10-port Layer 2 Lite switches with 2.5 GbE and 10 Gb SFP+ ports, PoE support, VLANs, QoS, IGMP Snooping, and cloud/local management options.
Grandstream recently launched their GWN7721 Series. Grandstream's GWN7721 and GWN7721P are Layer 2 Lite managed switches with support for multigigabit Ethernet, designed for small to medium-sized network environments. Both models offer eight 2.5 GbE RJ‑45 ports and two 10 Gbps SFP+ uplink ports, allowing for faster local network speeds and high-bandwidth uplinks to core switches or servers, and are now available at Streakwave.
The key difference between the two models is that the GWN7721P supports Power over Ethernet (PoE/PoE+), with up to 30 W per port and a total power budget of 130 W. This makes it suitable for powering devices like IP phones, access points, and cameras directly through the Ethernet cable.
Network Features
These switches include several features useful for managing network traffic and segmenting devices:
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VLAN support (including port-based and 802.1Q tagging) allows network administrators to separate traffic into logical groups.
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Quality of Service (QoS) features prioritize traffic types (e.g., voice or video) using DSCP or 802.1p markings.
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IGMP Snooping helps manage multicast traffic efficiently, which is useful for streaming or IPTV applications.
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Bandwidth control is supported on a per-port basis, allowing limits to be set for certain devices or applications.
Management and Monitoring
Users can manage the GWN7721 series using several methods:
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A built-in web interface accessible via browser.
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GWN Manager: Grandstream’s free on-premise management software.
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GDMS Networking: Grandstream’s free cloud-based platform.
For diagnostics and monitoring, the switches support features like:
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Port mirroring for traffic inspection.
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Loop detection and cable testing to identify physical layer issues.
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SNMPv2, DHCP snooping, and Spanning Tree Protocol (STP/RSTP) for broader network control and visibility.
Use Cases
These switches are appropriate for:
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SMB networks requiring multigigabit throughput.
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Environments with PoE devices.
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Educational settings or labs focused on network configuration and testing.
