Article Summary
Unmanaged switches offer simple plug-and-play connectivity, while managed switches add control, security, and performance features. This article compares both types across cost, VLANs, monitoring, and traffic prioritization. You'll know exactly which managed vs unmanaged switch fits your network.
Computer networking, the practice of linking two or more computing devices together to share data, is vital to how today’s digital technology works. When all the devices in a home connect to the same WiFi router, that’s networking. When a business wants to provide internet access to all its computers or exchange files between different branch offices, that’s also networking.
Network switches are among the most important computer networking devices. A switch is a telecommunication device that joins multiple devices within one Local Area Network (LAN). Switches are Layer 2 devices in the TCP/IP and OSI models and break up collision domains, which negatively impact network efficiency. This article outlines how network switches work, the differences between managed vs unmanaged switches, and how to know which option is best for your needs.