Customer Reviews

NETGEAR GS716TNA Giga Smart Switch 16Pt

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ok, so it lets electrons flow in the expected way. It does work as a 10/100/1000 switch. BUT, when something is billed as a "Smart Switch", I expect it to be - get this - smart. Simply throwing a web ui on it doesn't make it smart.

Let's make a list of the things this switch doesn't support.

1. 802.3ad link aggregation. The specs on Netgear's site claim 802.3ad support, but it's just not there. The $130 GS108T even does proper 802.3ad.

2. Network Time - Again, the much cheaper GS108T does NTP.

3. Syslog support - A so-called "smart switch" should generate log entries for various events, right? Right? Nope. Doesn't do it.

4. Be quiet - This switch is billed as usable in a rack mounted environment or as a "desktop switch". Great, if your desktop is in the middle of a noisy warehouse. Not so great if your desktop is in an otherwise quiet room. I blame the crappy 2x 40mm fans that operate full time when the switch is turned on.

I can live without logging or ntp support, but I need link aggregation. Since the cheaper GS108T, from the same family of products, supports this feature, and the Netgear site claims the GS716T supports it, you'd like to think it would, right? Eek. It's sitting on my front step right now waiting for UPS to take this abomination back to Amazon.

Excellent product with bandwidth shaping properties, great price. Used for high-traffic internal and DMZ subnets.

If you're going to put this thing in a closet with a heavy door and insulation, you could be OK - It's performance is great. It's just too darn loud. I returned it for a more costly D-Link switch.

I have installed 7 of these switches in small businesses. This switch can be rack mounted or sit on a shelf. It is easy to configure, normal installation and setup should take less than 30 minutes. I have had no problems with heat, for that matter, I have had no complaints about any of these switches. On one occasion, I contacted Netgear tech support about another issue, and of the tech support people I work with, they were among the most knowledgeable and polite.

No, these aren't Cisco switches, but neither is the price, setup or maintenance.

This could be a nice switch, if the firmware update can be available. However, Netgear had stopped issue any firmware update to this switch for some years.

On the other hand, GS724T switch is being constantly updated with latest bug fix and protocol supports, etc. So I end up returned this one and get the GS724T instead. GS724T works very well.