xStack Switches

The xStack range of switches from D-Link are managed switches (GUI or CLI) targeted to SMB through enterprise deployments, and boast port and speed capabilities from 10/100 Ethernet to Gig-Ethernet in either copper or SFP. Key to the xStack line, multiple switches (how many varies by model) can be directly interconnected forming a switch stack that can be managed as a single entity.

Multiple flavors of xStack switches are available from the vendor.

The 3300 series can be stacked in a ring (Shortest-Path, Fail-Safe) or star topology via included dual 10 Gb stacking interfaces in the rear of the unit; in the star topology the DGS-3324SRi model, which includes 6 such 10 Gb stacking interfaces, is utilized as the master. In a ring topology up to 12 units can be chained together (depending on model) for a maximum of 40 Gb/sec of shared bandwidth for all connections. In a star topology, up to 7 units can be stacked (again, using the DGS-3324SRi as the master) with up to 20 Gb/sec of dedicated bandwidth per switch. Features of the 3300 series include managed (SNMP, RMON, VLAN, 8 priority QoS queues for 802.1p/ToS/DiffServ) L2 switching, L3 IP routing, redundant power supplies, and support for 802.3ad Link Aggregation, 802.1d Spanning Tree, 802.1w Rapid Spanning Tree, and 802.1s Multiple Spanning Tree.

Apart from the stacking master model described above (which also boasts 24 10/100/1000 ports and 8 combo (copper/SFP) ports of its own), other entries in the 3300 series line include the DXS-3326GSR with 24 Gigabit fiber slots and four Combo 10/100/1000Base-T ports; the DXS-3350SR with 48 copper Gigabit ports and 4 Combo SFP ports; and the DGS-3324SR with 24 10/100/1000 ports and (4) combo ports.

The 3800 series switches are offered in 24 and 48 port models, and up to 32 units can be stacked and managed with a single IP address via the vendor's SIM (Single IP Management) technology. The 3800 series additionally features the ability to configure ACLs to filter or block traffic based on the port, MAC address, 802.1p priority, VLAN, Differentiated Services Code Points (DSCP), IP address, protocol type, and TCP/UDP port number; QoS (8 queues) for filtering and prioritization based on L2/3/4 criteria; and support for 802.3ad link aggregation for up to 32 groups, bandwidth rate limiting down to 64 kbps, and support for up to 4000 static VLANs and 255 dynamic VLANs. Three models are offered: The DES-3852, with 48 10/100 ports, the DES-3828 with 24 10/100 ports, and the DES-3828P which additionally incorporates full PoE power to each of its 24 10/100 ports, and 802.1x port and MAC-based access control with RADIUS authentication. Each of the switches additionally includes 2 copper Gb ports, and 2 combo (copper/SFP) Gb ports.

Similar to the 3800 models is the DGS-3612G, a Layer 3 switch that boasts 12 SFP ports and 4 Combo GigE ports. Up to 32 units can be stacked and the unit supports both IPv4 and IPv6 static and dynamic routing.

The 3200 series switches are similar to the 3800 series in that they can be stacked (up to 16 DES-3250s, and up to 32 DES-3227/3227Ps). The 3200 series, however, include 10/100/1000 ports (24 in the DES-3227s and 48 in the DES-3250) and 4 combo SFP ports, and the optional ability to add 2 10 Gb Copper/Fiber uplinks. Additionally, the DES-3227s also include a single fixed XFP port.

Each of the DES 3200 series switches ships as "wireless ready," in that an optional firmware upgrade adds wireless features to the switch such as rogue access point detection, roaming, and centralized WLAN component management. A companion line of products, including the DWS-3250 and the DWS-3227/DWS-3227P provide the wireless features pre-loaded; including a 10 client AP license (upgradeable to 25) and the ability to support 25 APs per switch/stack with up to 1500 WLAN clients (when using dual-band APs).

New to the vendor's xStack product line is the DES-3052, a 48-port 10/100 Layer 2 switch up to 32 of which can be stacked and managed under a single IP. The 3052 is also offered in a PoE supported version to all 48 ports (the DES-3052P), and additionally includes 4 Gig ports and dual combo SFP slots. Support is offered for ACLs, 802.1q VLANs, QoS, etc.

The xStack switches are available now; the new DES-3052 and DES-3052P are priced (MSRP) at $889.99 and $1,419.99, respectively.

Visit the D-Link Web site for further information.