Even small offices can have big network requirements. Between high-bandwidth workstations, wireless access points, shared storage, and PoE-powered devices, even a relatively small network can place significant demands on its switches. The challenge is finding the right balance of speed, power, and management capabilities without adding unnecessary complexity or cost.
Grandstream's GWN7721 series of layer 2 lite managed switches addresses these needs with three models designed for small businesses, home offices, and remote branch locations. Each offers multigigabit connectivity and practical network management features, with different port and PoE options to suit different deployments.
In this article, we take a closer look at the three models in the series, including the newest addition, the GWN7721PE. We examine what sets it apart, how its features translate into practical benefits, and where it fits in a business network.
As network requirements evolve, the capabilities of the switches that support them must keep pace. A traditional 1 Gbps connection can become a bottleneck during large file transfers, local backups, or other bandwidth-intensive operations, even when relatively few devices are connected.
Multigigabit access ports, high-speed uplinks, and PoE capabilities give smaller networks more flexibility to accommodate these demands. As a result, port count alone is no longer enough to determine whether a switch is suitable for a particular deployment. Connection speeds, uplink capacity, and available power must also be considered.
Grandstream’s GWN7721 devices address these requirements with three ten-port switches. All of them provide eight 2.5GbE RJ45 ports and a rated switching capacity of 80 Gbps. The main differences between them are their PoE capabilities and the mix of copper and SFP+ connections. The features scale up as needs increase.
The entry-level GWN7721 is a compact switch with eight RJ-45 copper ports and two 10 Gbps SFP+ ports, allowing high-speed connectivity to end devices and a substantial uplink capacity.
The GWN7721P adds Power over Ethernet (PoE) to all eight copper ports, making it ideal for IP cameras and IP phones. This larger unit supports desktop, wall, or rack mounting.
The GWN7721PE, introduced in the summer of 2026, replaces one of the SFP+ ports with a native 10 Gbps RJ-45 copper port, allowing high-speed devices to leverage high throughput over a copper connection. This port also supports PoE++, providing up to 90W of PoE output for compatible devices.
The following table compares the three models:
Beyond the port specifications, where would a small office use both 10 Gbps connectivity and PoE++? One example is a compatible high-end wireless access point like Grandstream’s GWN7674. Such devices sport multiple radios and associated hardware that require more power than PoE+ can provide, while traffic from multiple wireless clients can benefit from a faster wired connection.
Other devices may need additional power without needing a 10Gbps connection. Some outdoor PTZ cameras, for example, require power for motors, cold-weather heaters, and infrared illumination in addition to video capture and transmission. The PE’s additional port can accommodate either requirement or both.
However, the per-port power rating is only part of the calculation. Both PoE models have a total budget of 130W. Allocating 90W to the PE’s high-power port leaves 40W for the other eight ports, so the combined requirements of all connected devices must be considered.
Grandstream has positioned the series as layer 2 lite managed switches, placing them somewhere between unmanaged switches and more sophisticated managed platforms. “Lite managed” is not a standardized feature set, but rather is used by Grandstream to describe the supported functions. This feature set is ideal for small- and medium-sized businesses that often don’t have a dedicated ICT department or the skill set needed to configure more complex managed devices.
The switch's management allows you to easily configure VLANs to separate employee, guest, voice, and camera traffic as well as to employ basic QoS to ensure that time-sensitive traffic gets priority. With the support of Grandstream’s GWN Manager and GDMS Networking systems, remote administration is simple and easy to employ. This makes it all the easier for businesses to manage multiple small installations remotely.
The GWN7721 suits installations that need multigigabit connectivity but do not require the switch to power connected devices. Not every endpoint needs to exceed 1 Gbps; a few high-bandwidth workstations or shared resources may be enough to justify the additional capacity.
The GWN7721P provides the same connectivity with PoE+ on all eight RJ-45 ports, which is perfect for offices with IP phones, cameras, and access points, all of which can leverage PoE.
Finally, the GWN7721PE is ideal for a deployment that needs a native 10 GbE copper connection, higher PoE++ power on that port, or both. But keep in mind that this switch has only one SFP+ port, compared with two such ports on the GWN7721P.
The best choice depends upon the devices being connected, their power requirements, and the needed uplink connections.
The GWN7721 family offers three approaches to multigigabit connectivity for small networks. The GWN7721PE’s main distinction is its 10GbE copper port with PoE++, making it relevant when a connected device needs greater bandwidth, more power, or both. Choosing between the models comes down to the required connection types and power budget, including whether the PE’s additional capability is more useful than a second SFP+ port.
You may also like:
Connect buildings without new cabling with the Grandstream GWN7302
Grandstream GWN7062M brings Wi-Fi 6 routing to the network edge
Building secure, scalable networks with Grandstream GWN7800 Pro