NETGEAR GS108T-100NAS manual Switch Management Interface, Switch Management Methods

GS108T Smart Switch Software Administration Manual

Switch Management Interface

Your NETGEAR GS108T Gigabit Smart Switch contains an embedded Web server and management software for managing and monitoring switch functions. This switch functions as a simple switch without the management software. However, you can use the management software to configure more advanced features and consequently improve switch efficiency and the overall performance of your network.

Web-based management lets you monitor, configure, and control your switch remotely using a common Web browser, instead using expensive and complicated SNMP software products. Simply by using your Web browser, you can monitor the performance of your switch and optimize its configuration for your network. Using your browser, for example, you can set up VLANs and traffic priority and configure port trunking.

In addition, NETGEAR provides the Smart Wizard Discovery utility with this product. This program runs under Microsoft Windows XP or Windows 2000 and provides a “front end” that discovers the switches on your network segment. When you power up your switch for the first time, the Smart Wizard Discovery utility lets you configure its basic network settings without prior knowledge of IP address or subnet mask. Following such configuration, this program leads you into the Web Management Interface.

Table 1-1 shows some features of the Smart Wizard Discovery utility and Web Management Interface.

Table 1-1. Switch Management Methods

Management Method	Features
Smart Wizard Discovery utility	No IP address or subnet mask setup needed.
	Discover all switches on the network.
	User-friendly interface under Microsoft Windows.
	Firmware upgrade capability.
	Password change feature.
	Provides entry to Web configuration of switch.
Web browser	Password protection.
	Ideal for configuring the switch remotely.
	Compatible with Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator on any
	platform.
	Extensive switch configuration possible.
	Configuration backup and restore.

1-2 Getting Started with Switch Management

v1.0, December 2007