ZyXEL Communications XMG-100 Series User manual

User’s Guide
XMG-100 Series
5/8–port 2.5G Unmanaged Switch with 10G Uplink
Copyright © 2023 Zyxel and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Version 1.00 Edition 2, 10/2023

XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
2
IMPORTANT!
READ CAREFULLY BEFORE USE.
KEEP THIS GUIDE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
Screenshots and graphics in this book may differ slightly from your product due to differences in your
product firmware or your computer operating system. Every effort has been made to ensure that the
information in this manual is accurate.
•MoreInformation
Go to support.zyxel.com to find other information on the Switch.

Document Conventions
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
3
Document Conventions
Warnings and Notes
These are how warnings and notes are shown in this guide.
Warnings tell you about things that could harm you or your device.
Note: Notes tell you other important information (for example, other things you may need to
configure or helpful tips) or recommendations.
Syntax Conventions
• All models may be referred to as the “Switch” in this guide.
• Product labels are all in bold font.
Icons Used in Figures
Figures in this user guide may use the following generic icons. The Switch icon is not an exact
representation of your device.
Switch Generic Router Wireless Router / Access Point
Generic Switch Smart TV Desktop
Laptop IP Camera Printer
Server

Contents Overview
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
4
Contents Overview
User’s Guide ........................................................................................................................................6
Getting to Know Your Switch ................................................................................................................ 7
Hardware Installation and Connection ............................................................................................. 12
Hardware Panels .................................................................................................................................. 16
Troubleshooting .................................................................................................................................... 22

Table of Contents
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
5
Table of Contents
Part I: User’s Guide............................................................................................6
Chapter 1
Getting to Know Your Switch ..............................................................................................................7
1.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 7
1.2 Features ............................................................................................................................................. 8
1.2.1 Multi-Gigabit ............................................................................................................................ 8
1.2.2 PoE ............................................................................................................................................ 9
1.3 Example Applications ...................................................................................................................... 9
1.3.1 PoE Example Application ..................................................................................................... 10
1.3.2 Backbone Example Application ......................................................................................... 10
1.3.3 Bridging or Fiber Optic Uplink Example Application ......................................................... 10
Chapter 2
Hardware Installation and Connection ...........................................................................................12
2.1 Installation Scenarios ...................................................................................................................... 12
2.2 Safety Precautions .......................................................................................................................... 12
2.3 Freestanding Installation Procedure ............................................................................................ 13
2.4 Wall Mounting ................................................................................................................................. 13
2.4.1 Installation Requirements ..................................................................................................... 14
Chapter 3
Hardware Panels................................................................................................................................16
3.1 Front Panel Connections ............................................................................................................... 16
3.1.1 Multi-gigabit Ethernet Ports .................................................................................................. 17
3.1.2 SFP+ Slot .................................................................................................................................. 17
3.2 Rear Panel ....................................................................................................................................... 19
3.2.1 Power Connection ................................................................................................................ 20
3.3 LEDs .................................................................................................................................................. 20
Chapter 4
Troubleshooting..................................................................................................................................22
4.1 Power, Hardware Connections, and LEDs ................................................................................... 22
4.2 Improper Network Cabling and Topology .................................................................................. 23
Appendix A Customer Support ....................................................................................................... 24
Appendix B Legal Information......................................................................................................... 29
Index...................................................................................................................................................34

6
PART I
User’s Guide

XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
7
CHAPTER 1
Getting to Know Your Switch
1.1 Introduction
The Switch refers to all the following models unless a particular model is specified.
• XMG-105HP
• XMG-108
• XMG-108HP
The Switch is a 100 Mbps / 1/2.5/10 Gbps multi-port switch that can be used to build high-performance
switched workgroup networks. The Switch is a store-and-forward device that offers low latency for high-
speed networking. The Switch is designed for workgroups, departments or backbone computing
environments for small businesses.
All models are referred to as the “Switch” in this guide.
The following table describes the hardware features of the Switch by model.
The PoE ports can supply power to the connected PoE powered devices (PDs).
The SFP+ slot is for uplink connections. Use SFP+ transceivers in these slots for 1 Gbps or 10 Gbps
connections to backbone Ethernet switches.
The Switch has built-in loop detection. All connected port’s LED will fast blink green/yellow when it
detects that packets sent out on that port loop back to the Switch.
The Switch has built-in IEEE 802.1p CoS (Class of Service) feature that services queues based on priority
only. As traffic comes into the Switch, traffic on the highest priority queue is transmitted first. When that
queue empties, traffic on the next highest-priority queue is transmitted until it empties, and then traffic is
transmitted on the next queue and so on. If higher priority queues never empty, then traffic on lower
priority queues never gets sent.
Table 1 Hardware Feature Comparison
PORT/SWITCH DETAILS XMG-105HP XMG-108 XMG-108HP
100M/1G/2.5G Base-T Ethernet ports 1 8 0
100M/1G/2.5G Base-T IEEE 802.3bt PoE ports 4 0 8
1G/10G SFP+ port 1 1 1
Desktop Device Yes Yes Yes
Wall-mountable Yes Yes Yes
Power Adapter Yes Yes Yes
Power Cord Yes Yes Yes

