fan covers the main switch chip.
We pulled off the heatsink adn saw the Realtek RTL9303 as normal.
On the left, we have four SFP+ cages. On the right, we have our PHYs for the 10Gbase-T ports.
Here is the bottom of the switch PCB.
One nice feature is that there are thermal pads under the main heat generating components to transfer heat to the chassis.
Next, let us get to management.
This is great, it’s more what I’ve been looking and waiting for with 4x SFP+ and ideally 8 TX ports ports, but I can probably live with 4.
I have a QNAP currently I might replace with this that has 4x 10g SFP/TX combo and 8x 1g TX/POE, but QNAP is the worst management ever, and doesn’t even support things like using a management IP on a VLAN that is NOT VLAN 1, and their CLI is an afterthought, so consider it non-existent.
Never buy a managed QNAP switch if you have to actually manage it.
If this class of switch all runs on Realtek chips, is there any sort of open source firmware you can flash on them to get a consistent interface?
> Never buy a managed QNAP switch if you have to actually manage it.
I’d shorten it to – never buy a QNAP switch. Learned that one the hard way – so many odd behaviors, bizarre SFP compatibility, and zero updates or support once its shipped. Maddening and from the reviews, not at all uncommon.
Hell I’ll still keep pimping the Zyzel line of 10G switches – replace the fans – and they – while not the dirt direct from china cheap – still a good deal, powerful and reliable. Disorganized UI but all the features you’d want(outside layer 3 routing/switching of course, lets be realistic)
I’ve been using a 10G switch at home for 2 months now, its the JT-COM 8 port 10G SFP switch. The unmanaged version cost just around $60 and around $65 for the managed version. Would love to know what you guys think about a dirt cheap switch. Not sure if its regulatory approved tho.
That management webpage looks suspiciously a lot like a Netgear one.
@Malvineous, there is some activity on OpenWRT for the L3 chipsets from Realtek. But not there yet i think.
Any recommendation for a similar switch? Looking for one like this that mixes both SFP+ and copper.