Managed Switch or Unmanaged Switch?

The truth is that there is no right way to do things. You can use a managed switch or an unmanaged switch. Both work just fine. 

With an unmanaged switch, you don’t get any visibility at all. So if you want to know what is going on, go with the managed switch. If you want to keep things simple, go with the unmanaged switch.

The differences between a managed switch and an unmanaged switch

There really isn’t much of a difference between these two devices.

Management Interface - Managed switches typically have a web interface where you can view information about the device itself and also monitor the status of the device. An unmanaged switch does not have this capability.

Network Management - You can turn off the power to a port or reboot the device. On an unmanaged switch, this is not possible.

Security - A managed switch gives you the option to apply security policies to specific ports or groups of ports. This allows you to create rules that limit access to certain ports or even block unwanted traffic from entering the network. An unmanaged switch cannot do this.

Antivirus/Malware Protection - A managed switch provides antivirus protection out-of-the-box. This means that the device comes preloaded with software that scans files for viruses and malware. An unmanaged switch may or may not include this kind of protection.

If you are looking for a new switch, consider choosing a managed switch instead of an unmanaged switch. 

Managed switches - Benefits:

The benefits of managed switches are numerous. Managed switches also offer additional features that may be useful to you as well, such as remote management capabilities, advanced security options, and more.

When choosing a managed switch, make sure you get one that offers all of the features you need. It doesn’t matter if the switch costs $50 or $500; what matters is whether it meets your requirements.

Link aggregation: Link aggregation works by combining two or more Ethernet interfaces into a single virtual interface. Using managed switches, you can easily configure link aggregation using their built-in wizards.

QoS: Quality of service (QoS) lets you prioritize different types of traffic over others. With managed switches, you can enable QoS through their built-in wizards or third-party tools. 

Remote Management: Remote management allows administrators to manage devices remotely. This feature makes it easier to troubleshoot issues when they arise. With managed switches, it’s easy to access the configuration settings from anywhere in the world.

Security: When choosing a managed switch, look for one that has robust security features like IPsec VPN encryption, firewall protection, intrusion prevention systems, and other security measures.

Bandwidth rate-limiting: Bandwidth rate-limiting lets you limit the amount of bandwidth that users consume. If you want to prevent users from downloading large files or streaming high-definition video, you can implement bandwidth rate limiting with managed switches.

Virtual LANs (VLAN): Virtual LANs let you create separate networks within your existing infrastructure. VLANs allow you to segregate workstations, servers, printers, and other networking equipment into isolated groups. 

Access control lists (ACL): This feature can be used to protect against unauthorized connections, such as those made by hackers.

Network monitoring: Network monitoring gives you visibility into how your network is performing at any given time. With managed switches, these features are typically included out of the box.

Network load balancing: Network load balancing is designed to distribute incoming requests evenly across several servers. With managed switches, load balancing is often an option available right out of the box. 

Port mirroring: This feature can be useful if you need to monitor traffic going into or out of a server without interrupting the flow of traffic.

Port security: Port security prevents unauthorized users from accessing certain ports on your managed switch. 

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is a technology that uses the Internet to transmit voice communications instead of traditional telephone lines. With managed switches, VoIP functionality is usually built-in.

Network redundancy: With managed switches, this is often an option available out of the box. You can also add additional redundancy using hardware or software solutions. With managed switches, you don’t have to worry about installing redundant hardware or configuring complex network protocols.

Scalability with virtual IP stacking: Scalable Layer 2 switching is a feature that allows you to stack multiple physical interfaces onto one logical interface. This makes it easier to expand your network capacity when needed. Managed switches include scalable layer 2 stacking.

How to Choose the Right Network Switch for Your Needs

Choosing the right network switch for your needs can be tricky. Here are some questions you should ask yourself before buying a new switch:

1. What type of networking hardware will I need? Do I need a managed switch or an unmanaged switch?
2. How much bandwidth will I need? Will I need 10Gbps or 100Mbps connections?
3. Are there any special features I require? Do I need QoS (Quality of Service)?
4. Is there anything else I need to think about?
5. How much money am I willing to spend?
6. Where will I put the switch?
7. How big is the room I will be installing the switch in?
8. Am I planning on moving the switch around?
9. How often will I be changing the switch?
10. What brand name is best for me?

Conclusion

In this article, we learned about the benefits of managed switches in the network as well as we also learned the difference between the managed and unmanaged switches.