M.G.
This GS308E switch has been working great for me. It has a simple web interface, no third party software required (although Netgear does have a utility to find the switch on your network if you need it).
It has a stealth LED feature which is great if you don't want this lighting up a dark room. The power LED still stays on in stealth mode, however, but that can be remedied with some black electrical tape.
The switch has been perfectly reliable for me, and there's a lot of great features like VLAN support, cable testing (to test your Ethernet cables connected to the switch), and the ability to name ports in the web interface to name a few. It also comes with the mounting hardware including anchors to be able to wall mount.
It also seems this switch doesn't reach out to the internet, which I like since I know the switch isn't collecting any data from my network to send back to Netgear. In fact, for firmware updates, the switch interface just has a link to the Netgear website to download it from there rather than the switch being able to reach out to Netgear to get the latest firmware.
If you need an 8 port managed switch, I can recommend this one. Even if you don't need a managed switch and you just want to add ports to an existing router, this might be worth it just for the ability to disable the LEDs if you want to be able to install it in a bedroom or theater room.
| Platform | Not Machine Specific |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 2 Volts |
| Interface Type | RJ45 |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00606449170054 |
| Manufacturer | NETGEAR |
| UPC | 606449170054 |
| Item model number | GS308E-400NAS |
| Item Weight | 1.69 pounds |
| Package Dimensions | 8.23 x 6.3 x 3.27 inches |
| ASIN | B0D9W9YNWD |
| Country of Origin | Thailand |
| Date First Available | August 5, 2024 |
Richie