So, following on from my major IT meltdown in Feanor Towers last week
( mostly my own fault for failing to pay proper attention to error messages when applying saved configs to a replacement firewall )
I've done a bit of testing in relation to a separate switch failure.
I have a fairly extensive network, but in the computer room, all the main servers and my own PC are on a modest netgear GS108 8-port gigabit switch.
( This uplinks to the core switch in the network cabinet, where most other things connect, and where PoE is done )
The 8-port unmanaged netgear switch is OK to a point, but it has serious thermal management issues.
Plugged in to the power, with no network cables, it runs cool.
Plug in 8 LAN cables in link-state, and the temperature of the case rises quite noticeably, but the device continues to function.
Now start shifting serious data on several of the ports, and the CPU starts to heat up and the device becomes hot to touch.
Then it dies.
It starts dropping link to the PCs.
The PCs start to report LAN down / up / down / up / down.
Then it's just down.
All LEDs on the switch have gone on solid ( no blinky ).
The hardware has just gone into a latched state.
Toss it away, and insert a spare D-link switch and sanity is restored.
After a cool-down and cigarette, the shitty netgear is good to go again.
So if you plan to use one of these, don't stress them too hard with connected ports or heavy throughput.
They are only suitable for shoving behind the TV cabinet to connect 3 or 4 devices, where only one or two will have any actual throughput.