Netgear gs108(8-port gigabit Ethernet switch covering features)

Introduction

Netgear GS108 is a common 8-port switch particularly for gigabit Ethernet which is suitable for small business and home users because it is cheap and most importantly reliable. Thus, with much certainty it can be suggested that the topic referring to the further expansion of various networks should have a stable connection network that can meet emerging requirements for connectivity. It could be used to extend these currently existing networks that were created out of the old technologies and join more devices into these.

 This article will focus at exploring and explaining the functionality, characteristics, installation procedures, and performance of the Netgear GS108 ethernet switch. We will also be answering some of the questions typically asked concerning this switch.By the end, you will have a good understanding of whether the GS108 is suitable for your small business network needs.

Key Features and Specifications

The Netgear GS108 has the following key features and specifications:

• 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports – Provides 8x 100/1000 Mbps ports to connect devices like computers, printers, servers, access points, IP phones at gigabit speeds.
• Plug and play setup – No configuration needed. Simply connect devices and the switch automatically detects and starts passing traffic.
• Fanless design – With no moving parts, the GS108 operates silently and is ideal for workspaces.
• Layer 2 switching – Uses store-and-forward switching to filter traffic collision domains for improved throughput and reliability.
• Jumbo frames – Supports frame sizes up to 9K bytes for improved network performance with large file transfers.
• Full/half duplex mode – Auto negotiation detects speeds of 1000 Mbps, 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps, full or half-duplex on each port.
• LED status indicators – Provides network monitoring with power, link/activity LEDs per port.
• Mounting options – Bracket slots allow wall/desk mounting for flexible placement.
• Plug and Play Manageability – Easy browser-based setup without any software.
• Lifetime protection – Limited lifetime warranty and 24×7 tech support from Netgear.

Physical Overview

Let’s take a closer look at the physical overview of the Netgear GS108 switch:

Front panel

The front panel houses:

• 8 Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 ports (numbered 1-8) with corresponding LED status indicators for power, link/activity on each port.
• A power LED that illuminates when power is supplied.

Rear Panel

The rear panel has:

• An AC power connector for the supplied power adapter.
• Ventilation slots for heat dissipation.

Sides and Top

The switch has mounting slots on the bottom for tabletop placement or attachment to a wall/shelf using the mounting brackets. Dimensions are 8.6″ x 5.7″ x 1.4″ making it compact to place under desks or in wiring closets.

Overall, the simple front panel design focuses on essential LED indicators and ports, keeping it clean and clutter-free. This makes the GS108 very easy to setup and manage without complex configurations.

Setup and Installation

Setting up the Netgear GS108 is quite straightforward.These 6 Steps will help you how to connect & Installation:

1. Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to any of the 8 available Ethernet ports (1-8) on the front panel of the switch.
2. Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on the device (computer, printer, IP phone etc.).
3. Connect the supplied power adapter to the Power port on the rear panel and plug it into a wall outlet.
4. The Power LED will illuminate indicating power is supplied. The relevant Link/Activity LEDs for each connected port will also illuminate or blink based on traffic.
5. Repeat Step 1-2 to connect additional devices as needed. A total of 8 connections can be made simultaneously.
6. Placement is flexible – use the mounting slots for wall/desk mounting or keep it on a tabletop.

That’s it! The switch automatically detects the connections and starts forwarding traffic between devices without any software configuration. This straightforward plug-and-play installation makes the Netgear GS108 very easy to deploy even for non-technical users.

Switching Modes and Operation

While setup is simple, it’s important to understand the fundamental switching principles of how the GS108 operates to deliver networking:

• Store and forward switching – Incoming frames are received and validated completely before being forwarded to destination ports. This eliminates collisions and ensures error-free transmissions.
• Auto MDI/MDI-X on each port – Detects network cables and adapts automatically for straight-through or crossover cabling without any manual settings.
• Auto-negotiation – Each gigabit port automatically detects speed/duplex settings of the connected device and adjusts to 10/100/1000Mbps in either full or half duplex mode.
• Port isolation – Switch ports are isolated from one another so devices connected to different ports don’t intercept traffic meant for other ports.
• Loop protection – Spanning tree protocol prevents network loops or broadcast storms which can lead to failure by blocking certain ports temporarily.

