TP-Link TL-SG108E 8-Ports

The TL SG108E 8 Port Gigabit Easy Smart switch is an ideal upgrade from an unmanaged switch, designed for Small and Medium Business networks that require simple network management. Network administrators can effectively monitor traffic via Port Mirroring, Loop Prevention and Cable Diagnostics features. To optimize traffic on your business network, TL SG108E offers Port based/802.1p/DSCP QoS2 to keep latency sensitive traffic moving smoothly and jitter free. Additionally, port based, tag based and MTU VLAN can improve security and meet more network segmentation requirements. Moreover, with its innovative energy efficient technology, the TL SG108E can save up to 58 percent of power consumption, making it an nature friendly solution for your business network. TP LINK’s Gigabit Easy Smart switch, TL SG108E offers network monitoring for users to observe traffic behavior. With Port Mirroring, Loop Prevention and Cable Diagnostics features, TL SG108E can identify and even locate connection problems on your business network. Moreover, administrators can designate the priority of the traffic based on Port Priority, 802.1P and DSCP Priority, to ensure that voice and video are always clear, smooth and lag free. Additionally, to improve security and network performance, TL SG108E supports MTU VLAN, port based VLAN and 802.1Q based VLAN functions. TL SG108E is an upgrade from the plug and play Unmanaged Switch, delivering great value while empowering your network and similarly delivering great value to the end user. You now have the choice to go green when upgrading to a gigabit network! This new generation of TL SG108E 8 Port Gigabit Easy Smart Switch features the latest energy efficient technologies that can greatly expand your network’s capacity with much less power. It automatically adjusts power consumption according to the link status and cable length to limit the carbon footprint of your network. When a computer or network equipment is off, the corresponding port of a traditional switch will continue to consume considerable amounts of power. The TL SG108E can automatically detect the link status of each port and reduce the power consumption of ports that are idle. Ideally, shorter cables would use less power with less power degradation over their length; this is not the case with most devices as they will use the same amount of power across the cable regardless of whether it is 10 or 50 meters in length. The TL SG108E analyzes the length of the Ethernet cable connected and adjusts the power usage accordingly, rather than keeping the power consumption in a conventional solution. TL SG108E is easy to use and manage. Auto MDI/MDI X crossover on all ports eliminate the need for crossover cables or uplink ports. Auto negotiation on each port senses the link speed of a network device (either 10, 100, or 1000 Mbps) and intelligently adjusts for compatibility and optimal performance. Its compact size makes it ideal for desktops with limited space while also being Rack mountable, convenient and safe. Dynamic LED lights provide real time work status display and basic fault diagnosis. Review: Perfect Gaming Switch: TP-Link TL-GS108E Easy Smart 8 Port Switch - This smart TP-Link Smart switch [Model# TL-SG108E] is so easy to set up and has additional software in case you want to play administrator with your home/office network. (This is not a review of a highly technical nature so if you are a Tech Admin look elsewhere. Thank you.) First some information that should be included right off the bat. :: Steel Housing; 6-1/4”W x 4”D x 1-1/4”H (w/ 4 rubber feet) :: Unlimited Tech Support 24/7 by phone. (I have not used it) :: 5 year Warranty -- System Requirements (Listed on the box) -- :: RJ45 Ethernet Cables :: Computer with Windows 8/7/Vista/XP, Mac OS or Linux operating system (No issues using Windows 10 Pro) :: Network Adapter (I used my internet router with multiple Ethernet ports) -- Package Contents -- :: The 8-Port Smart Switch (Yellow and Green LEDs for connected speed indication) :: Power Adapter :: Installation Guide (2-pages) :: Resource CD (3-inch mini-size) I purchased this switch because my son has friends over to the house and they bring their laptops to play games on-line. They had been using the Wi-Fi but it is slow and unreliable, in our household, and bandwidth was at a premium. I decided to buy a switch so all the friends could tap into the TP-Link switch and use the fiber optics internet access. I only had to furnish six Ethernet cables and off they went. They are able to play on line games using the switch and I have heard of no problems so far. Well, except for a tangle of Ethernet cables. Watch your step in the living room while the gamers camp and play. This switch was made for the home office, or small business, but I decided to use it for a home network because it appeared durable in its steel box, has 8 ports up to 1000Mbps each and the price was so right after a $15.00 rebate. This switch is more than is needed at this time, but for the price point after the rebate, I have no regrets. I would list all the features and benefits of this switch but most of them mean little to nothing to me. A network admin would understand what this switch is capable of doing for a network. The switch is a simple dark metal steel box, with LEDs that show your System Power, Link, with Speed (Green or Yellow) and activity indicators for each port. The box sits just under the edge of my TV set for easy access. It feels cool to the touch even after operating for hours. Nice. When you set up the switch box you use one of the 8 ports to take the Ethernet cable from the router and use the other 7 ports as outputs. Each of the 8 Ethernet ports are Auto-negotiating. That means you do nothing but plug in the cable. So this leaves you with 7 ports to use as outputs for any Ethernet-ready electronic device. This