Netgear 5-Port Multi-Gigabit (2.5G) Ethernet Unmanaged Switch

Meet the Netgear MS105, a compact, durable, and cost-effective solution designed to upgrade small business or home office networks with multi-gigabit speed. This 5-port unmanaged switch brings scalable bandwidth to your existing infrastructure, enabling smooth file transfers, rapid backups, and enhanced streaming with minimal latency. Engineered in a sturdy metal chassis, the MS105 delivers reliable, plug-and-play performance that requires no complex setup or software configuration. Whether you’re expanding your workstation cluster, connecting a NAS for fast local backups, or simply future-proofing your network for growing device counts, the MS105 offers a simple path to higher performance without the overhead of managed switches.

• Five 2.5-Gigabit ports for multi-gig upgrades: Each port on the MS105 supports up to 2.5 Gbps, allowing you to accelerate data transfers between high-bandwidth devices such as workstations, NAS drives, servers, and media render nodes. This enables you to overcome bottlenecks that limit 1G networks, delivering faster file access, smoother content creation workflows, and improved performance for demanding applications. The 2.5G capability is backward compatible with 1G and 100 Mbps devices, ensuring seamless integration with your existing hardware.
• Plug-and-play unmanaged simplicity: The MS105 is designed for immediate use right out of the box. With no management interface or configuration required, you can connect devices and trust that the switch will automatically negotiate the best possible link speed on each port. This makes it an ideal choice for small offices, home offices, or classrooms where simplicity and reliability matter more than granular traffic control.
• Rugged, compact metal design with flexible placement: Built in a sturdy metal enclosure, the MS105 is designed to endure daily office use while staying cool and quiet in a desktop or small cabinet setting. Its compact footprint fits neatly on a desk, shelf, or workbench, and it can be placed in a convenient location for short ethernet runs. The fanless design ensures silent operation, helping to maintain a focused work environment without distracting noise.
• Energy-efficient operation for long-term value: Multi-gig ports don’t have to come at the cost of higher power consumption. The MS105 emphasizes energy-efficient performance, delivering solid throughput with a lightweight power footprint. This makes it well suited for businesses that want improved internal network speeds while keeping ongoing operating costs low and sustainable.
• Cost-effective, future-ready networking: By adding a dedicated 2.5G backbone to your network, the MS105 provides a straightforward upgrade path for bandwidth-heavy tasks like large file transfers, local backups, cloud synchronization, and media editing workflows. This unmanaged switch adds critical capacity to your LAN without the complexity or expense of higher-end managed switches, making it an excellent value proposition for startups, SMBs, and remote work setups seeking reliable, scalable performance.

Technical Details of Netgear MS105

• Ports: 5 x 2.5G RJ-45 Ethernet ports
• Management: Unmanaged; plug-and-play operation
• Compatibility: Backward compatible with 1G/100 Mbps devices; works with any standard router or modem
• Design: Desktop and wall-mountable metal enclosure; compact footprint; fanless for silent operation
• Power and PoE: Non-PoE; requires external power supply as part of typical deployment (adapter not used for PoE)
• LEDs: Per-port activity/status LEDs and a maintainable power indicator
• Warranty: Backed by Netgear’s standard support and warranty (region dependent)

how to install Netgear MS105

Installing the Netgear MS105 is quick and simple, designed for immediate use in minutes rather than hours. Start by choosing a stable location for the switch—on a desk, shelf, or mounting it in a small cabinet. Ensure the area remains cool and unobstructed to maintain the device’s silent, fanless operation. Next, gather your ethernet cables (Cat5e or higher is recommended for 2.5G speeds) and prepare your connection plan. Connect your router, modem, or primary network gateway to one of the MS105’s ports to establish your uplink. Then connect your high-bandwidth devices or servers—such as a NAS, workstation, or media editor workstation—to the remaining ports. Finally, plug the switch into a power source. Once powered, observe the LEDs on each port; a solid or blinking LED confirms a link is established and data is transmitting. You should see improved transfer rates and lower latency between your high-performance devices almost immediately, without any configuration settings to adjust. If you need to mount it, use the included mounting option or compatible hardware; the MS105’s design supports safe, stable placement with minimal cable clutter.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the Netgear MS105? The MS105 is a 5-port unmanaged switch that adds multi-gigabit Ethernet capability to your network. Each port supports up to 2.5 Gbps, enabling faster inter-device communication and improved performance for bandwidth-intensive tasks without requiring any software configuration.
• Do I need to configure anything to use the MS105? No. It is an unmanaged switch with plug-and-play functionality. Connect devices and let the switch automatically negotiate the best available link speed on each port.
• Can the MS105 improve internet download/upload speeds? The MS105 improves internal LAN performance by increasing the speed between devices on your network. Internet speed is still governed by your router, modem, and ISP plan, but tasks such as local file transfers, backups, and streaming from a local NAS will benefit from the multi-gig bandwidth.
• Is the MS105 suitable for gaming or media editing? Yes. The 2.5G ports reduce bottlenecks for game PCs, streaming devices, and media workstations connected to network-attached storage or local servers, delivering smoother gameplay, faster game patch downloads, and more responsive media editing workflows within the LAN.
• Does the MS105 provide Power over Ethernet (PoE)? No. This model is non-PoE. If your devices require PoE, you’ll need a PoE-capable switch or a separate PoE injector solution to power those devices through the network.
• Is the MS105 quiet and suitable for an office? Absolutely. Its fanless, metal enclosure design keeps operation silent, making it ideal for office environments where noise can be a distraction. It’s also compact enough to fit neatly on a desk or shelf while maintaining robust performance.