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What Are the Di erent Types of Network

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What is a Network Switch? Choosing the right switches for your

small business
Understanding the types of network switches will help you nd the
right solution to keep up with your changing business requirements.
Think about the categories of switches as well as speci c switch
bene ts as you explore your options.

Types of Switches
Modular switches vs. xed-con guration
switches
There are two main categories of switches: modular and xed
con guration. There are variations among these categories of
network switches, but the primary de nition of each remains the
same. 

Modular switches
Modular switches let you add expansion modules as needed, giving
you exibility as network requirements change. Expansion modules
 are application-speci c and include those for rewalls, wireless
connectivity, or network analysis. They may also allow for additional
interfaces, power supplies, or cooling fans. This type of switch
provides you with the most exibility, but at a higher cost. 

Fixed-con guration switches

Fixed-con guration switches provide a xed number of ports and
are typically not expandable, which makes them less expensive
overall. Fixed-con guration switches include unmanaged switches,
smart switches, and managed switches.

Unmanaged switches
Unmanaged switches are typically used to provide basic connectivity.
They're designed to be plug and play; no con guration is needed.
Unmanaged switches are most e ective when only basic switching and
connectivity are required. You will often see them in home networks or
wherever only a few ports are needed, such as at a desk, in a lab, or in a
conference room. 

Some unmanaged switches do o er limited advanced capabilities,

however—as the name implies—these switches generally cannot be
modi ed or managed.  

Smart switches
Smart switches o er some management and segmentation, quality of
service, and security capabilities, so they can be a cost-e ective
alternative to modular switches. Still, they are not as scalable as
managed switches. These switches are typically deployed at the edge of
a large network (while managed switches are used in the core), as the
infrastructure for smaller networks, or for low complexity networks. 

Managed switches
Among xed-con guration switches, managed switches are designed to
deliver the most comprehensive set of features to provide the best
application experience, the highest levels of security, the most precise
control and management of the network, and the greatest scalability. As
a result, managed switches are usually deployed as aggregation/access
switches in very large networks or as core switches in smaller networks. 
Managed switches are the most expensive option of xed-con guration
switches and are most common in organizations with large- or growing-
networks.

Feature Options
Four switch options to keep in mind
In addition to evaluating switch categories, you should also consider
network switch speeds, number of ports, power-over-Ethernet
features, and stacking capabilities.

1. Switch speeds
Switches are available in di erent throughputs or speeds, the
rate they transmit data in megabits per second (Mbps). For
example, xed-con guration switches can provide Fast Ethernet
(10/100 Mbps), Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps), Ten
Gigabit (10/100/1000/10000 Mbps), and even 40/100 Gbps
(gigabits per second) speeds. The switch speed you choose
depends on the type of throughput you need. If, for example,
you need to move large data les on a regular basis, you should
consider a Gigabit Ethernet switch.
2. Number of ports
As is the case with switch speed, the number of ports available
in a switch can vary. The bigger your small business and the
more network users you have, the more ports you'll need.
Fixed-con guration switches are usually available with ve,
eight, 10, 16, 24, 28, 48, or 52 ports.
3. Power over Ethernet (PoE) vs. non-PoE
PoE lets you power a device—such as an IP phone, surveillance
camera, or wireless access point—over the cable that is used for
data tra c. This allows you to place endpoints anywhere, even
in those areas that are usually di cult to reach. Switches with
PoE are more expensive, however. As you evaluate your options,
think about the devices you would like to connect to determine
whether PoE is required.
4. Stackable vs. standalone switches
As your business (and your network) grows, you will likely need
to support more and more devices, which will mean investing in
more switches. Just as its name implies, a standalone switch is
managed and con gured as an individual entity with limited
capacity. If there is a problem, troubleshooting is also switch
speci c.

In contrast, stackable switches can be connected to increase the

capacity and availability of your network. Rather than con guring,
managing, and troubleshooting each switch, you can treat the
 "stack" as a single unit. This means that if any part of the stack fails,
the stack will route around the failure, so your network keeps
running.

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