The HP 2530-24G Switch features 24 RJ-45 auto-sensing ports and 4 SFP ports and includes full Layer 2 functionality, optional power over Ethernet (PoE+) and a host of management configurations to ensure best practices are met. Designed for small to midsize organizations, the HP 2530 series switches not only provide the 24 RJ-45 ports to maximize ROI for existing infrastructures and to keep expenses at a minimum, but they also feature SFP (small form-factor pluggable) ports for fiber connectivity. The 24 RJ-45 ports also add value and minimize wiring with optional PoE+ capability that enables the ports to power devices using Ethernet cables.
The HP 2530-24G Switch features 24 RJ-45 auto-sensing ports and 4 SFP ports and includes full Layer 2 functionality, optional power over Ethernet (PoE+) and a host of management configurations to ensure best practices are met. Designed for small to midsize organizations, the HP 2530 series switches not only provide the 24 RJ-45 ports to maximize ROI for existing infrastructures and to keep expenses at a minimum, but they also feature SFP (small form-factor pluggable) ports for fiber connectivity. The 24 RJ-45 ports also add value and minimize wiring with optional PoE+ capability that enables the ports to power devices using Ethernet cables.
Along with 24 port models, HP’s 2530 Series also features 8- and 48-port models to better scale to individual organizations’ needs. The 8-port switches are fanless and compact to provide a high level of flexibility. Our focus, however, is on the HP2530-24G switch, which on our review unit includes the optional PoE+. That function is designed for organizations that need to power voice, video and/or wireless technology using just the devices’ native Ethernet ports. The HP 2530 PoE+ switches are IEEE 802.3af and IEEE 802.3at compliant, providing up to 30W of power per port.
The HP 2530-24G PoE+ Switch is available now with an included lifetime warranty and carries a street price around $1,300.
HP 2530-24G PoE+ Switch Specifications
- Ports
- 24 RJ-45 autosensing 10/100/1000 PoE+ ports
- 4 fixed Gigabit Ethernet SFP ports
- 1 dual-personality (RJ-45 or USB micro-B) serial console port
- Memory and Processor : ARM9E @ 800 MHz, 128 MB flash, packet buffer size: 1.5 MB dynamically allocated, 256 MB DDR3 DIMM
- Latency
- 100 Mb Latency: < 7.4 µs (LIFO 64-byte packets)
- 1000 Mb Latency: < 2.3 µs (LIFO 64-byte packets)
- Throughput: up to 41.6 million pps (64-byte packets)
- Management features
- IMC – Intelligent Management Center
- command-line interface
- Web browser
- configuration menu
- out-of-band management (serial RS-232C or Micro USB)
- IEEE 802.3 Ethernet MIB
- Repeater MIB
- Ethernet Interface MIB
- Switching capacity: 56 Gb/s
- PoE capability: 195 W
- Power and operating requirements
- Power consumption: 247 W (maximum), 25.2 W (standby)
- Input voltage: 100-127/200-240 VAC
- Operating temperature range: 0 to 45°C
- Operating humidity range: 15 to 95% @ 104°F (40°C) (noncondensing)
- Heat dissipation: 135 BTU/hr (142.42 kJ/hr)
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 44.3 x 33.02 x 4.45 cm
- Weight: 3.95 kg
- Warranty: Lifetime
Design and Build
The HP 2530-24G PoE+ Switch has a tough, metal enclosure that protects the hardware. Aside from the power connector on the back, all of the action is on the front of the switch. The left side has the relevant HP branding as well as the power button. There is also a button labeled LED mode that uses indicators lights to inform the IT administrators of the device’s modes and operations. Administrators can manage the switch through a console using a common RJ45-serial port or a micro-USB port for environments that have phased-out legacy connections.
Starting from the middle and running down the rest of the unit, there are 24 RJ-45 ports for 10/100/1000Base-T connectivity. The 24 ports are segmented into two blocks of 12 ports (2×6). The SFP ports are located on the far right and feature easily removable inserts to keep the ports free from dust. These ports support 1GbE connectivity, for either connecting multiple switches to each other or longer-distance connections that CAT5e or CAT6 won’t support.
The HP 2530-24G PoE+ can be mounted in a variety of ways: wall, table or rack. Additionally, it features ventilation on the sides to keep the unit cool, and on the right side, HP has implemented two fans for active cooling. Compared to other networking gear we’d used in the lab to date, the HP 2530-24G is by far the quieted unit with active-cooling, making it perfect for out-of-rack installations where the switch might be closer to the working environment.
Setup and Configuration
With the HP 2530-24G PoE+, the user interface is focused on ease-of-use. We got the unit up and running in just about 10 minutes, which included all of the necessary configurations for our lab. The 2530-24G assigned itself a DHCP address as soon as it powered up, making accessing it over the network very simple. The Quick Setup feature allowed us to hit the ground running, assigning a more permanent management address, with very little else needed to put the switch into production.
The interface isn’t flashy – it doesn’t feature all of the graphic representations users might find in a competing interface from say Netgear for example. Yet, the interface HP utilizes is intuitive and easy to handle, making it easy for administrators to get the device up and running in no time, and that goes a long way. In the VLAN management screen, we were able to quickly mesh the HP 2530 switch into our existing network, with one class-C VLAN for management and one class-B network for lab traffic. This also included setting up port 1 as tagged for both VLANs as well as segregating 2-12 for one VLAN and 13-24 for the other.
The following screen capture demonstrates how we are utilizing the PoE+ functionality in our lab. Port 4 is being utilized to power our Netgear ProSafe WNDAP660 Dual-Band Wireless Access Point, which is drawing 7.29W from a maximum of 17W per port. Of course, those with more robust PoE requirements could also use the switch to handle security cameras, phone systems and other compatible equipment. With 24 PoE ports total and a maximum capacity of 195W, HP gives the user ways to prioritize devices over others connected to make sure the most important equipment always gets the required power.
Conclusion
The HP 2530-24G Switch delivers robust functionality via its ports; there are 24GBase-T RJ-45 ports that auto-negotiate and support PoE+ and there are the 4 SFP ports for longer reach connections. SMEs thus have a range of connectivity options and have simplified deployments. The PoE+ features further drives value by enabling organizations to directly power voice, video and other devices via Ethernet. The HP2530 Series of switches more generally provide 8-48 RJ-45 ports and fiber connectivity. HP also keeps management in mind with CLI, GUI and SNMP options for a range of applications.
Implementing the HP 2530-24G into the StorageReview Enterprise Lab delivers a lot of connectivity for our large-scale testing environments. The 24 RJ-45 ports provide for robust connectivity, while we also can engage the SFP ports to connect to additional switches. Overall, the user interface that HP provides is designed with simple usability in mind. The interface is very simple to comprehend, and though it doesn’t feature some of the graphic representations found in other devices, it enables users to get the job done quickly and easily.
