The Dell PowerConnect 2824 is an oldie but goldie 24 port Gigabit Managed Switch (with ports 23/24 being shared ports like on the Cisco 3560 PoE 8 - which have Gigabit Cooper Ports as well as SFP ports - but you can only use one at a time :)).
You can get them for about 80€ / delivered on eBay as used products and they are qualitywise very good and got an reasonable (although ugly) webinterface as well as SNMP and the usual stuff. They can work as managed or unmanaged switch, which can be switched via the "Mode" port on the front (holding it for less than 7 seconds during operation, it switches the Mode, longer than that -> reset).
To clean a newly acquired switch:
- Connect to Serial port via Null Modem Cable, 9600, 8, None - the usual
- Powercycle switch
- An "Autoboot in 2 seconds" will show up. Press ESC during that time to enter a special menu
- Enter
2to "Erase flash file" and enterconfigto delete the config file. PressESCto exit and boot - You will see that the switch will be boot in Unmanaged Mode, and the "Managed" LED will turn off. Now Press the Mode switch for about 5 seconds, and it will turn to Managed Mode
- You can now setup the switch via Serial Console, or just wait 60 seconds for it to start up with the default values: 192.168.2.1 as HTTP Interface and admin as username - no password
The latest Firmware for this Switch 1.0.0.45, A07 (more exactly Software Version 1.0.0.45 / Boot Version 1.0.0.13) can be downloaded here: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/product-support/product/powerconnect-2824/drivers - you can update this Firmware via TFTP or Web Interface, you will find the option under System -> File Management -> File Download and need to switch to "Download via HTTP" to Upload the Firmware files (Boot Code = rfb, Software Image = ros) via the Web Interface and then reboot / reset the Switch (System -> General -> Reset)
On word of advise if you want to use this system with VLANs - which works a treat: Switch -> VLAN -> VLAN Membership. Chose you VLAN ID, give it a name and then click on the Switch Picture the Ports to the correct mode. Just a grey field means nothing, T means the VLAN comes on this port as VLAN tagged, U means untagged.
To put this into perspective: Grey - No connection, U - this port can directly be connected to a PC or other equipment and got the VLAN as native / vanilla LAN on its port, T - it is tagged and good to transport of multiple VLANs / i.e. trunks.
Trunk config would be like that, i.e. Port 3 of the switch. With 3 vlans, I would go to my native VLAN 1 and set it to U, VLAN 2 to T and VLAN 3 to 3. From then on, I got VLAN 1 as native VLAN on the port and 2 and 3 tagged - and with that a nice little trunk to my i.e. Server.
Configurationwise, the Switch has some sensible defaults like Rapid Spanning Tree on all ports, Green Ethernet enabled. You should maybe remove all Community Strings from SNMP and disable it, if you would not use it and set some secure password. Other than that, good to go :)!
Appreciate the post. It was the first hit on google, and helped me get a used 2824 rocking in my lab in just a few minutes.
Thank you very much for your friendly feedback :)! Glad it could be of help and its always cool to see that these notes are useful to others and that encourages to keep this blog alive. Have a wonderful day and an awesome weekend! 🙂