Review: Linksys 52-Port PoE+ Switch Sets Up In Seconds

The Linksys LGS552P 52-port Managed PoE+ Gigabit Switch proves that high-density, managed Ethernet can still come at a manageable price.

For a street price of around $1050, the device offers Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities for the enterprise typical of switches that cost far more. Also in play is the intuitive browser-based management interface that made Linksys a household name.

The LGS552P provides 50 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 48 of which also supply up to 375 watts of total power to PoE (802.3at or 802.3af) devices. This makes the device well suited for deploying IP-based phone systems, video surveillance, Wi-Fi access points and quantities of other PoE devices.

The scalable device also incorporates two 10 Gbps Ethernet ports and two ports for small form-factor pluggable (SFP) option modules for making uplinks via fiber-optic, high-speed copper or other media and high-speed protocols and two combo ports. There's also a dedicated console port with RJ45-to-DB9 cable and mounting hardware for a 19-inch rack.

Out of the box, the LGS553P obtains an IP address via DHCP, if available, and is quickly ready to accept inputs and be managed. Pointing a browser to its assigned IP address brings up the login screen with Linksys's standard default passwords.

For the uninitiated, a Quick Start tab provides links to pages for setting up user accounts, creating VLANs and VLAN memberships, and for configuring the switch's IP address settings. Even better, online documentation provides step-by-step configuration and feature explanations for every square inch of the device. There's also a search bar that queries the Linksys knowledge base that can be filtered by model number.

It's clear that the 1U device is designed for the data center and not someone's office; its fans give off a relatively loud 68 decibels and are always on. For comparison, a typical laser printer gives off about 60 decibels when it's running.

Introduced over the summer, the company's flagship switch will leave administrators wanting for very little. It includes Layer 3 static routing and security policies, link aggregation and quality-of-service capabilities often found on pricier products. Basic QoS policies are enabled by default and include queue scheduling for strict or round-robin access and direct control of bandwidth. Advanced QoS provides class mapping, aggregate policing, port policies and other policy mapping.

For a small office, the Linksys LGS552P 52-port Managed PoE+ Gigabit Switch is a low-cost PoE solution that can expand along with the needs of a growing business and is easy to set up and maintain. For the enterprise, Linksys delivers Layer 2, Layer 3 and manageability features to make it suitable for even the most demanding of corporate environments. This is a product recommended by the CRN Test Center.

PUBLISHED NOV. 12, 2014