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Network Switch

Netgear GS308 8-Port Switch

The Netgear GS308 is another solid budget option for simple networking needs in a small audio rig. It provides eight gigabit ports in a metal desktop chassis that is compact enough to velcro inside a rack or place on a shelf. Like other unmanaged switches, it is plug-and-play with no configuration needed, making it ideal for basic device interconnection when you do not need advanced network management.

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Photos

Manufacturer product photography showing the hardware, controls, and physical form.

Photo: NETGEARClick to zoom
Documented outputs
00 destination connections
Documented inputs
0Based on documented inputs
Rack space
Outside rackPlan a shelf, tray, or stage position
Power draw
4W5W documented maximum
Catalog estimate
~$22Use retailer rows for current price and stock

01 · What it does—and what that changes in your rig.

Product overview

Start with the payoff, then work through how it functions, where it fits, and the details that change a real build.

The payoff

Network Switch decisions, organized around the whole rig.

The Netgear GS308 is the unglamorous backbone of a small audio network — eight gigabit ports in a metal desktop chassis barely longer than your hand. In a live rig its job is straightforward: connect your console, stagebox, personal monitor controllers, and any networked playback or IEM devices so they can all talk to each other. It is unmanaged, meaning there is no login page, no VLAN configuration, no quality-of-service tuning — you plug in cables and it works. For rigs where all your network traffic is already on a single protocol and you are not trying to segment anything, that simplicity is the whole point.

Documented outputs
00 destination connections
Documented inputs
0Based on documented inputs
Rack space
Outside rackPlan a shelf, tray, or stage position
NETGEARGS30812345678
Netgear product panelOutside rack · 4W
Function

How it works in the path

Eight ports sounds like plenty until load-in. Count carefully: console control surface, FOH laptop, monitor world tablet, dante-enabled stagebox, wireless system manager — you can chew through ports faster than expected. At 4–5 watts draw and 0.3 kg, the GS308 contributes almost nothing to your power budget or case weight, which matters when you are already fighting every pound in a fly rig. The desktop form factor is the real operational consideration: this is not rack-mountable in the traditional sense, so you need a shelf or a velcro solution to keep it from rattling around inside the rack.

Best fit

Where it earns its place in the system

This switch belongs in a compact IEM or playback rig where the entire network is one simple, flat architecture and budget is tight. At $22 it is hard to argue with for a rehearsal setup or a secondary rack where you just need connectivity. It is not the right call if you need to segment audio-over-IP traffic from control traffic, if you are running multiple protocols that benefit from managed QoS, or if you need the switch to live cleanly in a rack without a shelf eating up extra U space. For those situations, a managed switch with proper rack ears is worth the investment.

In the rack

Details worth deciding before load-in.

  • Velcro the GS308 to the underside of a rack shelf rather than letting it sit loose — a cable snag mid-show will pull an unanchored switch right out of position.
  • Count your ports before committing: eight sounds like enough, but label each connection at patch time so a fast swap in the dark doesn't mean unplugging the wrong device.
  • Run the power brick outside the rack if possible, or secure it to the shelf with a cable tie — the wall-wart is the least elegant part of this unit and the most likely to cause a problem if it gets knocked.
  • If you are mixing this into a rig with any audio-over-IP (Dante, AVB), confirm that all your network devices share the same protocol and that traffic volume stays well within gigabit headroom — the GS308 has no tools to help you troubleshoot congestion if something goes wrong.

02 · Know the whole path before you buy.

Signal path

Learn the route as a block diagram: source, product function, transport, and destination. Select any block to see what enters, what changes, and what leaves.

Interactive block diagramAuto-looping · hover, focus, or tap to hold a stage
Port-type signalProduct functionSystem boundary
Follow one signal from source to destination

Each block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.

01 · Connection · selected
01 · Connection

8 bidirectional connections

RJ45

Connection
8 bidirectional ports
Connector
RJ45
Signal
data

03 · What this product asks of the rest of the system.

Compatibility

Treat connector names as the start of the check—not the answer. These are the boundaries that determine a complete working path.

Best fit · Network Switch

Use it as network switch tracked outside rack rails; follow the manufacturer’s mounting and form-factor guidance.

Companion gear required

Plan Penn Elcom 1U Half-Rack Shelf before treating this path as complete.

