Low-cost managed switch from Asante

For users who need a low-cost switch, and don’t need 10G over copper or fiber, Asante last week launched its FriendlyNET GX5-448W — a 48-port 10/100M bit/sec switch with four copper-based Gigabit uplinks. The box could be a handy product for hooking up a workgroup of PCs, small servers and printers, and connecting the LAN segment back to a core or distribution switch with Gigabit-over-copper. The GX5-448W supports basic Layer 2 QoS and port mirroring, and can be configured with a Web-based management tool. At only $700, the box might be worth a look.