NETGEAR XS728T ProSAFE Manual

350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
June 2015
202-11491-01
XS728T Smart Switch
Hardware Installation Guide

2
XS728T Smart Switch
Support
Thank you for selecting NETGEAR products.
After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and use it to register your product at
https://my.netgear.com. You must register your product before you can use NETGEAR telephone support. NETGEAR
recommends registering your product through the NETGEAR website.
For product updates and web support, visit http://support.netgear.com.
Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR.
Phone (Other Countries): Check the list of phone numbers at http://support.netgear.com/general/contact/default.aspx.
For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/. See the regulatory compliance
document before connecting the power supply.
For current DoC, visit the NETGEAR EU Declaration of conformity website at
http://support.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621.
Trademarks
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are
used for reference purposes only.
Revision History
Publication Part Number Version Publish Date Comments
202-11491-01 v1.0 June 2015 First publication

Contents |3
Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Package Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Chapter 2 Physical Description
Front Panel and Back Panel Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
LED Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Port LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
System LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Device Hardware Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
RJ-45 Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
SFP+ Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Reset Button. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Factory Defaults Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Chapter 3 Applications
Desktop Switching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Backbone Switching. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Chapter 4 Installation
Step 1: Prepare the Site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Step 2: Install the Switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Install the Switch on a Flat Surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Install the Switch in a Rack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Step 3: Check the Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Step 4: Connect Devices to the Switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Step 5: Install an SFP+ Transceiver Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Step 6: Apply AC Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Step 7: Manage the Switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Appendix A Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Additional Troubleshooting Suggestions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Network Adapter Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

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XS728T Smart Switch
Switch Integrity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Autonegotiation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Appendix B Technical Specifications
Network Protocol and Standards Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
LEDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Performance Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Power Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Physical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Environmental Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Electromagnetic Emissions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

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1. Introduction
Congratulations on the purchase of your NETGEAR®ProSAFETM XS728T Smart Switch. Your
XS728T Smart Switch is a state-of-the-art, high-performance, IEEE-compliant network solution
designed for users who require many ports and want the power of Gigabit connectivity to
eliminate bottlenecks, boost performance, and increase productivity. The 24 twisted-pair ports on
the front panel of the switch support nonstop 1000M/10G networks. The 4 SFP+ ports on the
front panel also support 1000M and 10G optical modules. To simplify installation, the switch is
shipped ready for use out of the box.
This installation guide describes how to install and power on the smart switch. The information in
this manual is intended for users with intermediate computer and Internet skills. For more
information about the topics that are covered in this manual, visit the support website at
support.netgear.com.
This chapter serves as an introduction to the smart switch and includes the following sections:
•Overview
•Features
•Package Contents

Introduction
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XS728T Smart Switch
Overview
The NETGEAR XS728T Smart Switch provides 24 twisted-pair ports that support nonstop
1000M/10G networks. The switch also provides four built-in enhanced small form factor
pluggable (SFP+) GBIC slots that support 1000M and 10G optical modules.
Using these 10-gigabit slots, you can create high-speed connections to a server or network
backbone. For example, you can:
•Connect switches to each other with high-speed links
•Link to high-speed servers
•Provide 1000M/10G copper and fiber connectivity
The smart switch also provides the benefit of administrative management with a complete
package of features for monitoring, configuring, and controlling the network. Using the simple
and intuitive web-based graphical user interface (GUI) or the Windows computer–based
Smart Control Center program, you can view and use the switch’s many capabilities. The
switch’s management features include configuration of port and switch information, VLAN for
traffic control, port trunking for increased bandwidth, and Class of Service (CoS) for
prioritizing traffic. These features provide better understanding and control of the network.
Initial discovery of the switch on the network requires the Smart Control Center program, a
utility that runs on a Windows computer.
The smart switch can be freestanding or rack mounted in a wiring closet or equipment room.
It is IEEE compliant and offers low latency for high-speed networking. All ports can
automatically negotiate to the highest speed, which makes the switch ideal for environments
with a mix of Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet devices. You can use Category 5e
(Cat 5e) or better Ethernet cable (Cat 6, Cat 6a, or Cat 7) to make 10G connections.
NETGEAR recommends that you use Cat 6a or Cat 7 cables if the cable distance is greater
than 148 feet (45 meters).
Features
The XS728T Smart Switch provides the following key features:
•Twenty-four 1000M/10G AutoSensing Gigabit Ethernet switching ports.
•Four dedicated 1000M/10G SFP+ ports.
•Full NETGEAR Smart Switch functionality.
•Full compatibility with IEEE standards:
-IEEE 802.3ab (1000BASE-T)
-IEEE 802.3z (1000BASE-x)
-IEEE 802.3an (10GBASE-T)
-IEEE 802.3 Clause 49 (10GBASE-LR and 10GBASE-SR)
-IEEE802.3ae (10GBASE Ethernet)
-IEEE802.3az (Energy Efficient Ethernet)

