GS108PEv3 VLAN compatibility with GS728TPv2 backbone

[obrienw3]

I'm in the planning stage of adding VLANs to a network that currently does not have VLANs implemented.  The backbone is two fiber-connected Netgear GS728TPv2s Gigabit PoE+ Smart Switches.  There is a Netgear GS108PEv3 Gigabit Ethernet Plus Switch connected to one of them.  Ideally, all three of the switches should be tagging VLANs on their interfaces (i.e. using all three as managed switches).  However, our network consultant told us that in his experience the VLAN tagging by the GS108 is incompatible with the GS7s and we either need to replace the GS108 with multiple cables to the GS7 or upgrade the GS108. 

Can anyone else confirm or deny this problem or found a trick to make the GS108 work with the GS7s?

(Note - this is for an NPO and our consultant is volunteering his expertise; he wouldn't make any money off of this.)

[schumaku]

The GS108PEv3 and the GS728TPv2 are 802.1Q VLANs. Just handle these accordingly:

For the trunk (connecting both the GS728TPv2) and for connecting the GS108PEv3 to the GS728TPv2 one can either configure all tagged VLANs, or keep the primary network untagged, and just add tags for the additional VLANs (less risk involved).

For access ports for dedicated VLANs, don't forget to remove any existing VLAN associations from the port, just add the VLAN you want as [U]ntagged plus set the PVID accordingly to the same VLAN ID.

No tricks, just very basic VLAN networking know-how required.