Netgear unveils 48-port Gigabit smart switch

The GS748T works out of the box as an unmanaged switch; management features can be enabled as needed, Netgear said. Designed for high-density rack mounting, the unit provides 48 10/100/1,000MB/second ports in a 1U enclosure. Each port is capable of powering 2GB/second of data throughput in full-duplex mode, and features automatic speed and full/half-duplex sensing.

The GS748T's wizard automatically detects up to 254 Smart Switches within a network. Its Web-browser interface provides key switch-management features, including port configuration, port trunking for increased bandwidth, performance monitoring, VLAN for traffic control, and Class of Service (CoS) for traffic prioritization.

Equipped with four hot-swappable Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) GBIC slots for fiber Gigabit Ethernet modules, the GS748T provides optional fiber connectivity to enable secure, long-distance connections between switches.

The GS748T joins a family of Netgear ProSafe switches that includes the 24+2 10/100 Smart Switch FS526T, 48+2 10/100 Smart Switch FS750T, and 24 Port Gigabit Smart Switch GS724T.

Netgear backs the GS748T with a five-year warranty and 24/7 technical support. The product is available now and sells for $1,750.