Introduction
7
XS728T Smart Switch
-IEEE 802.3x (full-duplex flow control)
•AutoSensing and autonegotiating capabilities for all ports.
•Auto Uplink™ on all ports to make the right connection.
•Automatic address learning function to build the packet-forwarding information table. The
table contains up to 16K Media Access Control (MAC) addresses.
•Store-and-forward transmission to remove bad packets from the network.
•Full-duplex IEEE 802.3x pause frame flow control.
•Active flow control to minimize packet loss and frame drops.
•Per-port LEDs and Power LED.
•Internal open frame power supply.
•Standard NETGEAR 7xx series chassis (1U high).
•NETGEAR green power-saving features:
-Energy efficiency mode that fully conforms to the IEEE 802.3az standard
-Per-port automatic change to a lower power mode when the port link is down
Package Contents
The following figure shows the package contents of the smart switch.
Figure 1. Package contents
Verify that the package contains the following:
•XS728T Smart Switch
•Rubber footpads for tabletop installation
•Rack-mounting kit
•Power cord

Introduction
8
XS728T Smart Switch
•Installation guide
•Smart switch resource CD with NETGEAR Smart Control Center and user’s manual
If any item is missing or damaged, contact the place of purchase immediately.

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2
2. Physical Description
This chapter describes the XS728T Smart Switch hardware features. This chapter includes the
following topics:
•Front Panel and Back Panel Configuration
•LED Designations
•Device Hardware Interfaces

Physical Description
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XS728T Smart Switch
Front Panel and Back Panel Configuration
The smart switch provides 24 1000M/10G copper ports and 4 dedicated1000M/10G SFP+
fiber ports. Each port is capable of sensing the line speed and negotiating the duplex mode
with the link partner automatically.
The following figure illustrates the front panel of the smart switch.
Power and Link/Speed/ACT LEDs 1000M/10G
SFP+ ports
Reset button
Factory
Defaults button
Fan LEDs
1000M/10G Ethernet ports USB port
Figure 2. Front panel
The front panel contains the following:
•Twenty-four RJ-45 connectors for 1000M/10G AutoSensing Gigabit Ethernet switching
ports
•Four dedicated 1000M/10G SFP+ Gigabit Ethernet switching ports
•One USB 2.0 port that supports FAT32 file systems
•Reset button to restart the device
•Recessed Factory Defaults button to restore the device back to the factory defaults
•Link, Speed, and ACT LEDs for each port
•Power and Fan LEDs
The following figure illustrates the smart switch back panel.
Power connector
Kensington Lock™ slot
Figure 3. Back panel
The back panel contains the power connector and the Kensington Lock slot.
Note: The serial console port is not for customer use.

Physical Description
11
XS728T Smart Switch
LED Designations
The following sections describe the LED designations.
Port LEDs
The following table describes the RJ-45 and SFP+ port LED designations. A separate
indicator LED is associated with each port.
Table 1. Port LEDs
LED Designation
Link/Speed/ACT LED mode for
copper ports 1 to 24
• Off. No link established.
• Solid green. A valid 10G link is established.
• Blinking green. The port is transmitting or receiving packets at
10 Gbps.
• Solid yellow. A valid 1000M link is established.
• Blinking yellow. The port is transmitting or receiving packets
at 1000 Mbps.
Link/ACT LED for SFP+ ports
25 to 28
• Off. No SFP+ module link is established.
• Solid green. A valid 10G link is established.
• Blinking green. The port is transmitting or receiving packets
at 10 Gbps.
• Solid yellow. A valid 1000M link is established.
• Blinking yellow. The port is transmitting or receiving packets at
1000 Mbps.
System LEDs
Table 2. System LEDs
LED Designation
Power • Solid green. The device is powered on. Runtime code is operating.
• Solid yellow. The device is booting.
• Off. Power is not supplied to the device.
Fan • Solid yellow. The fan experienced a failure.
• Off. The fan is operating normally.
The following table describes the system LED designations.
Device Hardware Interfaces
The following sections describe the hardware interfaces on the device.

