Posted on
More from News
Netgear has unveiled the first cost-effective 10G smart switch, giving smaller businesses the opportunity to take advantage of 10G technology.
Indeed, the ProSAFE 10-Gigabit Ethernet Smart Switches (XS712T) are ideal for SME networks that need to cope with the rapid growth in the use of cloud-based services, video streaming and applications like VoIP - but without pushing costs too high. The new smart switch promises to provide "unprecedented non-blocking 10-Gigabit bandwidth at an affordable cost", according to the company.
For SMEs, this presents an opportunity to go beyond having simply a reliable connection, to a faster, more efficient one. Crucially, it enables businesses to maintain their existing hardware while opening up a pathway to take advantage of the latest evolving technologies. And, as any business knows, keeping apace with the rate of technology change is both crucial and, at times, a challenge - particularly when costs need to be kept to a minimum.
"Our ProSAFE XS712T offers our channel partners a chance to ride the next wield in networking as it provides budding networks a migration path to latest technologies without sacrificing current hardware investments," said Subhodeep Bhattacharya, Netgear's regional director, India & SAARC.
ProSAFE XS712T: key features
So, what are the standout features of the ProSAFE XS712T?
Among the highlights for SMEs is that it presents the opportunity to cost-effectively migrate your current network to 10G capacity using existing Cat6 RJ-45 short connections up to 45 metres, or Cat6A/Cat7 connections of up to 100 metres. Plus, it offers the flexibility to implement either 10G-capable core or aggregation switches.
Another feature that's advantageous for SMEs is static routing. Via static routing, the entire network can become more efficient, as it allows segmentation of the network. This means the router can be set aside for external traffic routing, while internal routing runs through the switch.
The XS712T has attractive security features too. Allowing secure access for authorised users, it also blocks malware and helps prevent external attacks through ACL filtering, port-based security by locked MAC and 802.1x authentication.
In addition to security and efficiency gains, the smart switch allows SMEs to design their network with the future in mind through comprehensive IPv6 support for Management, ACL and QoS. This means the ability to migrate to an IPv6-based network without having to invest in a new switch.
The advantages of smart switches
For small businesses keen to improve the speed of their network and augment cost-efficiency, smart switches are a particularly appealing piece of hardware. With a simple management interface and the ability to segment your network into work groups, they are also a flexible choice.
The XS712T is a particularly exciting development for SMEs because it not only presents the advantages typically associated with smart switches, but is the first affordable 10G smart switch on the market. As such, it provides an excellent opportunity for businesses to improve their network without having to replace all existing hardware, as well as maintain the flexibility to handle emerging technologies.
This new product is one of many exciting recent developments at Netgear, which announced an updated lineup at the CES 2016 event in Las Vegas in January. Among its key announcements was an upgrade to its Nighthawk X4 line.
