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Topic: Networking

Netgear launches affordable 10-Gigabit switches for SMEs

Summary: Looking to upgrade your small-business LAN to 10GbE? Check out Netgear's new range of switches, which includes a 'lightly managed' 8-port model for around a thousand dollars.

Kelvyn Taylor

By Kelvyn Taylor for ZDNet UK First Take |

10-Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) is already well established in the enterprise space, but there are several barriers to its adoption by smaller businesses — not least of which is the eye-watering cost of current 10GbE infrastructure. Netgear recently announced a range of three low-cost 10GBase-T (the copper-cabled standard) switches, including the 8-port ProSAFE Plus XS708E, which is one of the first entry-level switches aimed specifically at SMEs. At around £675 ($1,025), the XS708E represents a significant drop in cost-per-port for 10GbE switching.

netgear-XS708E
Netgear's 8-port ProSAFE Plus XS708E 10GbE switch costs around $1,000.

One of the key problems with 10GBase-T devices to date has been their excessive power consumption compared to fibre-based products, but Netgear states that the new models are more power-frugal. The new 24-port XSM7224 enterprise switch, for example, has a maximum power consumption of 200W. The advantage of 10GBase-T is its compatibility with existing Cat 5e, 6a or 7 cabling, and backwards compatibility with 10/100/1000Mbps connections.

Netgear describes the 8-port XS708E as 'lightly managed', making it intermediate between fully-managed and smart switches. Configuration is via a dedicated software utility, rather than web-based, and covers a subset of essential Layer 2 features such as VLAN and QoS settings.

The XS708E also includes a single combo SFP+ port that can take a 10G fibre module if needed. Netgear claims that it's now the only vendor with 10GBase-T devices suitable for all sizes of business.

netgear-M7100-XS712T
More 10GbE Netgear ProSAFE switches: the fully managed 24-port XSM7224 (top) and the 12-port XS712T Smart Switch (bottom).

The other new 10GBase-T products in the ProSAFE range are the ProSAFE Plus XS712T 12-port Smart Switch (around $2,000), and the fully-managed XSM7224 24-port device (around $6,000) mentioned above.

With the increasing prevalence of 10GbE adapters in modern SME servers, it's only a matter of time before the ever-increasing demands on bandwidth make the move to 10GbE inevitable. These new products, while still relatively expensive compared to GbE infrastructure, represent an important first step in reducing the barriers to entry.

All the new 10GBase-T switches are available immediately from Netgear resellers.

Topics: Networking, Reviews

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6 comments
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  • I like Netgear and run it at home

    But i have never come across at a single SME that uses Netgear for their primary network infrastructure in the 16 years if working in IT. The Network engineers i have worked with scoff at the suggestion. That being said i highly doubt that the ROI will be realized by most SME's in the time it takes for the big players to bring costs down. Most SME's don't generate enogh traffic to saturate gig-e backbones.
    ammohunt
    Reply 1 Vote

    • Exactly

      and your not going to toss in another vendor you have to manage separately.
      everss02
      Reply 1 Vote

    • Maybe it's time to expand your bubble?

      The consensus among storage / vmware architects says different. Several very popular vmare engineers did some tests and they concluded / recommend unmanaged Netgear switches for the fastest possible throughput. They tested against Cisco and several other brands and found the Netgears were the absolute fastest and by far the lowest price. Of curse this is unmanaged but theres little need for management on an iSCSI switch if it is dedicated. Netgear is doing just fine in the SBE area and come highly recommended among spicework peers (the definitive sme resource).
      DCarpenter@...
      Reply Vote

  • 'lightly managed' 10g switch is useless

    'lightly managed' 10g switch is useless - give me one use case for 8-port 10g switch there you don't need full blown management and feature set...
    All these does is making harder to argue for proper enterprise switches with beancounters.
    vgrig
    Reply Vote

  • Steve

    This makes 10gig Ethernet appealing for iscsi to a back end SAN. But would I trust a Netgear here?
    Stephen.jordan
    Reply Vote

  • SME don't need switches anymore

    The way it goes, SME just need an ISP connection and some wireless routers. Everything is hosted in the cloud: Email, Docs, Accounting, etc. Who needs a switch? and the manpower to manage it? Rather save the salary for a fatter ISP pipe.
    James Gordon
    Reply Vote
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