Physical Description
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XS728T Smart Switch
RJ-45 Ports
RJ-45 ports are AutoSensing ports. When you insert a cable into an RJ-45 port, the switch
automatically determines the maximum speed (1000 Mbps or 10
Gbps) and duplex mode
(half duplex or full duplex) of the attached device. All ports support only an unshielded
twisted-pair (UTP) cable terminated with an 8-pin RJ-45 plug.
To simplify the procedure for attaching devices, all RJ-45 ports support Auto Uplink. This
technology allows attaching devices to the RJ-45 ports with either straight-through or
crossover cables. When you insert a cable into the switch’s RJ-45 port, the switch
automatically does the following:
•Senses whether the cable is a straight-through or crossover cable.
•Determines whether the link to the attached device requires a “normal” connection (such
as when you are connecting the port to a computer) or an uplink connection (such as
when you are connecting the port to a router, switch, or hub).
•Automatically configures the RJ-45 port to enable communications with the attached
device. The Auto Uplink technology compensates for setting uplink connections while
eliminating concerns about whether to use crossover or straight-through cables when you
attach devices.
SFP+ Ports
To enable you to use fiber connections on your network, four dedicated SFP+ ports (25
though 28) accommodate standard 1000M and 10G SFP+ transceiver modules, which are
sold separately.
Reset Button
The Smart Switch provides a Reset button on the front panel to allow you to manually reboot
the switch. This action is equivalent to powering the unit off and back on. The last saved
configuration is loaded into the switch as it resets. To use the Reset button, insert a device
such as a straightened paper clip into the opening to press the recessed button. The front
panel LEDs turn off and light again as the switch performs its power-on self-test (POST).
Factory Defaults Button
The Smart Switch provides a Factory Defaults button on the front panel so that you can
remove the current configuration and return the device to its factory settings. When you press
the Factory Defaults button, all settings including the password, VLAN settings, and port
configurations are removed. To use the Factory Defaults button, insert a device such as a
straightened paper clip into the opening to press and hold the recessed button for more than
two seconds.

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3. Applications
Your XS728T Smart Switch is designed to provide flexibility in configuring your network
connections. It can be used as your only network traffic-distribution device or with 1000M and
10G hubs and switches. This chapter includes the following topics:
•Desktop Switching
•Backbone Switching

Applications
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XS728T Smart Switch
Desktop Switching
The smart switch can be used as a desktop switch to build a small network that provides up
to 10 Gbps access to a file server. With full duplex enabled, the switch port connected to the
server or computer can provide up to 20 Gbps throughput. If a 10 Gbps module is used to
connect the switch to the file server in full-duplex operation, then the switch can provide up to
20 Gbps throughput.
` ` `
Figure 4. Desktop switching