Chapter 1 Getting to Know Your Switch
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
8
1.2 Features
The following are the essential features of the Switch.
• Conforms to IEEE 802.3u, 802.3ab, 802.3bz, 802.3z, 802.3ae, and 802.3x standards.
• Auto-negotiating 100 Mbps / 1 Gbps / 2.5 Gbps multi-gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 ports.
• Auto-sensing crossover for all 100 Mbps / 1 Gbps / 2.5 Gbps multi-gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 ports.
• Supports N-Way protocol for speed (100 Mbps / 1 Gbps / 2.5 Gbps) and duplex mode (Full) auto-
detection.
• Supports store-and-forward switching.
• Supports automatic address learning.
• Supports IEEE 802.3af, IEEE 802.3at, and IEEE 802.3bt PoE standards.
• Full wire speed forwarding rate.
• Supports 802.1p CoS.
• Embedded 4K MAC address table providing 4000 MAC addresses entries.
1.2.1 Multi-Gigabit
An 2.5 multi-gigabit port supports speeds of 2.5G if the connected device supports 2.5G and a Cat 5e
(up to 100 m) is used. The speed drops to 1G if these criteria are not met; it drops to 100M if a Cat 5
cable is used (up to 100 m).
Multi-Gigabit ports are also backward compatible with 100 Mbps and 1 Gigabit ports.
Figure 1 Multi-Gigabit Application
See the following table for the cables required and distance limitation to attain the corresponding
speed.

Chapter 1 Getting to Know Your Switch
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
9
1.2.2 PoE
The Switch is a Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) because it provides a source of power through its
Ethernet ports. Each device that receives power through an Ethernet port is a Powered Device (PD).
The Switch can adjust the power supplied to each PD according to the PoE standard the PD supports.
PoE standards are:
• IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE)
• IEEE 802.3at Power over Ethernet (PoE) +
• IEEE 802.3bt Power over Ethernet (PoE) ++
The following table describes the PoE features of the Switch by model.
1.3 Example Applications
This section shows a few examples of using the Switch in various network environments. Note that the
Switch in the figure is just an example Switch and not your actual Switch.
Table 2 Cable Types
CABLE TRANSMISSION SPEED MAXIMUM DISTANCE BANDWIDTH CAPACITY
Category 5 100M 100 m 100 MHz
Category 5e 1G / 2.5G 100 m 100 MHz
Table 3 XMG-100 Series Models and PoE Features
PoE FEATURES XMG-105HP XMG-108HP
IEEE 802.3bt PoE++ Ports 1 – 4 Ports 1 – 8
Power Management Mode Consumption (default) Consumption (default)
PoE Power Budget 70W 100W
Table 4 PoE Standards
PoE FEATURES PoE PoE+ PoE++
IEEE Standard IEEE 802.3af IEEE 802.3at IEEE 802.3bt
PoE Type Type 1 Type 2 Type 3
Switch Port Power
Maximum Power Per Port 15.4 W 30 W 60 W
Port Voltage Range 44 – 57 V 50 – 57 V 50 – 57 V
Cables
Twisted Pairs Used 2-pair 2-pair 4-pair
Supported Cables Cat3/24 AWG or better Cat5/24 AWG or better Cat5/24 AWG or better

