SmallNetBuilder

Recommendations and Features Matrix

It's not really fair to include Linksys' managed SRW2008 in a direct head to head comparison with the three other "smart" switches. Based on the depth of configuration options, it would win hands down. The SWR2008 is a very capable switch that could be a work group switch as part of a large enterprise network, or could be the core of a small business network. And though it only has eight ports, I found it surprising that you could purchase such a feature-rich switch for under $200.

Though it has the highest street price, my choice between the three "smart" switches would be the Netgear GS716T largely because of its superior feature set relating to QoS. The only drawbacks with the Netgear switch are the relatively high noise level created by the fans and lack of 802.1x support.

If integration into a corporate network requiring 802.1x authentication, the D-Link DGS-1216T would be an easy choice. It has many of the features of the Netgear, runs significantly quieter, and is about $35 cheaper. Both have slots for fiber optic modules.

And finally, the Trendnet TEG-160WS wins the competition on the pricing front, but you sacrifice quite a few features (including jumbo frame support) as compared to the D-Link that has street pricing of only about $10 more.

Smart Switch Feature Comparison Table
(N/A = Not available)

See an updated Smart Switch Feature Comparison Table

Product	D-Link DGS-1216T [Website]	Linksys SRW2008 [Website]	NetGear GS716T [Website]	TrendNet TEG-160WS [Website]
Best Delivered Web Price(Pricegrabber)	$216.62 Check price	$186.00 Check price	$251.99 Check price	$207.64 Check price
Chipset	Marvell	Marvell	Marvell	Broadcom
Power Supply
Power Consumption	30.3 Watts maximum	24 Watts Maximum	32 Watts Maximum	23 Watts Maximum
Power	100-240VAC /50-60 Hz	100-240VAC /50-60 Hz	100-240VAC /50-60 Hz	100-240VAC /50-60 Hz
Power Switch	No	No	No	Yes
Network Ports
Wired	16 10/100 /1000 Mbps	8 10/100 /1000 Mbps	16 10/100 /1000 Mbps	16 10/100 /1000 Mbps
Fiber Optic	2 shared SFP ports for SFP GBIC Modules	2 shared SFP ports for SFP GBIC Modules	2 shared SFP ports for SFP GBIC Modules	None
Auto MDIX	Yes	Yes (configurable)	Yes	Yes
Physical Specifications
Dimensions (W x D x H)	440 x 210 x 44mm (17.3 x 8.3 x 1.73 in.)	279 X 45 X 170 mm (11 X 1.75 X 6.69 in)	440 x 205 x 43 mm (17.8 x 8.1 x 1.6 in.)	440 x 210 x 44mm (17.3 x 8.3 x 1.73 in.)
Weight	6 Lb (2.832 Kg)	2.2 LB (1 Kg)	6.03 lb (2.74 kg)	6.6 Lb (3 Kg)
Certifications
	CE Mark	CE Mark, CE Class A	CE mark, commercial	CE mark, commercial
	FCC Part 15 Class A	FCC Part 15 Class A	FCC Part 15 Class A	FCC Part 15 Class A
		UL, cUL	VCCI Class A	VCCI Class A
		CB	C-Tick
LEDs
Per port	Link/Activity, 100, 1000	Link/Activity, Gigabit	Link/Activity, Speed, FDX	Link/Activity, 100, 1000
Per device	Power, CPU	System	Power	Power, System
Managed Functions
IEEE 802.1Q Static VLAN	Up to 255	(up to 256 active)	(Up to 64)	N/A
Port-based VLAN	Up to 16	Up to 8	(Up to 16)	(Up to 16)
IEEE 802.1p Class of Service (CoS)	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A
Port-based QoS/queues	Yes/4	Yes/4	Yes/4	Yes/2
IEEE802.3ad (manual) Link Aggregation	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
IEEE 802.1d Spanning Tree Protocol	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A
IEEE 802.1w Rapid Spanning Tree	N/A	Yes	N/A	N/A
IEEE 802.1s Multiple Spanning Tree	N/A	Yes	N/A	N/A
SNMP V1	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A
SNMP V2	N/A	Yes	N/A	N/A
SNMP V3	N/A	Yes	N/A	N/A
RMON support	N/A	Yes	N/A	N/A
IP/MAC ACL	N/A	Yes/Yes	N/A	N/A
802.1x/RADIUS port control	Yes	Yes	N/A	N/A
Set time with SNTP server	N/A	Yes	N/A	N/A
IGMP Snooping	Yes	Yes	N/A	N/A
Per Port Broadcast threshold	N/A	Yes	Yes	N/A
Port Based web status	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Port Based web statistics	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
DHCP client	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A
Jumbo Frame Support (up to 9,600 bytes)	Yes	Yes	Yes	N/A
Private Enterprise MIB	N/A	Yes	Yes	N/A
Port Mirroring Support	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Web-based configuration	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Console port	N/A	Yes	N/A	N/A
Telnet	N/A	Yes	N/A	N/A
Web-based configuration - SSL	N/A	Yes	N/A	N/A
Configuration Backup/Restore	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Password Access Control	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Firmware upgradeable	Yes Web /utility	Yes - Web/TFTP	Yes - Web Based	Yes - through utility
Performance Specifications
Forwarding modes	Store and forward	Store and forward	Store and forward	Store and forward
Bandwidth	32 Gbps	16 Gbps	32 Gbps	32 Gbps
Buffer memory	512 KB	1MB	256 KB embedded memory per unit	512 KB
Address database size: (MAC) addresses per system	8000	8000	8,000	8,000
Warranty	5 Years	5 Years	5 Years	5 Years
Noise Levels (dB)
At fan	84	< 50	91	82
6" from fan	57	< 50	78	63
6" from front of unit	<50	< 50	57	53
36" from front of unit	<50	< 50	53	< 50
Number of fans/size	1 / 1.5"	0	2 / 1.5"	2 / 1.5"