Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: smc, GS8P, switch | Themes: Business, Networking
- 1. The SMC EZ Switch
- 2. Product Tour
- 3. Web Management
1. The SMC EZ Switch
Introduction : Speed and Power
The two issues that every networking environment has to deal with are speed and power.
Often, in order to deal with speed and power, you need more than one networking device. In the case of the SMC GS8P-Smart Switch, the answer may well be somewhat simpler.
The SMC GS8P-Smart Switch includes eight auto sensing ports for 10 Mbps, 100 Mps and 1000 Mbps (1 GbE) so a network can handle multiple types of Ethernet speeds. From a power perspective, the switch supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) so the network can provide not only connectivity but power as well.
However, power and speed are only part of the equation for the SMC GS8P-Smart Switch; it’s not called a “smart switch” for no reason. The device is a managed switch, meaning there is a Web interface with which a network administrator can control it. The Web interface also allows the administrator, to some degree, to manage the traffic and the power that flows through the switch.
| Product: | SMC 8 Power EZ Switch 10/100/1000 with PoE |
| Pros: | Extensive Web Management interface |
| 8 x 10/100/1000 ports | |
| PoE up to 25 W | |
| Integrated Cable Diagnostics | |
| Cons: | Size |
| Statistics and reporting not exportable | |
| Firmware upgrade is not automated. |
- SMC SMCGS8PSmart...
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HP Procurve 1800 is a much better value.
HP Procurve 1800 is not a POE switch from what I can see.
I had an SMC Managed switch with a "Lifetime Warranty" After about three years the internal Fan died. They would not warranty or support the switch. They told me the product had been discontinued for over a year and Lifetime means the Lifetime of the Product line. So my Lifetime Warranty lasted only about 2 years. LAME!
Linksys SRW208P (or SRW208MP) in the same price range has 2GB ports and 8 10/100/PoE ports, nice boxes IME.