Chapter 1 Getting to Know Your Switch
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
10
1.3.1 PoE Example Application
The following example figure shows a Switch supplying PoE (Power over Ethernet) to Powered Devices
(PDs) such as an IP camera, a wireless router, an IP telephone and a general outdoor router that are not
within reach of a power outlet.
Figure 2 Powered Device Example
1.3.2 Backbone Example Application
The Switch is an ideal solution for small networks where rapid growth can be expected in the near future.
The Switch can be used standalone for a group of heavy traffic users. You can connect computers and
servers directly to the Switch’s port or connect other switches to the Switch.
In this example, all computers can share high-speed applications on the server. To expand the network,
simply add more networking devices such as switches, routers, computers, print servers, and so on.
Figure 3 Backbone Application
1.3.3 Bridging or Fiber Optic Uplink Example Application
In this example, the Switch connects different company departments (RD and Sales) to the corporate
backbone. It can alleviate bandwidth contention and eliminate server and network bottlenecks. All

Chapter 1 Getting to Know Your Switch
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
11
users that need high bandwidth can connect to high-speed department servers through the Switch.
You can provide a super-fast uplink connection by using a multi-gigabit Ethernet or SFP+ port on the
Switch.
Figure 4 Bridging Example Application

XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
12
CHAPTER 2
Hardware Installation and
Connection
2.1 Installation Scenarios
This chapter shows you how to install and connect the Switch.
See Table 1 on page 7 for a comparison of hardware features for each model.
The Switch can be:
• Placed on a desktop.
• Wall-mounted on a wall.
See the following table for a comparison of the hardware installation methods of each Switch:
Table 5 Mounting Methods
2.2 Safety Precautions
Please observe the following before using the Switch:
• It is recommended to ask an authorized technician to attach the Switch on a desk or to the wall. Use
the proper screws to prevent damage to the Switch. See the Installation Requirements sections in this
chapter to know the types of screws and screw drivers for each mounting method.
• Make sure there is at least 2 cm of clearance on the top and bottom of the Switch, and at least 5 cm
of clearance on all four sides of the Switch. This allows air circulation for cooling.
• Do NOT block the ventilation holes nor store cables or power cords on the Switch. Allow clearance for
the ventilation holes to prevent your Switch from overheating. This is especially crucial when your
Switch does not have fans. Overheating could affect the performance of your Switch, or even
damage it.
• The surface of the Switch could be hot when it is functioning. Do NOT put your hands on it. You may
get burned. This could happen especially when you are using a fanless Switch.
• The Switches with fans are not suitable for use in locations where children are likely to be present.
To start using the Switch, simply connect the power adapter to turn it on.
MODEL FEATURE XMG-105HP XMG-108 XMG-108HP
Desktop Device Yes Yes Yes
Wall-mountable Yes Yes Yes

Chapter 2 Hardware Installation and Connection
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
13
2.3 Freestanding Installation Procedure
1Make sure the Switch is clean and dry.
2Remove the adhesive backing from the rubber feet.
3Attach the rubber feet to each corner on the bottom of the Switch. These rubber feet help protect the
Switch from shock or vibration and ensure space between devices when stacking.
Figure 5 Attaching Rubber Feet
4Set the Switch on a smooth, level surface strong enough to support the weight of the Switch and the
connected cables. Make sure there is a power outlet nearby.
Cautions:
• Avoid stacking fanless Switches to prevent overheating.
• Ensure enough clearance around the Switch to allow air circulation for cooling.
• Do NOT remove the rubber feet as it provides space for air circulation.
2.4 Wall Mounting
The Switch can be mounted on a wall (see Table 5 on page 12). You may need screw anchors if
mounting on a concrete or brick wall.
Do the following to mount your Switch on a wall.
See Table 6 on page 13 for how far apart to place the screws.
Table 6 Distance between the centers of the holes for wall mounting
MODEL DISTANCE
XMG-105HP 114 mm
XMG-108 188 mm
XMG-108HP 188 mm

Chapter 2 Hardware Installation and Connection
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
14
2.4.1 Installation Requirements
• Distance above the floor: At least 1.8 m (5.9 feet)
• Two M4 screws and a #2 Philips screwdriver
• Two screw anchors (optional)
Figure 6 Screw Specifications for Wall Mounting
1Select a position free of obstructions on a wall strong enough to hold the weight of the Switch.
2Mark two holes on the wall at the appropriate distance apart for the screws.
WARNING! Be careful to avoid damaging pipes or cables located inside
the wall when drilling holes for the screws.
3If using screw anchors, drill two holes for the screw anchors into the wall. Push the anchors into the full
depth of the holes, then insert the screws into the anchors. Do NOT insert the screws all the way in –
leave a small gap of about 0.5 cm.
If not using screw anchors, use a screwdriver to insert the screws into the wall. Do NOT insert the screws
all the way in – leave a gap of about 0.5 cm.
4Make sure the screws are fastened well enough to hold the weight of the Switch with the connection
cables.
5Align the holes on the back of the Switch with the screws on the wall. Hang the Switch on the screws.
Note: Make sure there is enough clearance between the wall and the Switch to allow
ventilation.

