Hi @j140,

You should be able to connect the SX3016F to switches with an SFP+ port at 10G and to switches with SFP ports at 1.25G.  As I recall, you'd need to manually set the speeds to match to get it to link.  My main concern with using the 3016 is your choice of cabling.

If you're planning to load up the 3016 with RJ45 transceivers, it's not a good idea.  These get really hot and I think the 3016 is fanless too.  If you use TP-Link's own SFP+ RJ45 install notes as a guide, for the 3016 it's "recommended to use only one module for each group of SFP+ ports."  Thus, max RJ45 usage is capped at 4.

TP-Link doesn't have much to offer in the way of 10G copper ports in the current lineup.  Honestly, I don't even think they'd put 10G copper on the SG3206HPP if POE over fiber was an option.

If possible, always use a DAC cable.  I've used them at 10G between two SFP+ ports and at 1.25G between SFP+ and SFP ports on my TP-Link switches. (Full disclosure: I don't have the SX3016F or SX3008F).  The TP-Link doc for their DAC cable has a red X on the SFP+ to SFP use case, but based on the caption it just means it your 10G port is reduced to 1.25G.  I've picked up several 10G DACs from a very popular online retailer and haven't had any issues.

That would just leave fiber and it's a fiber switch so as long as the cable and transceiver types match up that will work.

 Hi  @D-C 

Thanks for the reply.

Most of of the connections will be fiber. Will only need RJ45 for a couple of LAG trunks as there are no SFP ports on them. So, it might work out after all.

Just awaiting my 1U unit that will be my new pfSense firewall which will have 2.5Gb NICs.