Connector boundary

Documented connectors: RJ45. Match connector, direction, and signal type—not shape alone.

04 · Every connector, grouped by job.

I/O ports

Switch the product view and the documented port inventory updates with it—hardware and data stay side by side.

Every connector, grouped by job.

Switch panels to keep the hardware view and the documented port list in sync.

Front panel
front connector map for Netgear GS308 8-Port SwitchEXTERNAL UNIT · FRONTNo documented front ports
Rear panel
rear connector map for Netgear GS308 8-Port SwitchEXTERNAL UNIT · REARRJ45bidirectionalRJ45bidirectionalRJ45bidirectionalRJ45bidirectionalRJ45bidirectionalRJ45bidirectionalRJ45bidirectionalRJ45bidirectional
All documented ports for Netgear GS308 8-Port Switch
PortPanelConnectorDirectionSignalChannels
Ethernet 1rearRJ45 bidirectionaldata—
Ethernet 2rearRJ45 bidirectionaldata—
Ethernet 3rearRJ45 bidirectionaldata—
Ethernet 4rearRJ45 bidirectionaldata—
Ethernet 5rearRJ45 bidirectionaldata—
Ethernet 6rearRJ45 bidirectionaldata—
Ethernet 7rearRJ45 bidirectionaldata—
Ethernet 8rearRJ45 bidirectionaldata—

Showing 8 of 8 documented physical ports.

05 · Compare the decision, not just the price.

Alternatives

The rows are organized around fit, power, I/O, and system role so a cheaper unit cannot hide a more expensive workflow.

Compare
Netgear GS308 8-Port Switch
TP-Link TL-SF1008P PoE Switch
TP-Link TL-SG108 8-Port Switch
Fit📐 Outside rack📐 1U · half-rack📐 1U · half-rack📐 1U · half-rack
Power⚡ 4W⚡ 4W⚡ 10W⚡ 4W
Weight⚖️ 0.7 lb⚖️ 0.7 lb⚖️ 1.1 lb⚖️ 0.7 lb
I/O🔌 8🔌 9🔌 9🔌 9
Estimate💵 ~$22💵 ~$49💵 ~$49💵 ~$24
Deep diveCurrent selectionFull comparison →Full comparison →Full comparison →

06 · Resolve the questions that can change the purchase or build plan.

Planning questions

Short, source-backed answers surface rack fit, power, cabling, and connection details before they become surprises.

Where does the Netgear GS308 8-Port Switch live in a complete rig?

The catalog assigns it no rack units. Builder tracks it as non-rack gear; follow the manufacturer’s mounting, case, and form-factor guidance.

How much power does the Netgear GS308 8-Port Switch draw?

Typical draw is 4W and documented maximum draw is 5W.

What connections does the Netgear GS308 8-Port Switch have?

8 documented physical ports, including Ethernet 1, Ethernet 2, Ethernet 3, Ethernet 4, Ethernet 5, Ethernet 6.

07 · See this gear inside a complete system plan.

Builder preview

Builder keeps non-rack gear in the same bill of materials, budget, dependency, and connection plan as the rack-mounted system around it.Open in Builder
GS308 8-Port Switch tracked in a complete system planA simplified plan shows the gear tracked outside rack rails, with its documented connection path continuing to a planned destination.Tracked outside rack railsNetgearGS308CONNECTED GEARnext signal destinationExternal system gear · no rack units assigned

08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.

CISCO

Network Switch

Cisco SG350-28 Managed Switch

1U · 3 ports · ~$599

Network Switch

Luminex GigaCore 12 AV Network Switch

1U · 3 ports · ~$2,199
TP-Link TL-SG108 8-Port Switch

Network Switch

TP-Link TL-SG108 8-Port Switch

1U · half-rack · 9 ports · ~$24

Network Switch

Cisco SG110D-08 8-Port Switch

1U · half-rack · 9 ports · ~$49
TP-Link TL-SF1008P PoE Switch

Network Switch

TP-Link TL-SF1008P PoE Switch

1U · half-rack · 9 ports · ~$49
External unit

WiFi Router

Netgear Nighthawk RAX50 WiFi 6 Router

Outside rack · 7 ports · ~$189

Planning guides for network switch systems.

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