What are your recommended Layer 2 and Layer 3 network switches if the main consideration is performance?

Depends upon what feature you NEED to operate within your network and the size and complexity of your design will dictate which model and what brand can support the design, function and feature you NEED to run the network. 

I used HP ProCurve, Cisco, Netgear, and Brocade. 

HP ProCurve was great reliable and cost-effective never paid maintenance as they had a Lifetime Warranty. 

Cisco is good (not great) and you need to watch out for the Cost of Ownership with Cisco as the purchase can be competitive but the cost of ownership can kill. 

Netgear works well for a 420-seat network along with WIFI A/P (8) and was super cost-effective. No issues for the 4.5 years running these. 

Brocade is very good: we are still running these switches after 11 years. A few dead ones during this period but I must say impressed by the reliability.

It depends on your budget, but here is a list:

-Extreme

-Ruckus

-Aruba

-ALLIED TELESYN

For data centers: Arista.

Ruckus and Extreme: some models come from BROCADE, which is the best of the best for Fiber channel systems and switching for old virtualization systems. Extreme bought something from AVAYA.

Ruckus - you need to pay licenses for the speed of the ports where they are 1 GB, 10 Gb or 40 Gb.

Aruba is easy to configure and includes many features.

Greetings

I forget to comment on some points, with respect to Netgear I have not had enough experience, but if I can comment a customer of Netgear wireless changed it to Ruckus, with respect to prices Aruba, Extreme and Ruckus are very similar, Allied has not quoted for a while. 

It is worth mentioning that Extreme stayed with Brocade Data Center equipment, but also Ruckus has similar solutions especially oriented to the campus level, creating clusters remotely without too many free loop configurations. 

It is convenient to see more of your design to know which solution is the most appropriate and approach you with a manufacturer.

Greetings.

Steer away from legacy networking. 

I would consider Extreme Networks Campus Fabric which will enhance performance at a lower cost

Of those mentioned, I have used Aruba and Netgear most recently and they have worked well.

If you're not sure if you need an L2 or L3 switch you should also look at "light layer 3" switches which are in between. They are mostly L2 but with the most basic L3 functionality.

-Aruba

-Netgear

Aruba

Hi @Sandeep Pandit, ​

As a general rule, Layer 2 is faster than Layer 3.  

Also, I need to know more details to recommend anything.  

Hi @Wesley Wang, @reviewer1042635, @YaserAltwailey, @Steve Pender, @Manish Nalawade ​and @reviewer1567812,

What would be your professional recommendation to @Sandeep Pandit?

Thanks for the help!​​ ​ ​ ​ ​