I'm fairly new to networking switches as well and have been banging my head against the table trying to sort out the user interface.

If I just go for straight plug and play, there is no problem. When I attempt to modify the switch setting and change my local IP address to the recommended 192.168.0.2 as per the instructions, I lose connection to most of the internet. Now, I should mention that my internet connectivity does not go away, just my access to most of the internet. While I can still access Google, Youtube, Facebook, Yahoo, etc... I cannot go much beyond that.

As an example, I can perform a search at Google.com and I can even see the search results pages, but clicking on any of the links results in a "DNS address could not be found" error. Resetting my local IP address to the 'Obtain an IP address automatically" allows me to access the greater web in general. An aside: I can view cached webpages on the Google search results, but I cannot access 'live' content.

Changing DNS servers (such as using Google's 8.8.8.8 / 8.8.4.4) doesn't result any additional gains or changes. I think it may be a IPV4/IPV6 issue, but it's going to take some more troubleshooting.

So, for now, I'm using it in dumb switch mode and not gaining any added network advantages.

Hi, I have the same problem. At the monent that I connect my brandnew TL-SG108E V3 switch to the first port of my Belgium Telenet cable router the internet and the whole network slows down and becomes unusable.
Even better. At the monent that I connect the TL-SG108E V3 switch anywhere on a walloulet port in to my network (witch has no problems) with a patchcable from the walloutlet port tot the first port of the TL-SG108E V3 switch the whole network slows down and becomes unusable.
Would be nice someone could help me with this problem.

petgil:  Have you configured your TL-SG108E to be on the same LAN settings?  e.g. if your LAN using 10.1.2.0, have you set the TL-SG108E to have an IP address of 10.1.2.x, where x is an unused IP address on your LAN?

I'm glad to read that I'm not the only one who received a TL-SG108E *VERSION 3*!  I cannot find ANY information about *version 3* on tp-link's website.  I did find firmware updates, and information galore, for versions 1 and 2, but nothing for version 3.  It's a ghost box.  :-o  

A common problem seems to be connecting a new TL-SG108E to a LAN that is already configured on IP subnet 168.192.0.0/24. i.e. You have other devices using IP addresses, one of which is the SAME IP ADDRESS that the TL-SG108E is default configured to use: 168.192.0.1. The first step to solving these problems would be to identify ALL the IP addresses in use on your LAN, and ensure that any new device uses only a UNIQUE IP address. i.e. Change the IP address of the TL-SG108E to something that is not in use by any other device on your LAN--and while you're at it, set it's IP address to be on the same subnet that your LAN uses. e.g. 10.1.2.0/24 192.168.50.0/24. The 0/24 nomenclature means that your LAN knows about devices that have IP addresses starting with the first three numbers of the IP address, with the final digit being anything between 1 and 255, where each device gets ONE and only ONE of those numbers, and no two devices should be configured to have the same IP address. I hope that helps someone.

So ... set the new item up first, then deploy it into your running network.