Common Questions About Smart Switches
FS526T, FS750T, GS724T and GS748T
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.
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 SmartWizard 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.
Early FS726T's use the default password admin,
instead of password. (The FS750T always uses password.)
How is Initial Configuration Done?
The Smart Switches ship with the SmartWizard 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 SmartWizard Discovery Software?
SmartWizard 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 Smartwizard Discovery is installed, a shortcut icon appears on the
desktop. You can start it by double-clicking the icon any time.
What's the IP Address for Web Management?
The switch ships with the GearDiscovery utility, software you load on
a network PC. The GearDiscovery 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 SmartWizard Found the IP address, but I
Still Can’t Access the FS750T
The Smartwizard 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 Smartwizard 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.
Doc ID: N101195.asp July
19, 2004 |
