Netgear GS724Tv2 GS724Tv2 Hardware manual - Page 5

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of the NETGEAR GS724T Gigabit Smart Switch! Your NETGEAR Switch is a state-of-the-art, high-performance, IEEE-compliant network solution designed for users who require a large number of ports and want the power of Gigabit connectivity to eliminate bottlenecks, boost performance, and increase productivity. There are 24 RJ-45 ports with two built-in Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) GBIC slots on the front panel of the switch that support non-stop 10/100/1000 networks. To simplify installation, the switch is shipped ready for use out of the box. This chapter serves as the introduction for using your NETGEAR GS724T Gigabit Smart Switch and provides the following information: • Overview • Switch Features • Package contents Overview Your NETGEAR GS724T Gigabit Smart Switch provides 24 twisted-paired ports with two built-in Small Form-Factor Pluggable (SFP) GBIC slots that support non-blocking 10/100/1000 networks. Using this Gigabit switch, you can create high-speed connections to a server or network backbone. For example, you can: • Connect switches to each other with high-speed links • Link to high-speed servers • Provide 10/100/1000 copper and fiber connectivity Your NETGEAR GS724T Gigabit Smart Switch also provides the benefit of administrative management with a complete package of features for the observation, configuration, and control of your network. With a Web-based Graphical User Interface (GUI), the switch's many capabilities can be viewed and used in a simple and intuitive manner. The switch's management features include configuration for port and switch information, VLAN for traffic control, port trunking for increased bandwidth, and Class of Service (CoS) for traffic prioritization. These features and more will allow you to better understand and control your network. Initial discovery of your switch on your network requires the Smart Wizard Discovery program, a utility that runs on a PC. Additionally, the NETGEAR ProSafeGS724T Smart Switch also supports SNMP and can be managed using network management software, such as the NETGEAR ProSafe NMS 100. Your NETGEAR GS724T Gigabit Smart Switch can be free-standing, or rack mounted in a wiring closet or equipment room. It is IEEE-compliant and offers low latency for high-speed networking. It includes 24 auto-sensing 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports with two SFP GBIC slots. All ports can automatically negotiate to the highest speed. This capability makes the switch ideal for environments that have a mix of Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet devices. In addition, all RJ-45 ports operate in half- or full-duplex mode, increasing the maximum bandwidth of each connection up to either 20 Mbps, 200 Mbps, or 2000 Mbps, respectively. The maximum segment length is 328 feet (100 meters) over Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable, but much longer for fiber connections using SFP GBIC modules. Page 5 of 20