SMC Switch Gives SMBs Room To Grow

The new SMC8648T is perfect for high-density rack mounting and is an ideal solution for growing businesses that need Gigabit connectivity on the desktop. The switch is also perfect for high-traffic environments where significant growth is expected. The SMC8648T is ideal for a network backbone and is an affordable way for businesses to connect servers and accomodate the needs of demanding power users. The 48 fixed 10/100/1000 1U rack-mountable device provides four hot-swappable GBIC slots for fiber Gigabit Ethernet modules, which can deliver Gigabit power and optional fiber connectivity using small-form factor plug-in gigabit transceivers.

The price does not merit fibre connectivity and the four ports are visible from the front. All ports are auto-sensing, which means administrators can connect to other switches and/or hubs without the need for crossover cables.

Each port on the switch can be configured independently for speed, flow control and QoS. Auto-negotiation enables each RJ-45 port to automatically select the optimum communication mode if the selected device also supports this feature.

An SNMP-based management agent is integrated into the switch's mainboard. The agent supports both in-band and out-of band access for switch management. This switch provides a broad range of powerful features for Layer2 switching. It is possible to both monitor activity and configure basic virtual LAN (VLAN), port trunking and quality-of-service (QoS) functions.

Management of the switch can be accomplished using one of several methods. Administrators can make a direct connection to the RS-232 console port, can connect using Telnet, the on-board Web agent, or Windows-based networking software. The device does require some high-level configuration in order to properly configure the switch and provide optimal performance for the network. The device is not for newbies or for those unfamiliar with switching.

The switch is not as easy to set up as an unmanaged switch, which usually works right out of the box, so some previous networking experience is required. Like other managed switches, the SMC8648T is bundled with propriety software and is an intelligent device. Users are capable of programming the switch for trunking, link aggregation, VLAN segmentation, and port status monitoring. Solution providers should carefully assess a business's needs before suggesting this switch--an unmanaged switch is better for businesses that do not have the luxury of a dedicated IT staff to help with installation problems such as detecting devices and adjusting settings.

Like other SMC switches, the SMC8648T can be rack-mounted and the unit provides a diagnostic LED for every port. The AC power supply and cooling fans are integrated into the unit. The company provides an optional redundant power unit that can supply power to the switch in the event the existing internal power supply fails.

The SMC8648T managed switch offers solution providers a solid value proposition, since it is easily expandable for growing businesses. Although the price may seem high compared to unmanaged switches, it is more affordable than comparable managed switches on the market today. Solution providers should stress the need to look to the future for expandability and connectivity, and explain that the cost to upgrade to a less-scalable, less-expensive system in the future will be much higher than an initial investment in the SMC8648T.

SMC's Elite Partner Program is comprised of the silver, gold, and platinum level, which are based on quarterly sales. The platinum level requires partners bring in quarterly sales of over $50,000. Benefits include MDF accruals, lead generation, distribution rebates, advanced notification of new products, and elite points that can be exchanged for gifts. Reseller margins are approximately 25 percent. The SMC SMC8648T switch is backed by a limited lifetime warranty, which can ease customers' concerns about quality, and MSRP is $2,999.99.