can include gaming consoles, TVs, media boxes like desertcart Fire TV, Roku etc. as well as a laptops. I was able to run an Ethernet cable from one room, from the cable router, and set the switch box under my TV in the next room. (The entire length from the router to the switch should be less than 328 feet). That's one port used so far. I also needed to run my desertcart Fire TV box out of the next Ethernet port to the television. That left 6 Ethernet ports for the gamers. I looked at the Configuration Utility software, after installation, to see what information would be available. This is not a web-based graphical interface (GUI) but a software interface on this particular model (TL-SG108E). The Utility CD is a 3 inch mini-disk. If your player cannot play a mini-disk you will need to download the Configuration Utility software from TP-Link. The software, after installation, provides you with the ‘Discovered Switches’ interface with the headings: Product, Device Description, MAC Address, IP Address, Located on IP Network, IP Setting, and Login. I do know that the MAC Address of any device can be used to help secure the network. I use them with all the devices using the cable router, whether it be iPod, laptop, desktop computer, desertcart Fire TV box, etc. To be clear I did nothing with the provided software to be able to hook up the box and use it. I did need to open my cable router’s Admin software and entered the TP-Link switch’s MAC Address so my router would securely recognize it, but other than that, nada. Ez Pz. 5 Stars for TP-Link Easy Smart switch’s plug and play set-up, ease of use by its intended user-gamers, sturdy steel construction, and a wonderful after-rebate price point. There have been no issues since it was installed October 2015. If you can find an ‘Unmanaged’ switch for this price, size and durability go for it. NOTE: Besides the included Installation Guide, a 2-sided paper guide with instructions and images, you should also download from Customer Service the PDF files that will provide more specifications and detailed information about the switch and its software. Review: update - I have been using this switch since November going on basically two months, I have been using tp-link products for a few years. This item seems well built and stand up to the name trusted. My only issue when i need to log in i have to keep resetting the switch to do anything with the software. It ask me to set password but log out and to log back in, it is say password or user name error. Since i don't need to log in more than once or so it really dosn't bother me. Thats just for someone who might be annoyed needing to log in every now and again. It showed up the weak points on my old network which was just a basic router i realized i was using a basic 100mbps router. I wanted gigabit service so i resort to a old mikrotik i have home to get gigabit into the switch. Did some minor adjustment reprogramming and it work. I might have to get a TP-link router later on but for now i can manage. So basically i am using it on two tv, the old router for wifi untili can improve that router, a printer and copier, a cable box which all of those items are 100mbps full duplex. My laptop is recieving full gigabit full duplex. The quality of my tv and cable box has improve significantly my router is no longer over loaded and bottle necking. Very few freezing i get on the cable box which i can live with and that is for just a few stations which sometimes servers over load and not IP issue or your equipment may just be at fault. Also use a wifi expander for out side and may add another later on. i would recommend this product if your just doing basic networking accross the home and office nothing complex easy plug and play if you know your way around it. It cane also work for gaming consoles Cabling is very important to your network let me say, because i had to rebuild some of my cables. Cat5e/cat6 recommended and it is also good to colour code the cables so you don't have a bondle of cables same colour. Make sure to use a good gigabit router or other equipment with good managment for your switch to get full potential from it. I have no regret buying this equipment for now and not hopping for any in new future. Make sure to also back up your network system with a ups for outages, outages can be very harsh on these sensative equipment they are very delicate. When ever there is a power outage and power returns there normally what is call spikes (voltage may increase) so a good ups is importantant for set up with surge protector. So you can properly shut down and save your hard earn investment. My ups 1000watts gives me up 7hrs or a little less of back up time if needs be but planning on adding a second back up system which maybe a complex idea if your not tech savvy. Its good to get a professional do this for you if going so far. Networking is becoming more complex not for only office and business but also for homes because cameras, gaming, iptv ect, is becoing more advanced. The challenges is getting proper set up into homes for satisfaction and these little equipment and make a great difference in dealing with some of the challenges we all face from day to day. Getting and choosing equipment can be very challenging because there are so many on the market but getting the right one can make such a difference. If your having challenges tp-link will solve the issues long as you know how to setting up their products or get a good pro to do it for you. Update on the switch i believe there is a lock switch on this device that allow you to log into the switch whenever time needed with out resetting it. For some reason i had to make a adjustment and saw it after logging out i was able to login now without doing a reset. Incredible product thinking about doing a upgrade in the near future to a managed switch and sure tp-link is my choice.