NETGEAR 16-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch (JGS516) - Desktop or Rackmount, and Limited Lifetime Protection

!UPDATE!It's been a little under A year that I've had this thing and NO problems at all. I love it! All the ports work perfectly and I can't seem to notice a decrease in speed when the network is being jammed with data. I never have to restart this switch (the only times that it does get turned off is when the power goes out/flashes) so it's always on and doesn't usually get a break.This switch is amazing, and so is all of net gear's stuff!!! I have never had a single problem with anything from net gear (now Cisco is a different story haha).I purchased this switch on August 10, 2013 (Received it on August 14, 2013). I opened it up and simply plugged in all my Ethernet cables and powered it on... boom my network came alive. It's really that simple. I do not have much to say about it since I have only had for a short while now... but from what I can see it is working properly.The main reason I have reviewed this product so early in my time using it is that I wanted to cover the fan. Pretty much every review has said something about the noisy little fan. Well... the unit I received plain didn't have a fan at all! I have noticed a pattern in the reviews that mentioned the fan. The later ones (2009-ish) stated a noisy fan... and the ones earlier (maybe late 2010-2012 stated a quieter fan) and recent reviews (early-mid 2013) stated no fan. I have just come to believe that netgear has done away with the fan due to bad reviews. Also, the unit that I received looks difference than the one in the picture - The 2 groups of 8 ports are spread apart more in the center and the status LEDs are way over to the left (The picture has ports to the right and LEDs more toward the center). I didn't mind this for it doesn't matter (the unit still functions) but I felt it should be stated for some random reason.

I have two of these switches, one with POE and one with out. They both work flawlessly. Would but again.

Not much to say. It does it's job as it should.

This product is a no brainer. Plug it in, attach your network components and you're done. Works with my two workstations, wall jack for intermittent notebook use, my Wii, my Verizon Hub and modem, addt'l downstream switches of different manufacture, network storage, you name it.REALLY wanted to try the Cisco/Linksys product since that is what I have for other network products but after repeatedly reading negative reviews concerning longevity, I went with Netgear. Have had it about 2 months now so I really can't offer an opinion on Netgear's reliablility but the existing reviews were far better than the competition.I have mine located in a downstairs office where ambient temp is always in the low 70s. I can barely hear the fan when I am sitting next to it on one of the work stations. In any other similar location, I would not consider fan noise to be an issue.---UPDATE 01 Oct 2010:Have had it over a year now and have had NO issues, still works after power outages, spikes, surges, you name it. Boots right up and stays up...until the power goes out again (sigh).---UPDATE 28 May 2011:Flawless. I'm not holding my breath any more. Giving every impression it'll outlast me.---UPDATE 04 Dec 2011:Still going strong....no glitches...power outages don't phase it.---UPDATE 03 Sept 2012STIll going strong. Two more power outages and keeps on ticking. Forgot to mention, during the outages, I run a 6.5kw generator which does seem to phase some things like UPS's but I unplug this item from the UPS and plug it straight into the outlet powered by the generator. No problems.

Hooked up all of my devices, plugged it in and was ready to go. No problems. Solved all of my port availability issues.

Here's my story. I used to have (note past tense) pretty much all Linksys gear in my home. Router, switches, print servers, etc. Over a half-dozen devices because our condo is wired like an office with network drops everywhere.All of a sudden in the span of about 6 months, one-by-one most of the devices just died. They had power, but simply would not pass network traffic. I wrote to Linksys and basically said, "Here's my situation, meet me half-way, do something, anything to keep my business." They never replied. So I began a quest to look into a new switch for my home office. I decided I wanted a 16 port model because I might max out an 8 port unit.I noticed that the "ProSafe" line from Netgear comes with a lifetime warranty and 24/7 technical support (although how much support can one need for an auto-sensing switch, assuming it's actually working.) So I gravitated toward that line of products. Then looking at the comparison charts I was trying to determine the difference between the mid-level "GS" series and their top-of-the-line "JGS" series switches.There is only one: The JGS models have a built-in power supply. Meaning, no "brick," just a standard 3-prong power cord.Sold!My only complaint (and it is significant): The little fan inside this monster is quite noisy. Almost as loud a standard desktop PC, which uses a much larger power supply and fan. Mind you it does not sound "cheap." It sounds like a quality fan and power supply. It quite simply needs a little better ventilation and Netgear needs to invest that whopping extra 2 bucks on a higher grade fan that it is truly whisper quiet.So in summary, fine for a network closet or an open area with a few people an other things that make modest constant noise, but think about it a bit if it will be in a "quiet" office setting. With quieter operation, it would easily earn 5 stars in my book.

As an unmanaged switch should, the product was ready to go and now sits happily in my home network cabinet shooting data packets to all my ethernet-connected appliances that I choose to expose to the scary outside world.

First version of the product (V1) lasted 15 years. I hope this one lasts the same.