So in summary, the GS108 operates transparently to switch traffic at wire speed while intelligently adapting interfaces for plug-and-play operation with any standard network device.

Performance and Traffic Management

Let’s examine how the GS108 handles networking performance and traffic control tasks:

Backplane bandwidth –

It has 1.6Gbps switching capacity or 768 Mbps full-duplex bandwidth to handle simultaneous data transfers on multiple ports without bottlenecks.

Jumbo frame support –

Frame sizes up to 9K bytes improves throughput of large file transfers like HD videos or backups compared to standard 1.5K frames.

Store and forward operation –

Validates frames error-free before forwarding for solid reliability and consistent throughput.

IGMP snooping –

Learns multicast traffic patterns and optimally directs frames only to participating ports instead of broadcasting to all ports.

Port VLAN groups –

Provides logical VLAN groups for separate Layer 2 broadcast domains and security zones.

Overall, the GS108 delivers solid and consistent gigabit performance with intelligent features for handling different types of network traffic flows effectively. Jumbo frames in particular benefit high-bandwidth tasks.

Management Tools

While plug-and-play, the GS108 also provides basic browser-based management:

NETGEAR ProSAFE Switch Configuration Utility:

• Connect any port to your laptop/PC either directly or via the same subnet.
• Access the web UI through any browser at http://192.168.0.239 or http://169.254.1.1
• View status, configure port and manage basic switch settings like VLANs, DHCP snooping etc.
• No extra software needed, just connect and begin managing!

This smart switch utility makes initial setup and maintenance very straightforward without complex CLI interfaces. And the lifetime support from Netgear offers reliability.

Desktop or Wall Mounting

As mentioned, flexible mounting options make the GS108 practical for different locations:

Desktop Placement:

• Use the rubber feet bottom to place the switch vertically on any flat surface near devices.
• Keeps connections accessible from the top while saving space on the table.

Wall Mounting:

• Attach the provided mounting brackets to the slots on the bottom.
• Secure brackets to wall/furniture and hang the switch for an unobtrusive installation out of the way.
• Ideal for mounting in wiring closets or inside equipment racks.

This mounting versatility allows optimized placement based on the environment and number/positioning of connected devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common queries about the Netgear GS108 switch:

Q. Is it loud?

A. No, the GS108 is fully fanless so it operates completely silently.

Q. How many devices can I connect?

A. You can connect up to 8 devices simultaneously using the 8 Gigabit Ethernet ports.

Q. What is the speed and throughput?

A. Each port supports speeds up to 1000 Mbps and the switch throughput is 768 Mbps full-duplex maximum.

Q. Can I configure VLANs?

A. Yes, the web GUI allows basic VLAN grouping of up to 8 ports into separate broadcast domains.

Q. How do I setup port security?

A. The GS108 lacks advanced features like 802.1x authentication. But static MAC binding can be configured in the web GUI.

Q. Is it compatible with my router?

A. Yes, any router, switch or networking device with standard Ethernet ports will work with the GS108.

Q. Does it support PoE?

A. No, this is a simple managed switch without any Power over Ethernet capability.

Q. What is the warranty period?

A. Netgear offers limited lifetime warranty and 24×7 technical support on the GS108.

Hope this helps address some common concerns about using the GS108 in small networks. Reach out if you need any clarification!

Conclusion

Altogether, one can sum up that Netgear GS108 is a relatively low-cost, high-speed switch for the Small Business and Home Office as well as a growing business and can be used as a layer 2 switch and is capable of providing business networks with high-quality switching services.The fanless design and flexible mounting keep it adaptable to different work environments.

Key benefits like gigabit speeds across 8 ports, jumbo frame support, store-and-forward switching and basic management tools deliver great value for smaller switching needs. It is installed easily through a plug-and-play mechanism, and the management interface is very easy to use so even users who have little or no technical skills should have no troubles with implementing it.
The GS108 is the perfect device for updating older networks or for expanding the number of devices users can connect at once with Netgear’s technical support covering for any device.
If you a small officed, shop, clinic, or any working place with computers not more than 10, then you should consider the Netgear GS108 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch. That is especially due to the product’s low cost in comparison with its characteristics; the offered smartphone will be appropriate for those who decided to upgrade on a budget.