UniFi line is gaining another 10G aggregation switch (ref).
Aggregation Switch
Network switch in a large enterprise/data center setting may be hierarchically classified into 3 layers: core, aggregate and access switches (Ref).
The access switch is used to access the terminal (client devices = computers). The aggregation switch is used to aggregate the access switch. The core switch is used to aggregate the aggregation switch and is also responsible for connecting to the Internet.
SMB Switch: Access Switch vs Aggregation Switch vs Core Switch
In another word, aggregation and core switches are switches to aggregate other lower layer switches. In small/single office/home office (SOHO) network, core layer and aggregate layer distinction seems non-relevant.
There are cases of combining collapsed distribution (=aggregate) and core into one when there are only several severs and end users. We also call such switch as collapsed core or collapsed backbone since distribution layer switch is combined.
What Is Distribution Switch and Why Do We Need It?
Therefore, from the home user perspective, Aggregation switches are the best considered as collapsed backbone switch.
This is not the first UniFi aggregation or collapsed backbone switch. Current generation/the first generation model is US-16-XG, released back in 2016. Recently, as the first UniFi Aggregation switch incorporating second generation UniFi Switch design, USW Aggregation has been revealed in the Early Access store (ref).
VS. Switch 16 XG
Aggregation Pro appears second generation version of Switch 16 XG with 14 more SFP+ ports and has four 25Gbps capable SFP28 ports in place for RJ45+ ports. Also Pro switch is Layer 3 capable.
Vs. (non-Pro) Aggregation Switch
Pro model costs more than 3 times the price of non-Pro version. There are 20 more SFP+ ports as well as four SFP28 ports. Also Pro switch is Layer 3 capable.
SFP+ Limitation
SFP+ port has three main area of limitation.
- Cost
- NBase-T Support
- Length limit
Cost
For most home users, wired connection through the house is generally made up by Ethernet cable. Therefore, we will need SFP+ to RJ45 transceiver modules. These would cost approximately $40-$80 each for the transceiver that are capable of 10G speed. So the cost can add up quickly.
No NBase-T Support?
As a home user, 2.5G and 5G are current/very near future technology. This is exemplified by UniFi’s upcoming switch U6-S24 where half of its ports are labeled as 2.5G for Wi-Fi 6 APs.
Although there may still be a chance with certain types of SFP+ transceivers NBase-T may be supported (ref), this isn’t official*.
10G SFP+ to RJ45 Copper module for CAT6A/7/8 cable, copper RJ-45 connector. Supports 1000Mbps rate for using Cat 5e cable or better. (30 meters via 10Gbps, 50 meters via 5Gbps and 2.5Gbps, 100 meters via 1000Mbps.)
QSFPTEK 10G SFP+ Copper RJ45 Module
*This is not something I tested myself.
30m limit?
Official specification of 10G support distance over the cat 6 and 6a are 55m and 100m, respectively. However, SFP+ RJ45 transceiver limits this to merely 30m. I can confirm that when I use SFP+ transceiver for 90ft cat 6 cable path, there is no link establishment at all for the module I tried.
There is; however, potential unofficial support of 80m distance via SFP+ transceiver at 10G speed (ref). Supposedly, this module also supports N-BaseT. Below is a support email response from FS.
Q) Specifically for Ubiquiti Switch, is your new 10G 80m capable SFP+ to RJ45 transceiver capable of 2.5 and 5G link speed?
Answer)
Actually, the data rate of this module is 10Gbps and it can meet your requirements for 2.5 and 5G link speed. For your reference, I attached its Datasheet here and please take a look. Datasheet – https://img-en.fs.com/file/datasheet/10g-t-sfp-80m.pdf
* I have not tested myself either.
So with a purchase of appropriate SFP+ module(s), we may be able to achieve 80 m 10G along with NBase-T connection.
Is SFP inferior to RJ-45?
Starting with limitations of SFP+ ports, I may have given false sense to some of readers such that SFP connections are inferior to RJ-45. This actually is not true. In contrast to RJ-45, SFP connection actually have (ref):
- Lower latency
- Less power consumption per port
- No Electromagnetic Interference
- More secure
If optical connection is utilized rather than RJ-45 conversion via transceiver, SFP connection can go far longer than RJ-45’s 100m limitation.
Vs. XG-6POE
From home user’s perspective, what I really want is 10G and NBase-T capable RJ45 ports built in switch. Currently, XG-6POE fit under this category in UniFi’s product line.
When Aggregation Pro switch is compared to XG-6POE, XG-6POE has 4 built in RJ45+ ports that is officially rated for NBase-T support. In addition, XG-6POE ports are capable of POE power supply.
The major advantage of Aggregation Pro for its added $300 are:
- 22 more 10G ports
- 4 SFP28 ports
Both switches are Layer 3 capable. So from the home user’s perspective, I see XG-6POE as Aggregate switch and USW Aggregate Pro switch as a Core switch though majority of home unlikely to need both or may be neither.
US-XG-6POE is not fanless.
Thank you for the info. I have updated the table accordingly!