Chapter 2 Hardware Installation and Connection
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
15
WARNING! The Switch should be wall-mounted horizontally, and make sure
the front panel is facing down. The Switch's side panels with ventilation slots
should not be facing up or down as this position is less safe.

Chapter 3 Hardware Panels
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
16
CHAPTER 3
Hardware Panels
This chapter describes the front panel and rear panel of the Switch and shows you how to make the
hardware connections.
3.1 Front Panel Connections
You can use either crossover or straight-through cables for all the ports.
Refer to Section Table 1 on page 7 for more information on hardware differences between models.
The following figures show the front panels of the Switch.
Figure 7 XMG-105HP
Figure 8 XMG-108
Figure 9 XMG-108HP
You can use unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or shielded twisted-pair (STP) Ethernet cables for RJ-45 ports.
The following table describes the types of network cable used for the different connection speeds.
Table 7 Network Cable Types
TRANSMISSION SPEED NETWORK CABLE TYPE MAXIMUM DISTANCE BANDWIDTH CAPACITY
100 Mbps Category 5 UTP/STP 100 m 100 MHz
1 Gbps Category 5e, 6 UTP/STP 100 m 100 MHz
2.5 Gbps Category 5e, 6 UTP/STP 100 m 100 MHz

Chapter 3 Hardware Panels
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
17
3.1.1 Multi-gigabit Ethernet Ports
The Switch has 2.5G Base-T auto-negotiating, auto-crossover Ethernet ports. In 100 Mbps / 1/2.5 Gbps
multi-gigabit, the speed can be 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps or 2.5 Gbps and full duplex mode.
The 100 Base-TX / 1G Base-T / 2.5G Base-T RJ-45 ports are auto-negotiating and auto-crossover.
An auto-negotiating port can detect and adjust to the optimum Ethernet speed (100 Mbps / 1 Gbps /
2.5 Gbps) and duplex mode (full duplex) of the connected device.
An auto-crossover (auto-MDI/MDI-X) port automatically works with a straight-through or crossover
Ethernet cable.
When auto-negotiation is turned on, an Ethernet port negotiates with the peer automatically to
determine the connection speed and duplex mode. If the peer Ethernet port does not support auto-
negotiation or turns off this feature, the Switch determines the connection speed by detecting the signal
on the cable. When the Switch’s auto-negotiation is turned off, an Ethernet port uses the pre-configured
speed and duplex mode when making a connection, then requiring you to make sure that the settings
of the peer Ethernet port are the same in order to connect.
3.1.1.1 Auto-crossover
All ports support auto-crossover, that is auto-MDIX ports (Media Dependent Interface Crossover), so you
may use either a straight-through Ethernet cable or crossover Ethernet cable for all multi-gigabit port
connections. Auto-crossover ports automatically sense whether they need to function as crossover or
straight ports, so crossover cables can connect both computers and switches or hubs.
3.1.2 SFP+ Slot
Refer to Section 1.1 on page 7 for more information on hardware differences between models.
This is a slot for SFP (Small Form-Factor Pluggable) module, such as an SFP transceiver. A transceiver is a
single unit that houses a transmitter and a receiver. Use a transceiver to connect a fiber optic cable to
the Switch. The Switch does not come with a transceiver. You must use a transceiver that complies with
the Small Form-factor Pluggable (SFP) Transceiver MultiSource Agreement (MSA). See the SFF
committee’s INF-8074i specification Rev 1.0 for details.
You can change transceiver while the Switch is operating. You can use a different transceiver to
connect to Ethernet switches with different types of fiber optic or even copper cable connectors.
• Type: SFP+ connection interface
• Connection speed: 1/10 Gbps
WARNING! To avoid possible eye injury, do not look into an operating
fiber optic module’s connectors.
HANDLING! A transceiver is static sensitive. To prevent damage from
electrostatic discharge (ESD), it is recommended you attach an ESD
preventive wrist strap to your wrist and to a bare metal surface when
you install or remove a transceiver.
STORAGE! All modules are dust sensitive. When not in use, always keep
the dust plug on. Avoid getting dust and other contaminant into the

