Grandstream GWN7816P layer 3 managed network switches

Product Review

Networks are the lifeblood of modern businesses, and a network is only as effective as the equipment that implements it. Grandstream's GWN7861P network switches are excellent for creating an effective and easy-to-deploy network. This article reviews Grandstream’s 48-port layer 3 managed network switches.

Grandstream GWN7816P network switches: designing an enterprise network

Layer 3 switches provide flexibility in deployment that is not achievable using layer 2 switches. Also known as multilayer switches, these devices can act as switches and routers. They can segregate the network into multiple virtual LANs (VLANs) and perform routing between those VLANs, allowing for secure and controlled communications among network segments.

Grandstream’s GWN7816(P) 48-port managed layer 3 switches are an ideal choice for mid-sized and large enterprises to build scalable, secure and flexible networks that meet the needs of modern network services.

With 48 RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet ports and six SFP ports supporting 10 Gigabit Ethernet fiber optic links, these switches deliver enough uplink and downlink connections for most network requirements.

Noteworthy features of Grandstream network switches

The GWN7816(P) switches are fully manageable, making VLAN and routing configurations easy to perform. These devices boast advanced features, including various quality of service (QoS) mechanisms for network traffic prioritization and IGMP/MLD snooping to enhance network efficiency. They also offer robust security features to safeguard against potential attacks.

The GWN7816(P) model features smart, dynamic Power over Ethernet (PoE) output, suitable for powering devices such as IP phones, cameras, Wi-Fi access points, and other PoE-compatible endpoints.

You can manage the GWN7816(P) through various means, including its local web-based graphical user interface and a command-line interface. You can also use the GWN.Cloud and GWN Manager platforms, which are Grandstream’s cloud-based and on-premises network management products.

Power options and capabilities of the GWN7816P

Both the GWN7816 and the GWN7816(P) models come with a single power service unit (PSU) but support a second, hot-swappable PSU for redundancy. This is especially important for the PoE model, particularly when it is used with mission-critical services and devices such as IP phones and cameras.

This setup not only delivers power redundancy to improve network resilience but also increases the power capacity of the switch, allowing it to support more high-power PoE devices.

The PoE model sports eight PoE++ ports, delivering up to 60 W of power per port, while the other 40 ports deliver PoE+ with a maximum of 30 W of power per port. With a single PSU, a total of 740 W of power is available to be distributed among its powered devices, while a second PSU provides enough power to offer the maximum wattage to all connected devices.

High performance of Grandstream switches

With 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports and six SFP ports capable of 10 Gbps each, the switching fabric of these devices must be high quality and offer top performance. Each switch has a switching capacity of up to 216 Gbps and a packet forwarding rate of over 160 million packets per second, resulting in a total network latency contribution of less than four microseconds.

Multiple advanced QoS features are supported, including priority mapping, queue scheduling, traffic shaping, and rate limiting, and up to 4K access lists can be configured per switch.

Each switch supports over 4000 VLANs, 16K MAC address table entries, 64 instances of four different types of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP/RSTP/MSTP/PVST+) implementations, and link aggregation of up to 27 physical links.

Protocol support and security

Both IPv4 and IPv6 are supported as far as Layer 3 addressing, routing, and multicast are concerned. Static routing can be configured, and dynamic routing protocols are supported, including OSPF, OSPFv3, RIP, and RIPng.

IGMP snooping is supported for IPv4, while MLD snooping is available for IPv6. These switches can also act as DHCP servers and DHCP relays, making them versatile enough to be used in almost any network environment.

Many security features are also available, ensuring that the network is fortified against all sorts of attack vectors. These include 802.1X port security, AAA authentication supporting both RADIUS and TACACS+, port isolation, and MAC address filtering. IP source guard, DoS attack prevention, and ARP inspection are also supported.

Key features of the GWN7816P

Here is a list of some of the most impressive features of this switch series:

• Ports:
  • 48 Gigabit Ethernet ports
  • Six SFP 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports
  • Support for up to six simultaneous multimode and single-mode 10 Gigabit fiber optic SFP modules or support for up to three simultaneous RJ-45 10 Gbps SFP modules
• Power supply (PSU):
  • 70 W for the GWN7816 model
  • 940 W for the GWN7816P model
  • Redundant hot-swap PSU sold separately
  • PoE model supports IEEE 802.3af/at/bt
• Performance:
  • Non-blocking throughput: 108 Gbps
  • Switching capacity: 216 Gbps
  • Forwarding rate: 160.704 Mpps
  • Packet buffer: 16 Mb
  • Network Latency: < 4μs
  • 16K MAC address table entries
  • 4K VLANs
  • Up to 4K MAC, IPv4, and IPv6 ACLs
• Protocols and features
  • IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging
  • Voice VLAN
  • Link aggregation: up to 27
  • STP/MSTP/RSTP/PVST+
  • Static routing
  • Dynamic routing, including OSPFv3 and RIPng
  • IPv4 and IPv6 support
  • Multicast, including IGMP and MLD
  • QoS mechanisms, including priority mapping, traffic shaping, and rate limiting
  • DHCP and DHCP relay
• Security
  • IEEE 802.1X port security
  • Storm control
  • Port isolation
  • AAA using RADIUS and TACACS+
  • IP source guard
  • DHCP snooping
• Management
  • Command line interface
  • Graphical user interface
  • Support for GWN.Cloud and GWN Manager systems

Conclusion

Grandstream is really upping its game with a full range of switches, including the entry-level GWN 7800 series access switches and the GWN7830 series, designed for the distribution layer. Along with the GWN7816(P) models, Grandstream delivers a complete portfolio of devices to support every component of an enterprise’s network.

With its advanced capabilities, extensive security measures, and versatile management options, the GWN7816(P) switch series is an optimal solution for enterprises and larger businesses seeking networks that deliver high performance, extensive capacity, and superior control.

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