Following up on the previous article, today, we’re going to discuss the Netgear XS505M and XS508M—both are business- and prosumer-oriented 10G switches. The article will briefly overview the switch, its features, drawbacks, and usage scenarios and then focus on the compatible SFP+ options for the XS505M and XS508M.
Next, let’s get into the main topic.
Table of contents
NETGEAR XS505M/XS508M Overview
In 2020, Netgear released a series of multi-speed 10G Ethernet switches available in XS505M and XS508M models. Unlike common 10G switches on the market, the most significant selling point of those switches is the support for multi-gigabit on copper port: Fast Ethernet, 1-Gigabit, 2.5-Gigabit, 5-Gigabit or 10-Gigabit.
The XS505M and XS508M switch feature 4 to 7 10-Gig/Multi-Gig Copper Ports. As a result, the RJ45 ports can automatically detect which speed the connected device needs and provide the right speed. This allows users to upgrade the networking faster without installing a new ethernet cable.
Because these ports are super flexible, users can connect them to various devices, including a wireless AP, computer, NAS, and network router. At the same time, they can also upgrade to a higher speed with the existing cat5e or cat6 cabling.
This switch features one copper port and one SFP+ port, which supports 1G and 10G SFP+ modules. This SFP+ fiber port lets users quickly build uplink connectivity with backbone networks.
Next, moving to the basic hardware information. Both switches have the exact dimensions: width 32.8 cm, depth 16.9 cm, and height 4.3 cm. The weight of XS505M is 1.38 kg, while XS508M is slightly higher at 1.49 kg.
NETGEAR XS505M/XS508M Features
- Plug and Play Design: As an unmanaged switch, the XS505M/XS508M requires no complex configuration and supports plug-and-play. This lets users quickly expand their network without specialized IT knowledge, making it ideal for homes and small businesses.
- Energy-Efficient Design: Compliant with the IEEE 802.3az standard, XS505M/XS508M automatically adjusts power consumption based on link status and cable length, effectively reducing energy consumption and operational costs.
- Quiet Operation and Flexible Installation: Equipped with a low-noise fan, it supports desktop or rack mounting in quiet business offices or professional-grade home environments and offers flexible mounting options.
Compatible SFP Module and Cable for NETGEAR XS505M/XS508M Switch
Now, let us look at the SFP+ fiber port. Although both switches only feature one SFP+ port, they also support various 1G SFP, BiDi SFP, 10G SFP+, SFP+ DAC, and SFP+ AOC cables. Below is a list of the complete compatible modules for the XS505M/XS508M switch. If you have enough money, you can buy the original SFP module from NETGEAR. However, consider our compatible replacement if you have a limited budget or can not find the appropriate modules.
Part Number | Description |
1G SFP Module | |
AGM734 | Netgear AGM734 Compatible RJ45 SFP 10/100/1000M Copper Module |
AGM731 | Netgear AGM731 Compatible 1.25G Multimode 550m DDM SFP Transceiver |
AGM732F | Netgear AGM732F Compatible 1.25G Single Mode 20km DDM SFP Transceiver |
AGM732F-EX | Netgear AGM732F-EX Compatible 1.25G Single Mode 40km DDM SFP Transceiver |
AGM732F-ZX | Netgear AGM732F-ZX Compatible 1.25G Single Mode 80km DDM SFP Transceiver |
AGM732F-BXU | Netgear AGM732F-BXU Compatible 1G BiDi SFP 1310nm-TX/1550nm-RX 20km Transceiver |
AGM732F-BXD | Netgear AGM732F-BXD Compatible 1G BiDi SFP 1550nm-TX/1310nm-RX 20km Transceiver |
AGM732F-BX40U | Netgear AGM732F-BX40U Compatible 1G BiDi SFP 1310nm-TX/1550nm-RX 40km Transceiver |
AGM732F-BX40D | Netgear AGM732F-BX40D Compatible 1G BiDi SFP 1550nm-TX/1310nm-RX 40km Transceiver |
AGM732F-BX80U | Netgear AGM732F-BX80U Compatible 1G BiDi SFP 1490nm-TX/1550nm-RX 80km Transceiver |
AGM732F-BX80D | Netgear AGM732F-BX80D Compatible 1G BiDi SFP 1550nm-TX/1490nm-RX 80km Transceiver |
10G SFP+ Module | |
AXM765 | Netgear AXM765 Compatible 10GBASE-T SFP+ RJ45 30m Transceiver |
AXM761 | Netgear AXM761 Compatible 10G SFP+ SR 300m Transceiver |
AXM762 | Netgear SAXM762 Compatible 10G SFP+ LR 10km Transceiver |
AXM764 | Netgear AXM764 Compatible 10G SFP+ LR Lite 2km Transceiver |
AXM762-ER | Netgear AXM762-ER Compatible 10G SFP+ ER 40km Transceiver |
