The Netgar GC108PP is an 8-port network switch with PoE+ capabilities. We recently looked at the Netgear GS710TUP 10-port Ultra60 60W POE++ Switch which is designed for higher-power devices. It also requires active cooling and comes at a much higher cost. The GC108PP offers up to 126W of PoE capacity over 8 ports.
Netgear GC108PP Review 8-port Fanless PoE+ Switch
The front of the GC108PP is fairly straightforward. We have our standard power and status LEDs along with the eight RJ-45 ports. This is an 8-port 1GbE switch. As much as we are pushing for 2.5GbE these days, there are a huge number of devices such as IP cameras and phones that simply do not even saturate 1GbE speeds.
The rear of the unit has a Kennsington lock as well as a DC input.
A defining feature of this is actually the perforations on the sides and rear of the chassis. The GC108PP is a fan-less design. Fan-less means silent which can be a huge consideration in the buying process. This switch can both deliver a lot of power, but also be placed in an inhabited working area without making disruptive noise.
Inside the switch, we can see the PCB. We basically have ports on top along with the switch chip and some of the power input on the bottom right. Many PoE switches, especially PoE+ switches like this one have large and complex internal power supplies. You can see our Netgear GS710TUP Review for a good example. Since the PSU is external here, we have a relatively simple internal design.
While the PoE+ capability is clearly the defining attribute of this switch, it still needs to move data. These days, 8x 1GbE ports worth of traffic is relatively easy to move. Indeed, many low-power SoCs have 10Gbps networking built-in and the aggregate port bandwidth on this switch is not even as much as a single 10Gbps port. As a result, we get a relatively small heatsink on the switch chip even in this passive configuration. Given the idle power consumption, this part is likely using well under 5W.
Although the GC108PP may seem small, that is only part of the picture. There is a large 130W power adapter. As a PoE+ switch, this unit can deliver up to 30W to a single port so it cannot deliver 30W x 8 ports = 240W. At the same time, the rated 126W we get is split over 8 ports which is over 15W per port we would get with standard PoE. If you are wondering how we are getting 126W of power for PoE instead of 130W from the power adapter, the 4W delta is for the switch operation and moving data. If you want to learn more about different power levels of PoE, see our Key Differences of PoE vs PoE+ vs PoE++ Switches a STH Guide.
We are also going to note here that the GC108PP includes a white and flat Ethernet cable. This is a nice little addition and these flat cables can be easier to route under floors or other architectural elements.
Next, we are going to take a look at the management before getting to our performance, power consumption, and noise testing.
Everything posted in the article accurately reflects my experiences with this new Netgear registration “experience.” A good solid product at a fair price is now being hobbled in the name of “marketing” and “ongoing revenue growth”.
Have you taken the time to study the network traffic created by the switch management function to see if it is calling out to places on the Internet? That would be another cause for concern, and it is something that I saw during my Netgear registration “experience”.
Pointing out that Netgear might use the registration vehicle for other purposes later, namely advertising, should be a cause for concern for all users.
Considering that Comcast is moving to data caps and overage fees in all states where it provides services, will other cable ISPs be far behind? That means users have to be even more vigilant regarding “unknown network traffic generating unsolicited network traffic”; you’ll get billed for bytes that you did not approve. Sounds like the “Terms & Conditions” click-wrap wording will need to be updated to disclose all Internet traffic created & requested by the device or else lawsuits might ensue.
I think it is about time for a review of the Aruba Instant On 1930 8G Class 4 PoE 2SFP 124W Switch (JL681A)
This compares very well with this reviewed switch, but has much more small business features.
I am just looking for a (ofc locally) managed POE+ switch.
This crap of forced cloud is an unwanted feature in my case, a potential security hole, and of unknown privacy implications.
Instead of controlling your IT gear Netgear gets the legal control to spam YOU, collect (and sell?) your data and whatnot.
Have bought Netgear multiple times in the past. No thanks!
Sadly much of the industry is going this route, even for SMB/SoHo/Prosumer gear..
Thanks for mentioning this angle, which will undoubtly be a deal breaker or at least negative point for a huge part of potential buyers. Not that i would expect Netgears management to realize that.
We have a few clients that love Insight since its way cheaper than Meraki.
Maybe I’m in the minority here but I like that you guys dedicated an entire page to talking about the different management personalities. It was a fair way to look at this because there are orgs that’ll want Insight and don’t care about local.
Yes, yes, always include the picture of the power brick. Marketing people love to just “ignore” it because it can be as large as the device it’s powering itself and usually ugly! IMO, every exterior photo should include the power brick. In this case I suspect it probably weighs more than the switch itself
I would love to see a PoE switch that can drive Wifi6/802.11ax access points that have a 2.5 or 5GbE backhaul connection.
Basically, something that can drive this: https://www.arubanetworks.com/products/wireless/access-points/indoor-access-points/550-series/
Dave didn’t they include it? I see a pic used twice on pp 1 and 3 that shows it and the wattage
I wonder how many people would register this off to a disposable email address. Certainly what I would do.