EnGenius ECS2512FP review: A powerful yet pricey 8-port cloud-enabled managed network switch

EnGenius ECS2512FP Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Cardinal

A network switch is a vital component in a local network, allowing one to connect multiple devices together. The price of such hardware ranges between $10 and $1,000, but yous could hands surpass that four-digit figure for enterprise utilize. If you're wanting to connect your PC, panel, printer, Television set, and another smart devices to your router using cables, a network switch is a way to go.

EnGenius makes some of the more premium solutions, backed past its impressive cloud platform that lets you externally monitor and manage your network. Today, we're looking at the EnGenius ECS25112FP network switch, which offers an impressive selection of connections, as well as another handy features that warrant such a premium cost.

Does this product deserve a spot on our best managed network switches top listing?

EnGenius ECS2512FP

Bottom line: If you lot're hunting down a premium managed switch with 2.5Gb and 10Gb LAN ports, as well as a massive PoE capacity, look no further than the EnGenius ECS2512FP.

The Good

Massive 240W ability limit
viii ii.5Gb RJ45 LAN ports
4 10Gb SFP+ fiber LAN ports
120Gbps capacity
Manage locally or via EnGenius Deject

The Bad

Expensive
Noisy
Requires cabinet

EnGenius ECS2512FP: Price and availability

The cost of this network switch is largely what volition put off most potential buyers. It's not cheap. At $900, this is the cost of an entire PC (with GPU included!), but you lot're getting plenty for the MSRP.

Non only is this one impressive piece of kit with avant-garde features more affordable switches simply do not support, simply you besides go full cloud integration, should you want to use it.

EnGenius ECS2512FP: What y'all'll like

EnGenius ECS2512FP Source: Windows Primal

Category	EnGenius ECS2512FP
Type	Managed
Ports	8x ii.5Gb 4x 10Gb SFP+
PoE	802.3af/at/bt (max 240W)
RAM	512MB
Storage	128MB
Capacity	120 Gbps
Spider web back up	✓
App back up	✓

EnGenius ensures at that place'due south adequate packaging to go along its access points and switches safe during transit and the ECS2512FP is no exception. You'll find it stored away safely inside a paper-thin box, which is great news if you're spending almost $900. Inside is the managed switch itself, too as a small box full of accessories.

EnGenius doesn't supply whatever RJ45 cabling or fiber, just yous do get mounting brackets and screws, as well as a console cable for connecting to the switch via SSH. Merely since this is a cloud-supported managed switch, you likely won't require this physical connection as mostly everything can exist managed through the spider web admin GUIs.

EnGenius even has a few mobile apps out that let you monitor everything on the go. What helps bring the price up for this managed network switch is the total PoE support across eight two.5Gb LAN ports with an output capacity of 240W. Then there are an additional four 10Gb fiber links bachelor for creating high-speed connections betwixt hubs.

The EnGenius ECS2512FP has an impressive port selection and PoE chapters.

Hooking up all your computers and other devices to this network switch lonely won't cause an upshot since you have 512MB of RAM and a speed limit of 120Gbps. That's all a network switch is really, an extension lead for network cables. Instead of relying on your Internet service provider-supplied router, y'all tin use a single cable to a network switch such as this for all your gear to pass through.

And you don't terminate in that location. If you lot want to create a security system for your dwelling house or have some devices that tin can exist powered using a network switch with Power-over-Ethernet (PoE), this switch has a capacity of 240W across 8 ports. Then at that place's the bodily administration of the ECS2512FP, which can be performed locally on the switch itself or using EnGenius Cloud.

I recommend giving EnGenius Cloud a try. The switch, like all EnGenius network products, comes with a two-year license that unlocks everything on your business relationship, but thereafter you can continue using the deject software without paying unless you want advanced features. It's brilliant existence able to monitor exactly what's connected and using your network.

EnGenius ECS2512FP: What yous won't like

EnGenius ECS2512FP Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Key

I've aforementioned the cost, which is the biggest complaint here. If yous're simply not comfortable spending such an corporeality for a network switch, yous'll want to consider other options (some from EnGenius if you really want cloud admin support). But if you want 10Gb SFP+ and 2.5Gb RJ45 ports, and a PoE capacity of 240W, this is the price you'll need to pay.

This switch is also noisy. It'southward a rackmount switch and equally such should be installed in a information cabinet, even when used at home. If you're serious plenty most splashing $900 on a switch, you should consider such an option. The fans aren't too loud, but you will notice them above PC case blowers when sitting nearby.

EnGenius ECS2512FP: Contest

EnGenius ECS1008P Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central

There are countless other network switches bachelor, and yous may detect some that are better suited to your needs. Information technology all comes down to how many ports y'all require, at what speeds, and if you lot need to fiddle around with settings. The EnGenius is priced as such because information technology's fully managed with cloud support, it has eight PoE 2.5Gb ports, as well as iv 10Gb SFP+ fiber connections.

Netgear has the XS512EM, which has 12 10Gb LAN ports, as well equally two 10Gb SFP+ ports. It's managed with local software back up and is likewise best used within a data chiffonier. This switch costs $1,000, which is considerably more than the ECS2512FP and doesn't come with PoE support.

Then there's the $799 unmanaged QNAP QSW-1208-8C with 12 10Gb SFP+ and eight 10Gb LAN ports. But once more, no PoE. If you don't demand two.5Gb ports speeds, at that place are more affordable unmanaged switches similar the TRENDnet TEG-30284 with 24 1Gb LAN and 4 10Gb SFP+ ports. Finally, we reviewed the EnGenius ECS1008P, which is far more affordable and is better suited to small-scale home networks.

EnGenius ECS2512FP: Should you lot buy information technology?

EnGenius ECS2512FP Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Fundamental

You should purchase this if ...

You want to exist able to manage your network using the cloud
You lot need to connect multiple PoE devices
You want a switch with 2.5Gb and 10Gb ports

You shouldn't purchase this if ...

You lot don't need 10Gb SFP+ ports
You don't want to spend $900 on a switch
You don't need cloud management features

This is a tough conclusion to make since the EnGenius ECS2512FP offers impressive features at a reasonable toll when compared to the competition. Should you lot exist spending $900 on s network switch? Probably not, unless y'all're serious nearly creating a connected dwelling house with high-speed links.

The 240W PoE chapters is fantastic for hooking up access points, security cameras, and other hardware that tin be powered through the switch. It tin can get a little loud while in functioning, but something like this is designed to be housed inside a data cabinet. And then if y'all don't have one at home, this may exist something to consider.

Information technology's a lot of money, just yous're getting plenty for the investment. EnGenius' cloud platform alone is worth considering one of its smart-managed switches and admission points. EnGenius Cloud allows y'all to monitor traffic across your dwelling network, as well as manage it when you're non physically at home. This is a killer premium network switch.

EnGenius ECS2512FP

Lesser line: This is one monstrous networking switch, allowing y'all to connect up to viii devices (with 240W PoE back up) via 2.5Gb LAN ports and uplink to other network hubs with four 10Gb FSP+ fiber ports.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/engenius-ecs2512fp-review

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