A Quick Guide to Different Types of Ethernet Switches

As connectivity and networking expand into industrial settings, the burgeoning need for connected field systems is leading to mass deployments of access networking products. The working environment of industries today demands exceptional speed, security, and network communication availability. 

Here the Ethernet switch or network switches work as an embedded component of the industry growth process as it is one of the critical components in access networking. However, while setting up a business network, knowing the architecture behind different types of switches helps determine the best fit for the specific networking needs.

This guide will walk you through different types of Ethernet switches that cater to various networking needs of the enterprise.

What is an Ethernet Switch?

Ethernet switches link wired devices like computers, laptops, routers, servers, and printers within a local area network (LAN). The multiple Ethernet switch ports make it easy to experience faster connectivity and smoother access across many devices at once.

These switches connect multiple end-users and allow them to access common or dedicated resources on the network with smart usage of VLANs and access control mechanisms.

Different Types of Ethernet Switches

Ethernet switches are integral components in many networking setups. They come in various types, each designed for specific needs and environments. Here’s a breakdown of the primary types of Ethernet switches:

Managed Switches

True to their name, managed switches provide a vast range of configuration choices, particularly beneficial for medium to large corporate LANs. Managed switches grant full control over network traffic, allowing individual customization of each Ethernet port. This ensures optimal efficiency in data transfers across the network, leveraging gigabit or ten-gigabit connections.

These switches also enable the admin to configure custom security policies of authentication and authorization as new devices and users are added to the network. The end devices or users can be assigned dedicated or shared bandwidth smartly using advanced QoS, thereby improving overall network efficiency.

To build virtual local area networks (VLANs, 802.1Q), these switches segment the network to control the broadcast flooding. In addition, these switches are designed with Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), ERPS, and OAM capabilities to provide seamless L2 switching in enterprise and metro Ethernet networks.

Unmanaged Switches

Unmanaged switches are primarily plug-and-play devices requiring minimal installation, often just an Ethernet cable. Their configuration uses auto-negotiation among Ethernet devices, facilitating communication between them.

Further, the unmanaged switch acts like a port multiplier that automatically identifies a suitable data rate, switching between full-duplex mode and half-duplex modes.

To access unmanaged switches, the admin needs to make changes physically, and these switches give the incredible basic functionality of network access without the need for customization. However, these switches do not provide flexibility and security as managed switches.

Layer 2 and Layer 3 Switches

To be precise, managed switches can be divided into two main categories based on the OSI model: Layer 2 switches and Layer 3 switches.

Layer 2 Switches

Often referred to as multiport bridge switches, they smartly transfer data frames between ports, whether within the same VLAN or different ones. Data moving between VLANs, known as inter-VLAN packets, need routing. In Layer 2 switches, this is achieved using an external router through the router-on-a-stick setup. However, many layer-2 switches also support basic routing capabilities that eliminate the need for an additional router for doing inter-VLAN routing, thereby combining multiple functionalities in a single hardware/software.

Layer 3 Switches

These switches are also called multilayer switches. These have advanced Layer-3 capabilities in addition to Layer-2 capabilities. These are usually suited to be used at aggregation and distribution layers of the network, providing VLAN wise, intelligent routing capabilities and may eliminate the use of routers in small to medium-sized enterprise networking. These switches are the choice of many in-house ISPs and TSPs as these solutions are cost-efficient.

Power Over Ethernet Switches (PoE)

A PoE switch allows for the distribution of power across the network to various devices. This capability makes it efficient to power wireless Access Points, IP phones/cameras, smart lighting, and IoT devices, as the switch simultaneously sends data and power. Essentially, these switches utilize the same twisted-pair copper cables for both power delivery and data exchange.

There are various IEEE standards defined for PoE like PoE (802.3af), PoE+ (802.3at) & PoE++ (802.3bt), offering up to 90W of power per port. However, most of the deployments of devices like IoT, Camera, Wi-Fi Access points, etc., do not require more than 30W per port, i.e., PoE+ standard.

