POE network switch

330d

I currently have a 8 port POE network switch and need additional ports. Can I just get a new 4 port switch and add it to my existing? If so, any flaws with this setup?

Or is it best to get a new 16 port and replace the current setup?

tacpot12

You can just get a new 4 port switch and add it to your existing switch. You might find 8 port switches are cheaper  that 4 port switches as many fewer 4 port switches are sold. Either way I would recommend that you buy a switch from the same manufacturer and from the same family as your existing switch to avoid the chance of issues. 

CoastingHatbox

There are different types of PoE

• 802.3af
• 802.3at
• 802.3bt

You ideally should find out what type of PoE your devices need and ensure the switch you buy can provide the required standard, af, at or bt. Many switches to support multiple standards, af and at being the most common.

You can buy 4 and 8 port switches that are PoE powered too, but they generally don't provide power to the devices that are plugged into them. Read the descriptions carefully to make sure you are buying one that provides PoE power rather than one which is PoE powered.

Final consideration is that many of the cheaper/more commonly available PoE switches are fast ethernet (100 Megabit/second) rather than gigabit (1000 Megabit/second) so if you plug a four or eight port PoE switch into the existing PoE switch (daisy chained) and the existing PoE is only a fast ethernet switch, the bandwidth in and out of the new switch will be capped by the existing switch at 100 Megabit/second. If you are only plugging in VOIP phones or HD CCTV cameras, that is probably okay, but if your are plugging in devices that would benefit from higher rates of bandwidth, it might be a limitation for you.

You can of course, get a new Gigabit PoE switch and daisychain your existing possibly slower (100 Megabit/second) switch into that.

Or it might be simpler just to buy a new 16 port switch with Gigabit ports and support for all three PoE standards.

330d

Found a Netgear 16 port POE switch for £104 which i bought yesterday. Good timing as its gone to £185 today!!