TP-Link TL-SG108S review

The TL-SG108S is an eight-port Gigabit desktop switch from TP-Link. All eight ports are RJ45, run at 10/100/1000Mbps and auto-negotiate speed. They also support Auto-MDI/MDIX. The switch is unmanaged and plug and play. That makes it a simple way to add wired ports to a desk, a TV cabinet or a shelf, where the aim is to get devices talking to each other and nothing more.

Every port tops out at 1Gbps, and the research lists no faster ports. The listed packet forwarding rate is 11.9Mpps. The specifications show eight RJ45 ports and no SFP or SFP+ ports. That means the link to your router or to another switch takes one of the eight copper ports, leaving seven for devices.

For a home network or small office where devices and internet connection fit within 1Gbps, that is a reasonable setup. If you have a NAS or workstation with a faster network card, this switch will hold each connection to Gigabit speed.

This is an unmanaged switch. The research lists support for QoS (802.1p/DSCP) and IGMP Snooping. It also states that no VLAN or web management feature is listed. How the QoS and IGMP features are controlled is not stated, and no web interface is listed.

Owners list the lack of VLANs and management features as a complaint. If you want to separate lab, IoT and guest traffic, the specifications give you no VLAN support to do it on this switch. If you only need ports, the lack of a management layer means there is nothing to configure. Owners praise the plug-and-play setup for that reason.

The TL-SG108S is fanless. Owners praise its quiet operation, and the specifications list no fan, which is consistent with that praise. That suits a bedroom, an office desk or a living room, where fan noise would be noticed.

Power comes from an included external adapter rated at 9VDC and 0.6A. TP-Link lists heat dissipation at 13.37 BTU/h. Owners also praise the metal build.

The research lists no PoE feature, so it gives no basis for expecting the switch to power devices such as cameras or wireless access points over the cable. If you need that, look at a switch that lists PoE.

The research gives no warranty term and no firmware update history for this model, and no release date. With no management interface listed, there is no stated way to configure or update it from a browser. If long-term support matters to you, check the warranty terms with the seller before buying.

The TL-SG108S does a narrow job. It gives you eight Gigabit ports, runs without a fan and needs no configuration. Owner reports praise the quiet running, the metal build and the plug-and-play setup, and they criticise the missing VLANs and management features. Its limits are equally clear from the specifications: Gigabit only, no SFP uplink, no PoE listed and no VLANs. It suits buyers who want a quiet, simple port expander and who do not need any of those features.