Chapter 3 Hardware Panels
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
18
optical bores, as the optics do not work correctly when obstructed with
dust.
3.1.2.1 Transceiver Installation
Use the following steps to install a transceiver.
1Attach an ESD preventive wrist strap to your wrist and to a bare metal surface.
2Align the transceiver in front of the slot opening.
3Make sure the latch is in the lock position (latch styles vary), then insert the transceiver into the slot with
the exposed section of PCB board facing down.
4Press the transceiver firmly until it clicks into place.
5The Switch automatically detects the installed transceiver. Check the LEDs to verify that it is functioning
properly.
6Remove the dust plugs from the transceiver and cables (dust plug styles vary).
7Identify the signal transmission direction of the fiber optic cables and the transceiver. Insert the fiber
optic cable into the transceiver.
Figure 10 Latch in the Lock Position
Figure 11 Transceiver Installation Example
Figure 12 Connecting the Fiber Cables
3.1.2.2 Transceiver Removal
Use the following steps to remove an SFP transceiver.
1Attach an ESD preventive wrist strap to your wrist and to a bare metal surface on the chassis.
2Remove the fiber optic cables from the transceiver.

XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
19
3Pull out the latch and down to unlock the transceiver (latch styles vary).
Note: Make sure the transceiver’s latch is pushed all the way down, so the transceiver can be
pulled out successfully.
4Pull the latch, or use your thumb and index finger to grasp the tabs on both sides of the transceiver, and
carefully slide it out of the slot.
Note: Do NOT pull the transceiver out by force. You could damage it. If the transceiver will not
slide out, grasp the tabs on both sides of the transceiver with a slight up or down motion
and carefully slide it out of the slot. If unsuccessful, contact Zyxel Support to prevent
damage to your Switch and transceiver.
5Insert the dust plug into the ports on the transceiver and the cables.
Figure 13 Removing the Fiber Optic Cables
Figure 14 Opening the Transceiver’s Latch Example
Figure 15 Transceiver Removal Example
3.2 Rear Panel
The following figures show the rear panels of the Switch. The power receptacle is located on the rear
panel of the Switch. Refer to the power supply requirements on the panel.
Figure 16 XMG-105HP
Figure 17 XMG-108

Chapter 3 Hardware Panels
XMG-100 Series User’s Guide
20
Figure 18 XMG-108HP
3.2.1 Power Connection
Note: Make sure you are using the correct power source as shown on the panel.
Connect the supplied power adapter to the power receptacle on the rear panel. Then use the included
power cord to connect the power adapter to an appropriate power source.
3.3 LEDs
The LED Indicators give real-time information about the status of the Switch. After you connect the
power to the Switch, view the LEDs to ensure proper functioning of the Switch and as an aid in
troubleshooting. The following table provides descriptions of the LEDs.
The following table describes the LEDs.
Table 8 LED Descriptions
LED COLOR STATUS DESCRIPTION
PWR Green On The Switch is receiving power from the power module in the power slot.
Blinking The Switch is rebooting.
Off The Switch is not receiving power from the power module in the power slot
or the Switch is malfunctioning.
PoE MAX Yellow On The Switch’s remaining power budget is equal to / less than 10 watt.
Off The Switch’s remaining power budget is above 10 watt.
LED COLOR STATUS DESCRIPTION
100M/1G/2.5G Base-T Ports
Link / ACT
1 – 5
(XMG-105HP)
1 – 8
(XMG-108 /
XMG-108HP)
Green On The link to a 2.5G Ethernet network is up.
Blinking The Switch is transmitting/receiving to/from a 2.5G Ethernet network.
Fast
Blinking The Switch detects loop activity on the 2.5G Ethernet network.
Yellow On The link to a 100/1000 Mbps Ethernet network is up.
Blinking The Switch is transmitting/receiving to/from a 100/1000 Mbps Ethernet
network.
Fast
Blinking The Switch detects loop activity on the 100/1000 Mbps Ethernet network.
Off The link to an Ethernet network is down, or the uplink port is shut down.