Please add the Management VLAN option to GS305E/GS308E switches!

[nismo9132_net]

I purchased both a GS305E and two GS308E switches and really like the performance and configuration functionality, but it's missing a key feature -a Configurable Management VLAN. Please add this feature because otherwise I'm likely going to return these switches to get something that supports them from another vendor for the same price point.

[schumaku]

The similar feature set and limitation is in place with other vendors, too.

This idea was opened several times already btw.

Look for the Netgear Smart Managed Pro switches instead.

[LaF0rge]

Actually I'm quite shocked that this essential feature is missing from this switch.  My network consists of more than a dozen of managed 802.1q switches of various vendors (D-Link, other Netgear models, Microtik, ...) from at least a decade of technology, and *all* of them have their management interface in a managenent VLAN.

The fact that somebody would be designing/selling a managed, VLAN capable switch whose management interface can not be exposed in a management VLAN is something I would have never imagined.

In my 20+ years of managing and configuring networks and switches, I've never seen this so far.

[schumaku]

The good thing is that one can learn with a career of 20+ years about a complete different class of switches which are built on some basic, unmanaged, configurable. Vendors which have such switch models in their offerings include not only Netgear, but many other popular brands like D-Link, TP-Link, and many more. These switch chips are also deployed on embedded systems like routers, and many more. The common mistake is that "educated" buyers imply that something supporting VLANs in various forms are taken and expected to be "managed" switches. And this isn't the case! 

[Turbo_Steve]

Which is fine....except that they are literally sold as "Managed" switches - it even describes the product as this on the front page of the user manual.    Aside from specifically googling "GS305E Management VLAN" (and finding these posts) there is little to indicate that this isn't a feature - it's not even obvious from the branding.  The only clue is that it doesn't say "ProSafe" on it, (which, notably, also do not list this as a feature) however over the years of using netgear switches, I can say that most of these have supported management VLAN In recent years (however this hasn't always been the case!!)  

Given that the system is responding to an IP address by (essentially) scanning for a series of binary strings in a network packet, simply scanning for an 801.11q tag is not going to be a significant increase in load.  The costs here would be in support, testing and engineering - my bet is that this is a reference design with some netgear branding on it.  Which is a shame, as I opted for netgear as a "recognised brand" against all the experience that tells me otherwise.   Instead, the solution (for over 1000 sites) will now use our second choice (TP-link Omada).  Their 5-port SG105PE is price-identical, but includes this (and other) significant features.

Your argument that "'Educated' network engineers should know better" - Sadly most experienced network engineers I know will say "Don't buy Netgear" for exactly these technical reasons and there respective support responses!. They will point you at Nexus for datacenter\carrier switches, at Catalyst for enterprise networking or direct you at UniFi for access solutions that "just work" or, for cheaper solutions they will point you at TP-Link.

[schumaku]

I'm neither Netgear nor support here. All I can tell you is that the inexpensive Plus switches are not built on a managed core, and there is no way to make this happen. The design of the Plus switches (a design also offered by TP Link!) with the 8051-like uC is on it's limit for handling IGMP Multicast and more already. There is simply no headroom for full in-line packet inspection. Sorry, if you compare a tiny configurable switch based on an unmanaged core with any managed switch models like the bigger Netgear Smart Managed or Managed switches, - switches offered for the price of an unmanaged switch - and you are seriously comparing to a Cisco Catalyst or Nexus?

A GS308E is sold here in Switzerland for less than 30 USD (CHF 29.90, CHF 3.73/GbE port), the GS308T (including the management VLAN feature) is currently available in the market for about 57 USD or CHF, that makes USD 7.125/GbE port. A few Cents more than the SG105PE is offered here (with five ports @USD or CHF 10.59/GbE port). Wonder what more "significant" features that switch has? Sure, the SG105PE is promoted with four 802.3af/at PoE+ ports with up to 30W for each port, data, and power can be transferred on one single cable. That the max PoE power available is 65 W is well hidden, and not shown in the marketing blush.

And yes, Netgear has a wide offering of switches supporting a management VLAN, including all a full line of Smart Managed and Managed switches. No need to compare these unmanaged core models. Different priorities in the product line of course. The bigger ones like the MS108EUP or the XS724EM have tis feature.