Network Switch Reached Eol

I own this network switch
https://support.dlink.com/ProductInfo.aspx?m=DES-1105

It has reached end of life. But, it doesn't look like there were firmware updates anyway during its period of support anyway.
How important are firmware updates for a network switch, given that it's behind a router?

 

I don't recall ever seeing any firmware updates for small desktop switches. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Network hardware (or their protocols) may be superseded but it does not go through life cycles (or end of life phases) like software does. In particular, it does not suddenly become vulnerable to security issue just because the manufacturer no longer makes or supports it.

In terms of complexity, when it comes to network hardware, Ethernet switches are pretty simple, "low-tech" devices. Point being, new firmware is rarely (if ever) needed. In fact, not sure I have ever seen firmware updates for them either. This would explain why the user manual (downloadable from your link above) does not even mention firmware updates. There is no user interface that would even allow it - that is, you cannot log into the switch to perform an update in the first place. If a firmware update was possible, it most likely would require physically removing (unsoldering) the old memory device, likely a PROM module ("IC or "chip"), and replacing (soldering) it with a new one programmed at and obtained from the factory.

Having said all that, your switch is outdated because it only supports 10/100Mbps Ethernet speeds and may be a bottleneck on your local network (LAN). If you still need the extra Ethernet ports, you should look into upgrading to a "gigabit" switch which will support 10/100/1000Mbps speeds. Unless your current router is as old as that switch, the router's integrated switch likely already supports 1000Mbps (1Gbps) Ethernet speeds.

As seen here, 4 or 5 port 1Gbps Ethernet switches are not budget busters.

While at it, if your interconnecting Ethernet cables are also as old as that switch, I would replace them too - especially if they are only CAT-5 and not at least CAT-5e. Ethernet cables are critical, but fragile network devices that are easily damaged by a single yank or trip-over. If a perfect crimp was not achieved during construction, optimal continuity within the RJ-45 connectors can become compromised over time too.

 

Thanks for the great & informative post, Digerati

I am going to have a printer and a scanner only hooked up to the switch. So, the speed is probably sufficient.
Also, my router is 100mbps. I suppose that's limiting in device to device connections but actually I don't do much device to device. I was using Remmina (a Linux to Windows remote desktop program) but I could only get it to work with a setting "allow external connections" (it's a setting in the windows operating system). It would be nice to transfer computer to computer but for now I am living without that.

 

Okay but that suggests your router is pretty old too. Not a problem if all your devices are wired and you don't need additional bandwidth. But if you have newer wireless devices, a newer wireless router most likely supports much faster speeds, range and maybe security too.

 

I checked about 9 months ago and both the router and modem had not reached end of life yet. But, you remind me that I need a better system to stay organized on which devices have reached end of life. My internet speed is less than 100mbps down, so not very motivated to upgrade for speed. Could get interested in upgrading for other reasons, such as better software/ longer out EOL.

 

As noted in my very first sentence in my first post above, there is no such thing as "end of life" for network hardware.

They get superseded and can even become obsolete and still work. But "end of life" is all about when the product maker no longer provides support for it. And in the case of network hardware, that is typically the day after the warranty runs out.

If your router only supports 10/100Mbps Ethernet, it is obsolete and has been superseded. If your WAP (wireless access point - typically integrated into a "wireless router") only supports 802.11n then it is obsolete and has been superseded. If the WAP only supports 802.11g, then it is woefully obsolete!

If your modem is a cable modem and does not support at least DOCSIS 3.0, then it is obsolete and has been superseded. If a DSL modem and it does not support ADSL 2+, it is obsolete and has been superseded.

But of course, without us knowing any model numbers, we cannot tell from here.

 

One note: if your Internet connection is faster than 100Mbps, then your router is preventing you from getting the speed that you're paying for.

 

My definition of "end of life" is when the manufacturer stops providing firmware updates for the hardware. But, from what you're saying, that terminology would not apply to a switch. So, I am just trying to apply that "logic" to my router and modem.

I realize that some of the technology of my router and/or modem might be old. That's probably ok, though, as long as it doesn't have a likely security flaw. I'd prefer a good connection over a fast one (fast ping times, low jitter, low packet loss), which could be useful for voip or video chat. Once I have that (possibly I already do but who knows, things can come and go), I'd probably want faster upload speeds instead of faster download speeds. Motivation for upload could be to backup files.

I am probably going to switch ISPs in a couple of months, once I have time, because Xfinity is raising the rates on me. I'd be switching to a non-cable modem provider, but could end up switching back soon after.

My router is
TP-Link Archer C59 AC1350 v 2.0

My internet is about 60mbps up/ 5mbps down.

 

You can't do that - especially with network hardware. As I just mentioned in your Epson thread, Ethernet and wifi protocols have been set and well established for years.

Typically, in the IT universe, end of life refers to software. XP, for example, reached its end of life because Microsoft stopped providing updates for it.

Exactly!

Your router supports 802.11ac. That's the latest industry wide standard. And it is still in production so IF a new vulnerability is discovered, no doubt a firmware update will be released.

That said, and oddly, according to these specs, that router only supports 10/100Mbps Ethernet. I say oddly because 1000Mbps (1Gbps) Ethernet has been around a long time and it seems odd to me if the device supports 11ac wireless, why not 1000Mbps Ethernet?

However, there is nothing about 1000Mbps Ethernet to make it more secure than 100Mbps. So no worries there.

 

Firmware is software, right? Or maybe you are taking the definition to also include the media that it's stored on.

Beyond the technologies that the router is using, there is a lot of other code. Different routers can have different features, and thus different code. It's not all created equal. Even if the companies are "responsible" things will sometimes fall short. It also will not be released instantly.

 

Correct.

No, that's hardware.

"If you can kick it, it's hardware."