What is a smart switch?
A smart switch has many of the benefits of a managed switch without the complexity or cost of a fully managed switch. With a smart switch, you can monitor ports, configure trunks, and set prioritization, all with an intuitive Web interface. A smart switch has more capability than an unmanaged switch, but not all that of a fully managed switch. For example, a smart switch can configure ports, set up trunking, and even virtual LAN’s (VLAN’s), but it cannot participate in SNMP.
- The default settings match what you would find in an unmanaged switch, so you can use them right out of the box without even touching the management features.
- The gigabit ports negotiate with other equipment to work at 10 or 100 Mbps.
- If there is no DHCP server, the IP address defaults to 192.168.0.238.
Product page weblinks:
FS526Tv2 was launched in 2013. See product page.
GS724Tv4 product page.
FS750T product page.
How is it used?
Smart switches are ideal for small networks that can benefit from the speed of gigabit uplink. Examples are:
- Server connections.
- Gigabit backbone.
- High-speed uplinks.
What is the difference between the GS524T and the GS724T?
While both switches have 24 10/100/1000 Mbps ports, the GS524T is a pure unmanaged switch while the GS724T offers both Smart Switch capabilities and the option of fiber connectivity via two SFP GBIC slots. These GBIC slots are shared with two copper ports, so there are only 24 active ports at one time.
The SFP GBIC slots accept any SFP GIBC that complies with the specification. NETGEAR offers two: the AGM731F multimode fiber, and the AGM732F single mode fiber.
How are the first smart switch, the FS526T, and the new FS750T different?
Aside from the physical differences (13” box for the FS526T and 17” box for the FS750T) and the number of Fast Ethernet ports (24 vs. 48), the switches are very similar. Both have two built-in Copper Gigabit ports, run the Smart Wizard Discovery Software and have the intuitive Web browser interface.
NETGEAR has three smart switches: the FS526T with 24 Fast Ethernet ports and two Copper Gigabit ports, the FS750T with 48 Fast Ethernet ports and two Copper Gigabit ports, and the GS724T with 24 Copper Gigabit ports.
How is initial configuration done?
The Smart Switches ship with the Smart Wizard Discovery program that will discover the switch on your network, enabling you to connect to the switch via your web browser. Configuration after that is through an intuitive Web browser interface.
Where is the Smart Wizard discovery software?
Smart Wizard Discovery is Windows-based software from the Smart Switch CD. You have to install the software on a PC on the same network as the Smart Switch. The putting the CD-ROM in your CD drive should automatically start the installation process. The installation file is setup.exe. Simply double-click the file icon to start installation, and follow the directions. Once Smart Wizard Discovery is installed, a shortcut icon appears on the desktop. You can start it by double-clicking the icon any time.
Smart Wizard Discovery was replaced by Smart Control Centre in the years 2010 to 2012. In general switches on V3.xx firmware can be found by Discovery, but later switches on V5.xx firmware cannot be found.
What's the IP address for web management?
The switch ships with the Smart Wizard Discovery utility, software you load on a network PC. This Discovery Utility finds the switch on the network and determines if it got an address from a DHCP server on the network or is using the default IP address. Once you know the IP address, a browser can manage the switch.
The Smart Wizard found the IP address, but I still can’t access the FS750T:
The Smart Wizard Discovery program can work across your network to locate your FS750T switch, but your PC must be in the same subnet to enable your browser to connect to the switch. This means you will have to change either the Switch IP address or your PC IP address. You can change the switch IP setting through the Smart Wizard Discovery. Select the FS750T and click the button of Configuration Setting.
The port-based VLAN works differently on the FS750T and FS526T:
The FS526T has no limitation on setting any port-based VLAN, i.e., any physical port can be assigned to any VLAN. However, for the FS750T there are two port groups, which are mutually exclusive. Ports 1 through 24 are in one group and have no limitations on the VLANs that can be set up within the group. Ports 25 to 50 are in the second group. Ports from group 1 cannot belong to a port-based VLAN with ports from group 2. Tag-based VLANs have no such restrictions.
What modules can be used with the FS726T?
The SFP GBIC slot on the FS726T accepts any SFP GIBC the specification. NETGEAR offers two SFP GBIC modules:
AGM731F for multimode fiber and the AGM732F for single mode fiber.
Doc ID: N101195.asp Jan 17, 2005-- Rev 2 Feb 2014