This User Guide is for the platform version listed on the cover. This chapter introduces the main features and applications of the Switch.

The GS1350 Series consists of the following models:

All models are referred to as the “Switch” in this guide.

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.

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.

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.

In this example, the Switch connects different company departments (RD and Sales(S)) to the corporate backbone. It can alleviate bandwidth contention and eliminate server and network bottlenecks. All 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 Gigabit Ethernet or SFP port on the Switch.

Moreover, the Switch eases supervision and maintenance by allowing network managers to centralize multiple servers at a single location.

The Switch is ideal for connecting two networks that need high bandwidth. In the following example, use link aggregation (trunking, T) to connect these two networks (RD, S).

Switching to higher-speed LANs such as ATM (Asynchronous Transmission Mode) is not feasible for most people due to the expense of replacing all existing Ethernet cables and adapter cards, restructuring your network and complex maintenance. The Switch can provide the same bandwidth as ATM at much lower cost while still being able to use existing adapters and switches. Moreover, the current LAN structure can be retained as all ports can freely communicate with each other.

This helps you switch to higher-speed LANs without the need for replacing all existing Ethernet cables and adapter cards, restructuring your network and complex maintenance.

A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) allows a physical network to be partitioned into multiple logical networks. Stations on a logical network belong to one or more groups. With VLAN, a station cannot directly talk to or hear from stations that are not in the same groups unless such traffic first goes through a router.

Ports in the same VLAN group share the same frame broadcast domain thereby increase network performance through reduced broadcast traffic. VLAN groups can be modified at any time by adding, moving or changing ports without any re-cabling.

Shared resources such as a server can be used by all ports in the same VLAN as the server. In the following figure only ports that need access to the server need to be part of VLAN 1. Ports can belong to other VLAN groups too.

Use any of the following methods to manage the Switch.

The Switch can operate in either standalone or Nebula cloud management mode. When the Switch is in standalone mode, it can be configured and managed by the Web Configurator. When the Switch is in Nebula cloud management mode, it can be managed and provisioned by the Zyxel Nebula Control Center (NCC).

Use the Web Configurator to configure and manage the Switch directly in standalone mode or use Nebula Control Center (NCC) to configure and manage the Switch in cloud mode. The Nebula Control Center (NCC) is an alternative cloud-based network management system that allows you to remotely manage and monitor the Zyxel Nebula Security Appliances (SA), Ethernet Switches (S1 and S2), and Access Points (AP). You may also access the Web Configurator in cloud mode.

To have Nebula manage the Switch, you must first register it at the Nebula web portal at https://nebula.zyxel.com, and ensure that Nebula Control Center (NCC) Discovery is enabled in SYSTEM > Cloud Management in the Switch Web Configurator.

See the NCC User’s Guide for how to configure the Switch using Nebula.

This section describes how to change the Switch’s management mode. Refer to the Switch’s standalone mode User’s Guide for LED descriptions, including CLOUD LED behavior.

To manage your Switch through Nebula, connect the Switch to the Internet, and register it to a site and organization at the Nebula web portal (https://nebula.zyxel.com).

See the following steps or the Switch Quick Start Guide for registering the Switch.

See LEDs for more information about the CLOUD LED or DASHBOARD for more information about the Cloud Control Status field in the DASHBOARD screen to see if the Switch goes into Nebula cloud management mode successfully.

The following table describes the difference between the Web Configurator in Standalone mode and Cloud mode.

To return to direct management standalone mode, remove (unregister) the Switch from the inventory in the Nebula web portal.

To unregister the Switch:

It will take a while for the Switch to reboot and reset to factory default.

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:

The following table describes the PoE features of the Switch by PoE standard.