Entire tribes are now switching to wireless connections, but professionals and people for whom speed and reliability are important swear by a wired network. Routers often have too few UTP network connections. They limit the number of devices you can connect to the network. With a network switch you can expand the number of connections without sacrificing speed. With a network switch you can connect all computers and peripheral equipment at the same time, such as the printer, camera and scanner.
What is a network switch?
A network switch does the same as a power distribution plug, so you get a number of sockets. The number of additional ports on a network switch strongly depends on the type of switch. This can vary from 5 to more than 50 additional ports. In the latter case it is a professional and expensive switch. The router is connected to one of those ports. Keep this in mind when buying a switch for your home. If you want to connect four devices, you need a switch with at least five ports.
How a network switch works
Unlike a network hub, a network switch has intelligence built into it, which controls network traffic. The switch stores the unique network address of each connected device plus the port to which that device is connected. At the beginning of each network packet there is information for which device that packet is intended for. The switch reads that information and sends the network packet only to the port to which that device is connected. Other connected devices are therefore not affected by that network traffic, such as with a network hub. As a result, network traffic is handled much faster with a network switch.
The weakest link
A network switch is available in two speeds. The fast Ethernet switch has a throughput speed of 12.5 Mbps and the gigabit Ethernet switch has a throughput speed of 125 Mbps. That's ten times faster. To find out which of those two switches you need, you need to find out what speed your router is suitable for. There is no point in buying a very fast switch if your router cannot handle that speed. In this case, the router is the weakest link in the network and determines the speed of the switch.
Management of the network switch
With regard to management, there is a distinction between two forms of management. Management is not possible with unmanaged switches. These switches are ready for use and can be connected immediately. With managed switches, some usage options can be enabled or disabled online. Virtual networks can be created with the VLAN option. This is useful for management if different departments within the company are on the same network. The Quality of Service option gives priority to important network traffic, such as telephone calls via IP telephony. The LACP option increases the throughput speed of a device by connecting it with multiple network cables at the same time.
Voltage across the network
There is a technique with which the network cable is also used to supply power to closed devices. This can make a huge difference in the number of sockets required. This technology is called Power over Ethernet. The power supply for an IP camera, for example, is supplied directly by the network cable. On some devices, this power supply can be used to charge the smartphone via a USB connection. Please note that not every network switch supports this technology. Another catch is that every device connected to the network must be suitable for Power over Ethernet.
Install network switch
Installing a network switch at home is very simple. Remember that a switch needs its own power supply, so make sure there is a power socket nearby. Also place the switch in a strategic location. That means near the other devices you want to connect to it, so that you can use short network cables. If you place the switch near the router in the meter cupboard, you will have to run a long network cable for each device. An unmanaged switch works immediately. With a managed switch, a number of options must first be set with the supplied software from the supplier.
Differences with a network hub
If you want to expand the number of network ports, you can choose a network hub or a network switch. A network hub is usually slightly cheaper. It is a passive device, which distributes all network traffic to all ports. This causes delays in network traffic and offers hackers the opportunity to intercept messages on the network. With a network switch you opt for more speed, more security and more stability. Because a network switch regulates network traffic better. In addition to speed and safety, there are no disruptions whatsoever. A network switch is therefore a better choice.
How do I choose the best network switch?
Which type of switch is best for you depends on how you want to use it. For a switch in the home, apart from the fact that it may have to support Power over Ethernet, there are no special management requirements. In that case you can opt for an unmanaged switch. You connect it and it works immediately. Consider in advance how many devices you want to connect and what speed the switch should have. Remember that you will probably purchase a faster router in the future. In that case, a faster network switch is recommended.
Network switch in the webshop
For consumers and professionals, Mediawinkel.eu offers a network switch from the most popular brands. By comparing the different models you will find a suitable network switch for you. Do you find choosing complicated? Then you can get advice from one of the expert customer service employees. If you order a network switch from Mediawinkel.eu, you have a chance to win significant discounts thanks to lucrative promotions. Delivery is very fast at Mediawinkel.eu: as soon as your order has been placed, shipping will start. This means you will receive the switch in the foreseeable future.
