INTRODUCTION

   Although for most casual consumers a router will be more than just sufficient to cover their needs more advanced business users will always seek to upgrade to a good switch whether that's because of a large number of systems in the local network or due to numerous PoE (power over Ethernet) compatible devices such as IP cameras, access points and VoIP (voice over IP) phones. Still much like everything else in the electronics industry not all switches are created equal and so to pick the right one you always need to know just how many ports you may end up needing in the near future and their types (RJ45 and/or SFP), the amount of power output you may need for your PoE compatible devices and just how much control you may or may not want over its features (unmanaged, managed or smart). The latest LGS318P 18-Port PoE+ Gigabit Switch is part of the Smart family of switches by Linksys and today we're here to test and see if it should have a place in your home, office or small business.

   The Linksys brand has pioneered wireless connectivity since its inception in 1988 with its leading innovation and engineering strategies, and best-in-class technology, design, and customer service. Linksys enables a connected lifestyle for people at home, at work and on the move, and with its award-winning products, simplifies home control, entertainment, security and Internet access through innovative features and a growing application and partner ecosystem. Linksys is part of Belkin International.

   The LGS318P 18-Port Smart PoE+ Gigabit Switch may seem a little bit "overkill" for use in homes and even small offices but with a total of 18 ports (16 RJ45 and 2 RJ45/SFP combo ones), 128MB of RAM and almost complete control over all its functions it could be the very first and last switch you'll ever need. What's even more impressive however is its list of features including the 16 RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet ports which fully support PoE+ (power over Ethernet plus) and can deliver a total of 125W to compatible devices (up to 25.5W on each port - most IP cameras for example use 3/5W), ability to use link aggregation with up to 4 groups (8 ports maximum per group), support for port mirroring (network traffic monitoring), total of 128 active VLANs (4094 range) and the quite impressive switching bandwidth of 36Gbps. So is the LGS318P the go to solution for demanding users and professionals alike?