AXM762-ZR | Netgear AXM762-ZR Compatible 10G SFP+ ZR 80km Transceiver |
AXM762-BXU | Netgear AXM762-BXU Compatible 10GBASE-BX10-U BiDi SFP+ 10km Transceiver |
AXM762-BXD | Netgear AXM762-BXD Compatible 10GBASE-BX10-D BiDi SFP+ 10km Transceiver |
AXM762-BX40U | Netgear AXM762-BX40U Compatible 10GBASE-BX40-U BiDi SFP+ 40km Transceiver |
AXM762-BX40D | Netgear AXM762-BX40D Compatible 10GBASE-BX40-D BiDi SFP+ 40km Transceiver |
AXM762-BX60U | Netgear AXM762-BX60U Compatible 10GBASE-BX60-U BiDi SFP+ 60km Transceiver |
AXM762-BX60D | Netgear AXM762-BX60U Compatible 10GBASE-BX60-D BiDi SFP+ 60km Transceiver |
10G SFP+ DAC Cable | |
AXC761 | Netgear AXC761 Compatible 1m 10G SFP+ Direct Attach Cable |
AXC762 | Netgear AXC762 Compatible 2m 10G SFP+ Direct Attach Cable |
AXC763 | Netgear AXC763 Compatible 3m 10G SFP+ Direct Attach Cable |
AXC765 | Netgear AXC765 Compatible 5m 10G SFP+ Direct Attach Cable |
10G SFP+ AOC Cable | |
SFP-10G-AOC1M | Netgear Compatible SFP+ Active Optical Cable, 1m |
SFP-10G-AOC3M | Netgear Compatible SFP+ Active Optical Cable, 3m |
SFP-10G-AOC5M | Netgear Compatible SFP+ Active Optical Cable, 5m |
SFP-10G-AOC10M | Netgear Compatible SFP+ Active Optical Cable, 10m |
Fiber Patch Cable | |
LC-LC-OM2-DxM | LC/LC Duplex 50/125μm OM2 Multimode Fiber Optic Cable (1m-50m or Custom Length) |
LC-LC-OM3-DxM | LC/LC Duplex 50/125μm 10G OM3 Multimode Fiber Optic Cable (1m-50m or Custom Length) |
LC-LC-OM4-DxM | LC/LC Duplex 50/125μm 40G OM4 Multimode Fiber Optic Cable (1m-50m or Custom Length) |
LC-LC-SM-DxM | LC/LC Duplex 9/125μm OS2 Singlemode Fiber Optic Cable (1m-50m or Custom Length) |
MC-LC-LC-OM2-DxM | LC/LC Duplex 50/125μm Mode Conditioning Fiber Optic Cable (MCP, 1m-50m or Custom Length) |
NETGEAR XS508M vs. CRS312-4C+8XG-RM: Which One is Better?
Compare | Netgear XS508M | MikroTik CRS312-4C+8XG-RM |
Port Configuration | 7x RJ-45 multi-rate ports (100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10G) + 1x 10G SFP+ port | 8x 10G RJ-45 ports + 4x combo SFP+/RJ-45 ports (total 12 10G ports) |
Management Features | Non-network-managed, plug-and-play, suitable for users who do not need complex configuration | Supports RouterOS and SwOS, providing advanced management features such as VLAN, QoS, and traffic monitoring |
performance | Equipped with a low-noise fan (22.5dB), suitable for quiet environments | 240Gbps total bandwidth, 120Gbps non-blocking throughput, supporting enterprise-level high-performance applications |
Redundant Power Supply | none | Equipped with a low-noise fan (22.5dB), suitable for quiet environments |
Heat dissipation and noise | Equipped with low-noise fan (22.5dB), suitable for quiet environments | Equipped with a large heat sink and fan design, but it is noisy and not suitable for quiet environments |
Ease of use | User-friendly and quick to deploy without requiring expertise | The configuration is complex and requires specific network knowledge suitable for professional users or IT teams |
Price | $515 on Amazon | $595 on Amazon |
Applicable scenarios | Home users, small offices, and scenarios that require simple multi-rate connections | Small and medium-sized enterprises, data centers, or users who need advanced network management functions |
If you are a home user or small office that needs a plug-and-play, easy-to-use, high-performance switch and does not need advanced management features, the XS508M is a better choice.
If you are an SMB or It specialist who needs advanced network management features (such as VLAN, QoS, traffic monitoring, etc.) and can handle more complex configurations, then the CRS312 is a better fit.
Conclusion
The NETGEAR XS505M/XS508M is an excellent choice for small and medium-sized business (SMB) networks and users unfamiliar with networking setups. It offers a multi-gig port that meets future needs. To be a one-stop fiber optic solution provider, OPTCORE offers a broad line of SFPs and cables compatible with NETGEAR XS505M/XS508M. All products have a 5-year warranty and are tested in real switches for guaranteed compatibility.
Note: All trademarks, products, and company names mentioned are the property of their respective owners and are used for comparative purposes only. All the recommended transceivers and cables are from 3rd Party. They are NOT OEM products and are NOT certified or endorsed by OEM.