QNAP launches an affordable, Lite-Managed 10GbE switch designed for creators.
QNAP has launched the QSW-L3205-1C4T, a new five-port switch designed to meet the bandwidth demands of smaller creative teams and production studios without overcomplicating deployment. Part of the company’s Lite-Managed switch lineup, the QSW-L3205-1C4T offers a mix of four 10GbE Multi-Gig RJ45 ports and one SFP+/RJ45 combo port, supporting both copper and fiber connections. It’s aimed at creative professionals, advanced home users, and small businesses looking to step up their networking capabilities without investing in high-end managed infrastructure.
The switch delivers a total switching capacity of 100Gbps, with RJ45 ports that support speeds from 100Mbps to 10Gbps. This makes it particularly suited for studios that manage high-throughput tasks such as video editing, media backups, and file transfers between workstations and NAS units. With Cat 6a or higher cabling, users can expect consistent 10GbE speeds on supported ports.
While the switch is compact, its feature set is tailored for more than just basic connectivity. It includes support for Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), allowing users to combine multiple ports for up to 20Gbps of aggregated bandwidth. This is especially useful when paired with QNAP NAS systems, helping boost performance for simultaneous file transfers or media streaming.
QNAP QSW-L3205-1C4T Specifications
| Specification | Details |
| Management Type | Lite Managed |
| Number of Ports | 5 |
| 10GbE BASE-T (RJ45) | 4 ports (10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M) |
| 10GbE SFP+/RJ45 Combo Port | 1 port, supports SFP+ (10G/1G) or RJ45 (10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M) |
| Power Supply | External Adapter |
| Max. Power Consumption | 36W |
| Input Power Type | DC |
| Input Voltage | 12V/3A |
| MAC Address Table | 16K |
| Total Non-Blocking Throughput | 50Gbps |
| Switching Capacity | 100Gbps |
| Management Interface | Web |
| Console Port | RJ45 |
| Energy Efficient Ethernet | Yes (IEEE 802.3az) |
| Fanless | Yes |
| Supported Standards | IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, 802.3bz, 802.3z, 802.3an, 802.3ae, 802.3x, 802.1Q, 802.3ad (LACP), 802.1AB (LLDP), 802.1p (CoS), 802.3az (EEE) |
| Form Factor | Desktop |
| LED Indicators | Per port: Speed/Link/Activity; System: Power/Loop/Fan |
| Buttons | Reset |
| Dimensions | 44 x 210 x 160 mm |
| Weight (Net / Gross) | 2.58 lbs / 5.49 lbs |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) |
| Humidity | 0–90% (non-condensing) |
| Certifications | CE, UKCA, FCC, IC, VCCI, RCM, BSMI, LVD, KC |
| EMC Compliance | Class A |
| Jumbo Frame Support | 12K bytes |
| Warranty | 2 Years |
One of the key advantages of this model is its Lite-Managed design, which falls between unmanaged and fully managed Layer 2 switches. This offers essential features like VLAN support, Quality of Service (QoS), port mirroring, and IGMP snooping, without the higher costs or complexity. This enables segmentation of network traffic, prioritization of applications such as VoIP and video streams, and more efficient management of multicast traffic.
The switch also supports jumbo frames up to 12K bytes, a higher capacity than similar models in the category, helping with large file transfers, especially for users working with multimedia content. With IGMP snooping enabled, the switch can better handle multi-stream environments, such as surveillance systems or IPTV workflows, reducing network strain and improving stability.
A fanless design helps promote quiet operation, making the switch suitable for deskside placement in studios or offices. It uses passive cooling while maintaining thermal performance and system stability. The build also supports energy-efficient Ethernet protocols, helping reduce power consumption based on network traffic load.
Network administrators can manage the switch using QNAP’s web-based Switch System (QSS) and the Qfinder Pro utility, which facilitates initial setup, monitoring, and firmware updates. Despite its compact nature and limited port count, the switch is positioned as a cost-effective solution for teams that need more than plug-and-play simplicity but don’t require the complete feature set of enterprise-grade equipment.
QNAP’s new switch is covered by a two-year warranty.
QNAP QSW-L3205-1C4T Product Page
Engage with StorageReview
Newsletter | YouTube | Podcast iTunes/Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | RSS Feed
