NETGEAR8 Port Gigabit Network Switch (GS108) - Ethernet Switch - Ethernet Splitter - Plug-and-Play - Silent Operation - Desktop or Wall Mount

I now have two different Netgear switches in use at home. This GS108Ev3 managed, & a GS105UK unmanaged. I was originally just using the GS105UK unmanaged for the additional "plug & play" ethernet ports they provide & it is still in use as such. The 5 port GS105UK unmanaged is now connected into this 8 port GS108E & I wanted a managed switch this time around for the additional configuration options they provide, especially for the VLAN options with the type & number of networked devices I have in use.Like the GS105UK, the GS108E has a sturdy metal enclosure which can be surface mounted with the included screws & raw plugs. The individual ports are all solid too & I haven't had any issues with any of my ethernet cables failing to lock securely into place. As with any other Netgear product I've owned over the years (which adds up to quite a list), it is very well made. They're very reasonably priced too for the features they include. Obviously, its features & options are all clearly mentioned in the product description. However, one very useful feature is the cable test which saves the fuss of physically pulling/swapping out suspect cables if you do need to begin troubleshooting any network issues. (I tested a cable that I was aware of having intermittent faults & the GS108E picked it up immediately & it informs you roughly whete on the cable to look for possible damage etc.). The web UI looks incredibly dated now indeed but everything works exactly as intended. Ultimately, most just need an unmanaged switch for the additional plug & play ethernet ports but if you're at all unsure of what you may need further down the line it wouldn't be the worst idea to spend a little extra on a managed switch now. The GS108v3 can essentially be used as a managed or unmanaged switch, (out of the box they're basically configured as a plug & play unmanaged switch until you actually configure any of the managed features).Supplied in full Netgear retail packaging with a basic quick start guide & power supply. Some research will be required to understand the more advanced features such as VLANs if it's all new to you. An excellent product when all is said & done. Would happily recommend them. 5/5.

Speed: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Privacy: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Security: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Availability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Pros:Lots of features to manage the networkSleek DesignQuietAccessed through web portalFairly newCons:Can be faulty in terms of getting it's own IP address and must use the NETGEAR Switch Discovery Tool (NSDT)SpecificationsThe NETGEAR Network Switch has 8 Port Gigabit Ethernet ports plus software with user friendly interface that offers basic managed capabilities to configure, secure, and monitor the network.It supports desktop or wall mount placement and is energy efficient design compliant with IEEE802.3az. In addition, it's silent operation is ideal for noise sensitive environments. The switch supports VLANs, QOS and more.ManagementSwitch Information:The Switch Information tab supplies all the information related to the network configurations implemented on the switch itself such as Switch Name, MAC Address, IP Address, Gateway address and more.Port Status:The Port Status reveals the status of each port. For example, Port 1, shows the port status being "Up" or "Down", if the speed is set to Auto or half duplex mode? Along with the Link Speed and Flow Control represented in metrics.Loop Detection:Loop detection can be enabled to detect potential loops within the network.MaintenanceThe Maintenance tab allows us to perform general tasks such as Change Password, Device Reboot, and Firmware Updates. In addition, we're able to save and restore configuration files which can be created manually.MonitoringThe Monitoring tab allows us to check each of the Port Statistics such as the Bytes being sent and received.Furthermore, we're able to enable Port Mirroring configuration to duplicate the traffic from one port to another. This is useful if we want to analyse the network traffic on a specific port.Also, there's a Cable Tester which allows us to test each port cable if the test results return "OK", "FAULT", or "No Cable".Lastly, there's a Multicast tab which allows us to enable IGMP Snooping Status, Validate IGMPv3 IP Header, and able to Block Unknown Multicast Address.VLANThere's a VLAN tab which allows us to enable Basic Port-Based VLAN Status. In addition, there's Basic 802.1Q VLAN Status which can be enabled too.QoSQoS when enabled allows us to set either "High", "Medium", "Normal" or "Low" Priority on each port. For example, if Port 1 has been set to "High Priority" then, QoS policy would prioritize traffic so that more important traffic can pass through first, in this case it's Port 1.Furthermore, we're able to set the Rate Limit and enable Broadcast Filtering.SummaryOverall, I believe the NETGEAR 8 Port Gigabit Ethernet Plus Network Switch is worth it. At the cost being around £30.00, and the amount of managed switch features we're able to enable, is perfect.The managed switch features allows a user to manage the network from a layer 2 perspective, which increases the security, and flow of traffic throughout the network.