A switch is the core of a Local Area Network, it effectively connects devices on a specific LAN to ensure effective data transmission between devices on the LAN. There are three main types of switch: managed switch, smart managed switch and unmanaged switch. Managed vs unmanaged vs smart switch: how to choose based on your network deployment? This article will help you understand the three switch types and the differences.
Managed vs Unmanaged vs Smart Switch: Definition
What Is Managed Switch
Generally, Managed switches usually adopt SNMP protocols that enable users to monitor the status of the switch and its ports, allow you to readout throughput, port utilization, etc. Managed Ethernet switches are designed for high workloads, high traffic, and deployments that require custom configurations. In large data centers and enterprise networks, fully managed switches are often used as the core layer of the network, providing a wide range of tools and capabilities.
Note: S5860-20SQ now supports AC or DC power supply.
FIgure 1 : The S5860-20SQ, 24-Port Ethernet L3 Fully Managed Pro Switch
What Is Unmanaged Switch
Unmanaged switches are also known as dumb switches, as they are simply plug-and-play devices without remote configuration, management, or monitoring options. You cannot log in to an unmanaged switch, nor can you read any port utilization or throughput for the device. Unmanaged switches have a fixed configuration that provide Ethernet devices with network connections so they can communicate with one another.
Unmanaged switches are used in small networks or add temporary groups of devices to a larger network, to expand the number of Ethernet ports and connect network hot spots or edge devices in small independent networks.
Figure 2: The Plug-and-Play Unmanaged switch
What Is Smart Managed Switch
Typically, smart managed switches are managed through a Web browser, which enables users to maintain their network with intuitive guidance. These smart ethernet switches are especially suitable for enterprises that require remote security management and troubleshooting, enabling network managers to monitor and control traffic to achieve optimal network performance and reliability. Web Smart Managed Switches have emerged as a viable solution for SMBs, with the greatest advantage that you can change the configuration of the switch to suit your specific networking needs.
Figure 3 : Functions of smart managed switch
Managed vs Unmanaged vs Smart Switch: What Are the Differences?
In general, managed switches are capable of comprehensive network management and monitoring, support QoS, Web GUI, VLAN, etc. On the contrary, unmanaged switches offer no management capability at all and are very cheap. Smart switches fill a middle ground. They have some managed facilities and support for VLANs, but they lack some features compared to fully managed switches. For example, they typically lack a serial console port and some of them can only be configured through the Web interface.
The five key differences are the following:
| Features | Performance | Security | Cost | Application |
|---|
| Managed Switch | Comprehensive functions | Monitoring and controling a whole network | High-levels of network security | Expensive | Data center, large size enterprise networks |
| Smart Managed Switch | Limited but intelligent functions | Intelligent manage via a Web browser | Better network security | Cheap | SMBs, home offices |
| Unmanaged Switch | Fixed configuration | Plug and play with limited configuration | No security capabilities | Affordable | Home, conference rooms |
Managed vs Unmanaged vs Smart Switch: How to Choose?
Selecting an appropriate switch type is based on network capacity and requirements for network management and security.
Managed switches are aimed at large professionally managed networks that need to manage and troubleshoot their network remotely and securely, allowing network managers to reach optimal network performance and reliability.
Unmanaged switches are ideal for home offices and uncomplicated networks, user just want to get the home network worked normally and do not want to spend much time on the management, then plug-and-play unmanaged switches are the best fit for them.
Smart managed switches provide a trade-off between cost and functionality. For SMBs or home users, who need visual network management and high network security while with limited budgets, a high-performance, easy to manage, stackable Web smart managed switch will be an ideal and cost-effective solution.
FAQs
Managed vs Unmanaged vs Smart Switch: What Are the Differences? In general, managed switches are capable of comprehensive network management and monitoring, support QoS, Web GUI, VLAN, etc. On the contrary, unmanaged switches offer no management capability at all and are very cheap. Smart switches fill a middle ground.
What is the difference between smart managed switch and unmanaged switch? ›
Security: Network security includes protection from and detection of threats to data and operability. Managed switches provide security settings that can be configured to protect the network and to help identify threats. Unmanaged switches do not offer security capabilities.
What is the difference between a switch and a smart switch? ›
A smart switch can replace your traditional switch to give you smart control of your traditional non-smart bulbs. Which means you can keep all of your current bulbs and control them using the Cync App from anywhere, as well as through a connected voice assistant or right at the switch.
