Black Box LGB304AE 4-port Gigabit network switch

Compact desktop switch

The Black Box LGB304AE is a four-port Gigabit Ethernet switch in a desktop form factor. It provides basic network expansion for small offices or home workgroups. The unit operates as an unmanaged Ethernet switch requiring no configuration. It connects directly to a 220V AC mains supply.

Four gigabit ports

Each of the four RJ45 ports negotiates at 10, 100 or 1000 Mbps to match attached devices. The switch handles typical file sharing, printing and internet access for a handful of users. Bandwidth becomes constrained when multiple ports sustain simultaneous gigabit throughput. Heavier workloads such as large database transfers or multi-stream video editing will saturate the backplane.

Gigabit Ethernet limits

The 10/100/1000Base-TX interface caps each link at one gigabit per second over copper cabling. Cable runs must not exceed the standard 100-metre limit for reliable operation. The switch lacks uplink ports, stacking or management features, so it cannot be aggregated into larger managed fabrics. Networks needing VLANs, QoS or redundant uplinks require a different class of hardware.