Web / Cloud Managed Switches

These types of switches are also known as smart switches. These devices are a type of managed switch having a specific number of options for management, specifically through a web interface, and eliminate the need for CLI access. 

The functionalities that can be configured are a handful, such as VLANs or duplex modes. It is a well-fit option for the networks not in need of a full set of customizations. These switches can be managed directly from the switch’s web interface or remotely from a cloud or mobile app. These switches, however, are not fully customizable and secured as fully managed switches.

Switches’ Hardware Configuration- Fixed, Modular, and Stackable

Fixed Switches

These come with unmodifiable ports, interfaces, power supplies, and fans. They cannot be stacked with other switches and are ideal for the network’s access layer.

Stackable Switches

These switches feature a backplane cable interface that allows for combining multiple switches into one logical unit, enhancing bandwidth and enabling single IP address management. They fit both the access and aggregation layers of the network.

Modular Switches

These allow for the insertion of network cards into a sizable, fixed chassis that can accommodate two or more cards at once. They offer adaptability and scalability, making them perfect for the aggregation or core switch roles.

How Do Ethernet Switches Work?

Ethernet switches are central hubs that link multiple devices in a network, ensuring smooth communication between them. They operate mainly through physical connections using cables like coaxial, fiber, and twisted-pair Ethernet cables.

Here’s how they work:

• Device Connection: Devices are wired to Ethernet switches, either directly or indirectly through other switches within the same network.
• MAC Address Table: This table is like the switch’s memory. When data comes in, the switch logs the sender’s MAC address and the associated port. This table helps the switch know where to send data packets in the future. MAC addresses are unique identifiers hardcoded into every Ethernet-compatible device.
• Data Management: When any device sends data, the Ethernet switch takes on the role of a traffic director. It examines the data packet’s MAC addresses and adds a lookup table through MAC Learning.
• Data Forwarding: The switch checks its MAC address table to find out if the recipient device is connected to it. If the address is known, it sends the data directly to the appropriate port. If the address isn’t in its table, the switch broadcasts the data to all ports.
• Inter-Switch Communication: If the recipient device isn’t directly connected, but is instead attached to another switch, the process continues on the next switch. This switch, in turn, checks its MAC address table and either sends the data directly or broadcasts it. This chain continues until the data reaches its final destination.

Understanding the Uses of Ethernet Switches

Ethernet switches serve as crucial components within networks, facilitating seamless connectivity between multiple devices. Their primary functions include:

• Connecting devices within a network for efficient communication
• Improving network performance by managing data traffic and increasing available bandwidth
• Enhancing security measures to protect data transmission
• Resolving packet collision issues in shared networks
• Serving as foundational technology for organizations, enabling quicker connectivity across devices of all sizes.

IO by HFCL- Offering a Range of Ethernet Switches

At IO by HFCL, our aim has always remained to build the products based on the industry’s specific requirements and application. To achieve this, we provide a diverse range of solutions, including both commercial and industrial Ethernet switches, ensuring that our products align precisely with the varied requirements and applications across industries.

Our extensive range of Gigabit Ethernet switches encompasses 4 port Ethernet switch, 8 port Ethernet switch, and 24 port Ethernet switches, each offering comprehensive security, flexibility, and a customizable underlying OS. Additionally, to cater to diverse Our R&D team has left no stone unturned to design and develop the range of switches impeccably so that they can operate in the enterprise, outdoor, telco & ISP environments providing secured and reliable access networking.

The Bottom Line

Indeed, with the evolution of IP Networking, many devices like switches and routers play an important role in forming a seamless connectivity path for several devices. However, Ethernet switches provide intelligence at the access layer that plays a crucial role in access control and accessibility to multiple users. 

The demand for Ethernet switches is increasing today, and they are available in different flavors to fit the various access networking needs. 

The different types of switches in networking provide unique benefits, aiding businesses in creating a network that not only supports all devices but also scales with evolving networking requirements.

Are you yet to switch to best-in-class access networking products?

Get in touch with the team of experts at IO by HFCL and integrate the best-in-class Ethernet switches’ range for your upcoming networking campaign. IO by HFCL brings you network switches in various configurations.