Applications
15
XS728T Smart Switch
Backbone Switching
You can use the smart switch as a backbone switch in a small network that gives users
high-speed access to servers and other network devices.
` `
```
GS108T
S3300-28x-PoE+
XS728T
Figure 5. Backbone switching

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4. Installation
This chapter describes the installation procedures for your XS728T Smart Switch. Switch
installation involves the steps described in the following sections:
Step 1: Prepare the Site
Step 2: Install the Switch
Step 3: Check the Installation
Step 4: Connect Devices to the Switch
Step 5: Install an SFP+ Transceiver Module
Step 6: Apply AC Power
Step 7: Manage the Switch

Installation
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XS728T Smart Switch
Step 1: Prepare the Site
Before you install the switch, ensure that the operating environment meets the site
requirements in the following table.
Table 3. Site requirements
Characteristics Requirements
Mounting • Desktop installations. Provide a flat table or shelf surface.
• Rack-mount installations. Use a 19-inch (48.3-centimeter) EIA standard equipment
rack that is grounded and physically secure. The rack-mount kit supplied with the switch
is also required.
Access Place the switch in a position that allows you to access the front panel RJ-45 ports, view the
front panel LEDs, and access the power connector.
Power source Provide a power connection cord. Power specifications for the switch are shown in Appendix
B, Technical Specifications. Ensure that the AC outlet is not controlled by a wall switch, which
can accidentally turn off power to the outlet and the switch.
Environmental • Temperature. Install the switch in a dry area, with ambient temperature between 0ºC
and 50ºC (32ºF and 122ºF). Keep the switch away from heat sources such as direct
sunlight, warm air exhausts, hot-air vents, and heaters.
• Operating humidity. The maximum relative humidity of the installation location is 90%,
noncondensing.
• Ventilation. Do not restrict airflow by covering or obstructing air inlets on the sides of the
switch. Keep at least 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) free on all sides for cooling. Be sure
that the room or wiring closet where the switch is installed provides adequate airflow.
• Operating conditions. Keep the switch at least 6 feet (1.83 meters) away from nearest
source of electromagnetic noise, such as a photocopy machine.
Step 2: Install the Switch
The smart switch can be used on a flat surface or mounted in a standard network equipment
rack.
Install the Switch on a Flat Surface
The switch ships with four self-adhesive rubber footpads. The rubber footpads cushion the
switch against shock and vibrations.
This procedure explains how to install the switch on a flat surface.
To install the switch on a flat surface:
1. Stick one of the provided rubber footpads on each of the four concave spaces on the
bottom of the switch.
2. Place the switch on a flat surface.

Installation
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XS728T Smart Switch
Install the Switch in a Rack
To install the switch in a rack, you need the 19-inch rack-mount kit supplied with the switch.
To install the switch in a rack:
1. Attach the supplied mounting brackets to the side of the switch.
2. Insert the screws provided in the rack-mount kit through each bracket and into the bracket
mounting holes in the switch.
3. Tighten the screws with a No. 1 Phillips screwdriver to secure each bracket.
4. Align the mounting holes in the brackets with the holes in the rack, and insert two pan-head
screws with nylon washers through each bracket and into the rack.
5. Tighten the screws with a No. 2 Phillips screwdriver to secure mounting brackets to the rack.
Figure 6. Rack mount
Step 3: Check the Installation
Perform the steps in this section before applying power to the switch.
To check the installation:
1. Inspect the equipment thoroughly.
2. Verify that all cables are installed correctly.
3. Check cable routing to make sure that cables are not damaged or creating a safety hazard.
4. Ensure that all equipment is mounted properly and securely.
Step 4: Connect Devices to the Switch
The following procedure describes how to connect computers to the switch’s RJ-45 ports.
The smart switch contains Auto Uplink technology, which allows the attaching of devices
using either straight-through or crossover cables.

Installation
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XS728T Smart Switch
Figure 7. Connecting devices to the switch
Note: Ethernet specifications limit the cable length between the switch and
the attached device to 328 feet (100 meters).
To connect devices to the switch:
Using a Category 5 (Cat 5) unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable terminated with an RJ-45
connector, connect each computer to an RJ-45 network port on the switch front panel.
See the previous figure.
Note: For 10GBASE-T connections, and in particular for connections over
100 feet (30 meters), NETGEAR recommends that you use a
Category 6a cable or a higher-rated cable.
Step 5: Install an SFP+ Transceiver Module
The following procedure describes how to install an optional SFP+ or SFP transceiver
module into one of the SFP+ ports of the switch.
Note: Contact your NETGEAR sales office to buy these modules. If you do
not want to install an SFP+ or SFP module, skip this procedure.
To install an SFP+ or SFP transceiver:
1. Insert the transceiver into the SFP+ port.
2. Press firmly on the flange of the module to seat it securely into the connector.

Installation
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XS728T Smart Switch
You can install up to four 10G or 1G Ethernet modules using this procedure.
Figure 8. Installing an SFP transceiver module
Step 6: Apply AC Power
The smart switch does not provide an on/off switch. Power is controlled by the power cord
connection.
Before connecting the power cord, select an AC outlet that is not controlled by a wall switch,
which can turn off power to the switch.
To apply AC power:
1. Connect the end of the power connection cable to the power receptacle on the back of
the switch.
2. Plug the AC power connection cable into a power source such as a wall socket or power
strip.
When you apply power, the Power LED on the switch’s front panel lights.
If the Power LED does not light, check to make sure that the power cable is plugged in
correctly and that the power source is functioning. If this does not resolve the problem, see
Appendix A, Troubleshooting.
Step 7: Manage the Switch
The smart switch contains software for viewing, changing, and monitoring the way it works.
This management software is not required for the switch to work. You can use the ports
without using the management software. However, the management software enables the
setup of VLAN and trunking features and also improves the efficiency of the switch, which
improves its overall performance as well as the performance of the network.