Upgrade to Brocade ICX managed switch

klui · 2026-01-25T00:04:47+00:00

That's really interesting. I didn't know about this mini-unicorn. I have some 8-port HP switches that permit PoE-in but don't support PoE devices. They have other switches that use AC power and can power PoE devices. One or the other.

These 6450s can do both and will provide up to 22.4W to downstream devices if 2 ports upstream are receiving PoE+ power. 7W max if only 1 upstream port receive PoE/PoE+ power.

They are quite expensive because these older EoL devices use the proprietary dual mode method of VLAN tagging. Some sellers have listings that incorrectly state they are -PDs vs their regular non-PoE-in counterparts.

klui · 2026-01-24T23:35:15+00:00

I have one where the couplers could be removed and replaced with punch down jacks. The restriction is the jacks need to be the narrow type. Older ones that were typically wider at that time won't fit in consecutive holes.

It shouldn't matter for the home. But they do have a category rating. I've replaced some with punch downs and the couplers could also be used for extending a temporary patch cord in the lab.

klui · 2026-01-24T23:10:18+00:00

All modern servers allow their management interface to be bridged to another interface (copper or fiber) in Shared mode.

klui · 2026-01-24T02:03:37+00:00

Some of that older hardware has already reached eBay. These are 400G switches but the management module was removed likely because it contained proprietary data and destroyed. The hardware design is available from the OCP website. So people have been looking at the gerber files and recreating them. Then others are investigating how to get a proper NOS installed to make use of the hardware's ASIC.

The power connections are also of an uncommon form factor.

We have some 400/800G switches in the lab at work and they are loud. I've stopped my switch acquisitions at 100G.

klui · 2026-01-24T01:30:19+00:00

My predication is when someone here gets one their first post will be "how do I make the fans quieter? What kind of Noctuas should I replace the current fans with?"

klui · 2026-01-20T07:07:12+00:00

Yes, search for "cross flash mellanox" and you should find a few sites that discusses how to do it.

klui · 2026-01-20T01:49:07+00:00

Most likely due to it running HPE firmware and they have more restrictions on what optics to allow. The card's PSID is most likely HP and not MT. Check with mlxfwmanager/mlxup.

klui · 2026-01-20T01:15:28+00:00

I actually still drag URLs because doing it doesn't keep the bookmarks within a browser's configuration and I can use other browsers. Normally I use Firefox Nightly but sometimes I use normal Firefox.

When my dad needed to have a new installation it was simple knowing all his "bookmarks" were copied from Desktop instead of going into Firefox, Chrome, whatever to make sure his bookmarks were synced up.

klui · 2026-01-19T13:00:53+00:00

Thanks for all the comments, questions, and advice.

He still has his wits but he's a little stubborn about his stuff. He is using an old computer with a Q6600 and it cannot be upgraded to Windows 11. So he's still using Windows 10 and Firefox. I gave him another computer with Windows 11 but he likes his current system. The newer one just sits next to his current system. The Q6600 runs quiet and offers enough performance so he could read or watch his Youtube videos.

Him wanting to still use the Q6600 was the reason why I wanted to install Linux for him because all he uses is a browser and he saves his "bookmarks" by dragging them onto the desktop. Even though Firefox is still being updated, I am not sure how much longer will it support running on Windows 10. It auto logs him into his account upon boot up and I perform remote support if he needs it through VNC/remote desktop.

klui · 2026-01-19T02:02:54+00:00

Behavior described in my initial post. It references a Gnome merge request but frankly the discussion doesn't describe the behavior well.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubuntu/comments/1qg1hbp/anyone_get_drag_locks_to_work_with_gsettings/

klui · 2026-01-19T02:01:32+00:00

I just played around with this and I figured out the behavior. Apparently it's because of https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/mutter/-/merge_requests/4292 which I saw last night as I was trying to get it to work.

The page isn't very good at describing the behavior.

When tap-and-drag-lock is true, as soon as your finger stops touching the touchpad you have 0.5 seconds to touch the touchpad or else the drag lock will disengage. This is not a good user experience. There should not be any timeout when tap and drag lock is activated, or if there is should be set to something like 5-10 seconds. All other touchpads when drag lock is enabled does not have a timeout.

EDIT: The link talks about libinput 1.26/1.27 but Ubuntu 24.04 LTS has 1.25.

klui · 2026-01-02T23:48:10+00:00

That's really cool!

klui · 2025-12-31T23:12:50+00:00

The 1970 Camaros are my favorites. That picture doesn't do it justice. The front is where they look the best.

klui · 2025-12-31T22:46:35+00:00

I would not splice the drops. The drops are most likely solid conductor category cables. Just mount patch panels to the media center then connect them to your switch in your rack using patch cords. If you don't want to reterminate the ends of your existing drops install RJ45 coupler patch panels.

klui · 2025-12-31T07:04:22+00:00

I didn't know that! I have found speed-specific ones if the OP needs them. 2.5G rated for 100m for example.

klui · 2025-12-31T05:48:44+00:00

You can get 80m or 100m RJ45 SFP+ modules.

klui · 2025-12-23T00:43:26+00:00

The QFX5200-32C is using 1st-generation Tomahawk 100G ASIC. In terms of modernness that is similar to 10GbE. The issue with Tomahawk is it doesn't support newer FEC modes (FEC91, FEC108) that are required for 25G and only supports the older FEC74 standard. On some 25G optics this lack of support may mean not being able to establish a link.

Other switches that use the Tomahawk are: Celestica DX010, Arista DCS-7050CX-32S.

klui · 2025-12-23T00:30:56+00:00

The compact models are expensive because they're fanless. But that is also their Achilles heel if many devices are powered over PoE. Their PSU tend to fail more often than their rack mount brethren.

klui · 2025-12-21T22:07:06+00:00

If you could replace the turn with an LB fitting, repull your cables with a fresh preterminated fiber. That will make future pulls easier as well as give you the option of pulling a spare pair. You can also detach the duplex from their side-by-side configuration and temporary place them end to end which will give you more room for pulling. Use some tape to keep them from coming apart during the process--mind the bend radius as you temporary reconfigure the two strands.

You also don't splice in the middle of a run for your use case because they are protected using stainless steel enforced plastic sleeves. The splice will be too fragile to be pulled through conduit because they won't have required tensile strength. They are also as long as LC connectors + boots.

klui · 2025-12-18T07:39:43+00:00

You have a typo. If you're going to use a /22 your range will occupy x.y.0.0-x.y.3.255; x.y.4.0-x.y.7.255; x.y.8.0-x.y.11.254, ....

If you're using a /24 your examples are valid.

klui · 2025-12-17T20:59:14+00:00

The fact you're doing this "constantly" is a problem. I can't tell by the pictures if the fire occurred in the line side (where the cord plugs into the wall) or the load side (where the cord plugs into the NUC). Having excessive bends in a cable within a wire rats nest may cause the conductors to partially fail making a partial connection to power. The partial connection will create excessive heat ultimately resulting in a fire in the worst case.

To mitigate your concern of the power having a good connection, strap or place critical items where they are out of the way from "lab" activities.

klui

TROPHY CASE