No computer device, be it a desktop PC, laptop, workstation, server, NAS box or the myriad of smart devices such as cameras operate in isolation. If you’re struggling decide on the best way to connect your devices, we’ve created the following buyers guides to help demystify how to pick the best network switches for home and business installations.
Switches designed for use in the home offer basic connectivity and a small degree of network traffic control at an affordable price. This buyers guide will help you select the best switch, walking you through all you need to know, starting with what a switch does and Ethernet transfer speeds. The guide also covers PoE (Power over Ethernet), useful if you’re planning on installing cameras around your home and the differences between unmanaged and smart managed switches.
READ GUIDEMost business switches provide faster data throughput than home switches, while providing more resilience and far greater traffic control and segregation while delivering a much greater degree of security. This buyers guide will help you select the best switch(es), walking you through all you need to know, starting with what a switch does, network technologies and interfaces such as Ethernet, InfiniBand and Fibre Channel, the different grades of SFP transceivers that are required for different speed network cards. There is also information on PoE (Power over Ethernet), the seven layers of switch, the differences between unmanaged, smart managed and managed switches and guidance on how to configure for resiliency. Finally, there is also information on how datacentre networks vary from typical business networks.
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