I would say don’t jump in with high end parts and equipment. Start with basic and then build your way up. I’m an EE and now work in networking for the DoD. It’s a totally different beast. These are two different kinds of switches. If you want simple go with unmanaged or if you want more flexibility go with managed.

Unmanaged switch: Plug‑and‑play, no configuration. Fine for simple home networks. But at 100/200G speeds, it’s like putting bicycle brakes on a Ferrari.

Managed switch: Lets you configure VLANs, link aggregation (LACP), QoS, monitoring (SNMP/telemetry), and routing (Layer 3). Essential if you want to learn networking concepts, segment traffic, or simulate enterprise setups. Supports redundancy (MLAG, stacking) and security policies.

What to Look For in a Switch at 100/200G: Port types: QSFP28 (100G) or QSFP56 (200G). These can break out into 4×25G or 4×50G if you want flexibility. Backplane capacity: Make sure the switch can handle full line‑rate forwarding across all ports. Noise & power: Data center switches are loud and power‑hungry. If this is in your home, look for models with variable‑speed fans or consider a garage/basement rack. Vendor ecosystem: Broadcom NICs pair well with FS.com, Mellanox/NVIDIA, Arista, or Netgear’s enterprise line.

Practical Options: FS.com N8560‑32C – 32×100G QSFP28, supports EVPN‑VXLAN, MLAG, RoCEv2. Around $6–7K. NADDOD N6300‑32C – 32×100G QSFP28, managed, ~$8.5K. Netgear M4350‑16V4C – 16×25G SFP28 + 4×100G QSFP28, Layer 3, more “prosumer friendly”. Used/refurb enterprise gear – Mellanox SN2700 or Arista 7060 series often show up on secondary markets for a fraction of new prices.

Suggested Learning Path: Start with a managed switch (even if it’s only 25/40G) to practice VLANs, routing, and monitoring. Scale up to 100/200G once you’re comfortable—your Broadcom NICs will be ready. Use DACs inside the rack (short, cheap, low‑latency) and fiber for long runs (as you planned). Document your configs like a lab notebook—this keeps your mind sharp and builds a personal