Netgear Answers Call for Simple Switches
Networking switch vendor Netgear claims it has bridged the gap between the robustness of an enterprise-grade switch and the simplicity and low-cost of SMB IP solutions with a new switch designed to offer the best of both worlds. Here are details.
The company’s ProSafe 8-port Gigabit PoE Smart Switch (GS110TP) handles all matter of IP traffic – be it VoIP, IP surveillance, or video conferencing, and can manage IP devices such as wireless access points, IP phones and IP cameras. It offers the Gigabit speeds and Power over Ethernet capability of its enterprise counterparts, but with a lower port density and a price point of $390.
Like other enterprise switches, the ProSafe GS110TP prioritizes voice and video traffic over less latency-sensitive traffic. In addition, it provides power-management capabilities to monitor and control resources, including a timer that shuts off certain PoE ports at certain times to save power and help secure a company’s network. The switch can also prioritize power usage so certain ports will get power first if the total power required exceeds the total power budget.
The switch is a boon for solution providers who have customers with enterprise networking needs but are too small for a managed switch solution. The price point is definitely a plus; there may even be a place for the GS110TP with SOHO customers who have advanced IP needs. With the GS110TP, Netgear has filled a niche for solution providers serving the SMB space.
Sign up for The VAR Guy’s Newsletter; Webcasts and Resource Center; and via RSS; Facebook; Identi.ca; Twitter and VARtweet. And read our disclosures here.