What is the difference between smart switch and easy smart switch? ›
What are the major differences between the Smart and Easy lines? It looks like the Smart Switches are just slightly more advanced offering a couple of extra features. No, Easy Smart switches have only a small subset of functions compared to Smart switches, so Smart switches offer lot of advanced extra features.
What is the difference between managed and unmanaged devices? ›
Managed devices are typically company-owned devices that are usually set up and configured by your company's IT or security team. Unmanaged devices, also referred to as bring-your-own devices, or BYOD, tend to be personally owned devices that employees set up and use.
Why would you use an unmanaged switch? ›
When and where to use? Unmanaged switches are mostly used to connect edge devices on network spurs, or on a small stand-alone network with only a few components. It's suitable for any business network that wants to simplify the installation of wireless access points and IP-based surveillance cameras.
What is the difference between managed and unmanaged circuits? ›
A managed switch enables better control of networks and the data frames moving through them. Unmanaged switches, on the other hand, enable connected devices to communicate with one another in their most basic form.
What is an example of a smart switch? ›
An example of a popular smart switch is the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch. This switch allows users to control their home lighting remotely through the Kasa app available on smartphones and tablets.
What is smart switch used for? ›
Smart Switch can transfer schedules, alarms, call logs, photos and more to your new Galaxy with Smart Switch from most Android or iOS phones. Before you try the recommendations below, be sure to check if your device's software and related apps are updated to the latest version.
How to tell if a switch is unmanaged? ›
Unmanaged switches are generally “invisible” network elements. They serve one purpose: to provide Ethernet devices with the connectivity to communicate with each other. Unmanaged switches do not offer data intelligence and visibility into the network and cannot control network traffic.
Items that cannot be backed up with Smart Switch
Contacts: Contacts saved on the SIM card, social networks (Facebook, Twitter, etc.), Google accounts, and work email accounts are excluded.
What are the cons of smart switches? ›
Disadvantages: the necessary complexity
While smart switches offer a range of benefits, their installation is not so plug-and-play regarding lamp replacement. It is necessary to understand the electrical operation and have some technical knowledge for a successful installation.
When should I use Smart Switch? ›
Smart Switch can be used to transfer between tablets, between smartphones, and between a tablet and a smartphone. Please note: To use Smart Switch, your phone must run Android 4.3 or iOS 4.2. 1 or later. You can transfer your data from both Android and iOS devices over Wi-Fi, with a USB cable or with a PC or Mac.
What is the difference between smart managed and unmanaged switches? ›
In general, managed switches are capable of comprehensive network management and monitoring, support QoS, Web GUI, VLAN, etc. On the contrary, unmanaged switches offer no management capability at all and are very cheap. Smart switches fill a middle ground.
Why use a managed switch at home? ›
Scalability – A managed switch can easily scale up to meet growing demands for bandwidth, and an unmanaged switch would require replacing it with another one. Management – With a managed switch, you can configure settings remotely without physically going to each device in your network.
Does an unmanaged switch have an IP? ›
Unmanaged switches lack IP addresses and advanced management features. They operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model, forwarding traffic based on MAC addresses without requiring IP configuration. Managed switches frequently have IP addresses assigned to their management interfaces.
Are managed switches faster than unmanaged? ›
While the fundamental speed of managed and unmanaged switches is essentially the same, managed switches can usually offer better overall network performance through the correct configuration settings.
What does a smart managed switch do? ›
Web Smart Managed Switches have become a viable solution for businesses with mid-sized networks that require management. Web Smart Switches come with switch management features such as port monitoring, link aggregation. Web Smart Switches also come with a simple Web interface via an embedded Web browser to provide VPN.
Can a managed switch be used as an unmanaged switch? ›
It is possible to run a managed switch and use it out of the box just like an unmanaged switch. By operating the managed switch in "Open Mode", having no configuration set up, means the device will be set up to the default VLAN where all ports are members of the default VLAN.
What is the smart network switch on Samsung? ›
What Is Smart Network Switch and How Does It Work? The Smart Network Switch / Adaptive Wi-Fi connects to a WiFi network and a cell network at the same time. But, instead of bonding them into a single channel, it simply sends traffic on whichever connection is faster at the moment.
