I recently upgraded my home switches from an old Linksys/Cisco SRW2008 to the updated Cisco SG300-10 and its POE cousins SG300-10MP. Well the first thing I did was update the router firmware. That is not as easy as a BIOS flash.
The devices have many years worth of updates and they have separate boot and application images they use. So I had to find the right recipe to upgrade as you can't go straight to the newest you need intermediate steps..
i now have a PHD in Cisco firmware after my third one. I know what to buy now as they are pretty unbrickable.
It needs a tftp server to upload the boot image and that is a good thing to learn, I had trouble getting going but prevailed.
Believe me i was on the edge of my seat a few times.
I did take my newfound talent of soldering to affix an 5.5x2.5mm Barrel jack to the device as they use a 4 Pin round power jack on the 48V POE models. I soldered a pigtail on the underside of the 4pin power din jack and pop'ed a hole in the back for my jack.
I also shrink wrapped and soldered everything..You would have to have a good eye to spot my mod.
The 4 pin obviously offers more amperage, but my little cameras draw very little. Millivolts. These MP models are for higher amperage devices.There is also SG300-10PP that is POE+ and 56V.
The SG300-10MP's were cheaper because of the power situation. The 48V-3.1A power adapters are rare.
I don't know why so many SG300 sell on ebay with no power adapters. The board has good power protection. Nice design.
Being a thrifty craftsman I loved it when, upon disassembly of the SG300-10, I saw the bottom metal casing had a stamping mark of SRW2008. They are still using the same stamping dies from the old Linksys SRW2008.
Hell Ya. That is one fine stamping die. I have made many dies and that one I really appreciated.
Plus they changed the front bezel to metal. Oh yea.
Usually everything new gets crappier. They did good on improving that design. Makes it look modern.
Bravo Cisco.
Plus the old SRW2008 web interface only worked on the Internet Exploder. Good Riddance.