Switches come in various sizes that allow them to have any number of ports up to 48, but the differences go deeper than that when it comes to managed switches and unmanaged switches. Here, we’re going to define the two types, look at the differences between them, and help you decide which is right for you.

On a basic level, an unmanaged switch allows you to immediately plug and play devices into your network, while a managed switch allows for greater control over it. The managed switches are much more expensive and more time-consuming to configure than unmanaged switches. In this article, we look at the differences in their features, performance, cost, and applications.

UNMANAGED SWITCHES

Disadvantages

1. Limiting by the functions, the unmanaged switches are often used for small-scale networks or to add temporary groups of systems to a larger network.

2. Do not support ARP protection. ARP poisoning (ARP spoofing) is not like the network virus, can not be detected by almost all antivirus software. When the attack works, it may cause communication slowdown, network paralysis, information leakage, etc.

3. Do not support MAC address binding.

4. Do not support VLAN division, it can not cannot isolate network storms effectively.

5. Do not support flow-based control.

6. The reliability of data transmission is poor, and the phenomenon of packet loss occurs seriously.

7. Poor scalability.

8. Inconvenient management , the hardware failure rate is relatively large.

Advantages

1.Cheap price, save cost.

2.The number of ports is dense.

3.Flexible.

MANAGED SWITCHES

Advantages

1. Large bandwidth for faster data forwarding.

2. Flexible networking. The managed switches are often used for large-scale networks.

3. Support VLAN division.

4. High throughput, low packet loss, and low latency.

5. You can control the data information flow based on source, destination, and network segment.

6. Link aggregation allows switches and switches or switches and servers to be bound together by multiple Ethernet ports for load balancing.

7. Support ARP protection

8. Support MAC address binding.

9. Support port mirroring, replicating traffic and status from one port to another port on the switch for supervisory.

10. Support IEEE802.1Q, DHCP, SNMP, etc.

11. Easy to expand and flexible applications. The managed switches usually have a remotely accessible console -- command-line or web interface -- to enable administrators to make configuration changes or adjustments from different physical locations.

MANAGED & UNMANAGED SWITCHES FROM UTEPO

To help you connect vital devices to your network and make sure they can communicate effectively, UTEPO offers complete ranges of unmanaged and managed switches.

Our unmanaged switches reliably connect devices with plug-and-play simplicity, offering options for a variety of network needs—including PoE ports to supply power to devices.

Our managed switches are designed to provide the best application experience, the highest levels of security, the most precise control and management of the network, and the greatest scalability.

HOW DO I CHOOSE BETWEEN MANAGED AND UNMANAGED NETWORK SWITCHES?

This question cannot be so simply answered. However, for smaller businesses that consist of a single office or freelance professional work, it is not likely that you’re going to need more than a smaller unmanaged switch. If there are thousands of users on the network at any one time, however, then managed switches are crucial. Of course, it’s important to look at not just the size, but the features that you might need and the complexity of the network. For instance, security may play a large role in your choice. Even if your network is relatively small, if there is a lot of highly sensitive data (customer data, financial details, etc.) being transmitted across the network, then managed switches may still be the most appropriate choice. Similarly, if your business frequently works with clients and partners that need a temporary, limited degree of access to your network, then the VLAN function of the managed switch might be necessary to ensure security.