My network currently uses 3 Netgear GS724T switches (24 port copper
10/100/1000), and they're currently uplinked via CAT5e patch cables.
Performance has been fairly good, but I know that if we keep adding
more switches, cascading like this will cause memory and performance
problems on the network.

Can anyone tell me a good way to (conservatively) calculate the max
number of switches I can get away with cascading like this before I run
into trouble?

And, can anyone recommend a solution that would be a step up from what
I'm doing stability and growth-wise? I've looked into HP Pro-Curve
backplanes, but those aren't really in the budget. Looking for
something in the budget middle-ground.

Thanks!

sf.techguy@gmail.com wrote:
Other than adding a bit of latency at each switch, what problems do
you expect? Most of the switches I've seen have reasonably sized
MAC tables.

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I just figured at some point I'd have network slowness or malfunctions,
if the MAC tables got maxed out. I was mostly interested in finding out
a ballpark estimate of at what point problems would start to happen
(i.e. after cascading 4 switches? 5? 6?). This is assuming all 24 ports
used on each

sf.techguy@gmail.com wrote:


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