Affordable Network Switches with MLD snooping (IPv6 Multicast)

mld_snooping_network_switches.md

Low End Network Switches with MLD snooping (IPv6 Multicast)

Requirements

• 24-ports
• Gigabit copper (1000Base-T)
• MLD Snooping
• Rackmount
• Ideally fanless or 'smart' fan
• Doesn't require Windows or Java to configure it
• Doesn't cost the earth (less than £200)

Cisco

Cisco do a range of affordable unmanaged Small Business switches but as soon as you move to the Cisco Catalyst managed switches, they are far too expensive.

D-Link

• DGS-1024D 24-Port Gigabit Unmanaged Desktop Switch
• DGS-1100-24 Gigabit Smart Managed Switches
• DGS-1210-24 Smart Managed Gigabit Switches
• DGS-1210-26 Smart+ Managed Gigabit Switch
• DGS‑3000 Gigabit L2 Managed Switches
• DGS-3630-28SC Gigabit L3 Stackable Managed Switches

Dell

Dell Networking X-Series Smart Managed Switches, claim to support MLD snooping: https://www.dell.com/en-uk/work/shop/povw/networking-x-series

X1026 is the 26-port model. However it seems more expensive/difficult to source than other options. Seems to also need a sperate rack-mount kit.

Draytek

Looking at the Draytek comparison chart, they sell four switches that support MLD Snooping:

https://www.draytek.com/en/products/comparison/comparison-switch.html

They are:

• VigorSwitch G2260 - 24+2 Port L2 Managed Gigabit Switch
• VigorSwitch P2261 - 24+2 Port L2 Managed Gigabit PoE Switch
• VigorSwitch G2280 - 24-Port L2 Managed Gigabit Switch
• VigorSwitch P2280 - 24-Port PoE L2 Managed Gigabit Switch

HPE

I started investigating HPE switches but found it difficult to work out the feature set of each switch. It is also likely that the switches that do support MLD snooping are too expensive.

Juniper

I don't think it is possible for consumers to buy Juniper switches.

Linksys

Linksys sell three models of 24-port switch (plus PoE versions):

• LGS124 - 24-Port Business Gigabit Switch - No MLD snooping
• LGS326 - 24-Port Gigabit Smart Managed Switch- Yes MLD snooping
• LGS528 - 24-Port Gigabit Managed Switch (with advanced features) - Yes MLD snooping

The datasheets / specifications don't mention MLD but the manual for LGS3XX and LGS5XX both state that they support MLD v1 and v2.

Netgear

TP-Link

There are several TP-Link switches that support MLD snooping, including:

• T1600G-28TS - JetStream 24-Port Gigabit Smart Switch with 4 SFP Slots
• T2600G-28TS - JetStream 24-Port Gigabit L2 Managed Switch with 4 SFP Slots
• T1700G-28TS - JetStream 24-Port Gigabit Stackable Smart Switch with 4 10GE SFP+ Slots

Trendnet

There is no mention of MLD snooping for their '24-Port Gigabit Managed Layer 2 Switch' (TL2-G244) Either in the datasheet or the admin interface emulator.

• http://www.trendnet.com/products/TL2-G244
• https://www.trendnet.com/emulators/TL2-G244_v2.0R/

Or in the '28-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch' (TEG-284WS)

• http://www.trendnet.com/products/TEG-284WS
• https://www.trendnet.com/emulators/TEG-284WS/

However their '12-Port Hardened Industrial Gigabit PoE+ Layer 2+ Managed Switch' does support MLD snooping:

• http://www.trendnet.com/products/TI-PG1284i
• https://www.trendnet.com/emulators/TI-PG1284i/TI-PG1284i.html

See Advanced Settings -> IGMP Snooping -> MLD Snooping.

Ubiquiti

I can't find any official documentation stating if MLD snooping (or even IGMP) is supported.

This forum response from 2016, implies that the UniFi Switchs don't support MLD snooping:

https://community.ubnt.com/t5/UniFi-Routing-Switching/UniFi-Switch-features-are-these-available/td-p/1758788

Maybe not surprising, given that multicast doesn't work well with Wifi and Wifi is Ubiquiti's main business.

ZyXEL

"Does GS1900 series support MLD snooping?" No

https://kb.zyxel.com/KB/searchArticle!gwsViewDetail.action?articleOid=013848&lang=EN