SMC releases managed Gigabit desktop switch

SMC this week launched a managed triple-speed LAN switch aimed small workgroups that handle large files.

The TigerSwitch SMC8612T release from SMC follows a trend of more intelligent network gear being offered by so-called "commodity" or SMB network vendors, such as NetGear, D-Link and Linksys (which is owned by Cisco). Such vendors lately have put a slew of low-priced switches on the market with features such as Gigabit Ethernet, Layer 3 switching and advanced management support.

The TigerSwitch SMC8612T has twelve 10/100/1000M bit/sec Ethernet ports, and includes features such as security, management and quality-of-service support. The switch also includes management support and security features encrypting traffic and authenticating users.

The box includes four Mini Gigabit Interface Converter (Mini GBIC) slots for adding fiber or copper uplinks ports. It’s 24G bit/sec backplane allows all ports to run at full duplex simultaneously.

The switch can also support network-level authentication via a RADIUS server. The switch can be managed via a built-in Web server, and also supports Remote Monitoring (RMON) and port mirroring for managing and troubleshooting network connections. Secure Socket Layer encryption is also included for securing sensitive packets, such as management traffic.

The TigerSwitch SMC8612T is available now for $1200. Mini GBICs are available from $520 to $3,455.