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When choosing a switch, we often encounter a dilemma of choosing between a managed switch or an unmanaged switch. Usually, managed switches provide more powerful functionality than non managed switches, offering simple network management protocols for monitoring connection status, STP， Advanced performance of various types of QoS and VLANs. However, among different network switch OEMs, managed switches are much more expensive than unmanaged switches. So, how should we choose when making a decision? Today, let's review the advantages and disadvantages of these two types of switches to help everyone have a clear understanding.

1. Advantages of unmanaged switches

Disadvantages of unmanaged switches:

Unmanaged switches, such as 1G unmanaged switches and OEM Ethernet switches, have limited functionality and are only suitable for small networks;

Not supporting ARP protection, vulnerable to virus attacks; Not supporting MAC address binding, not supporting VLAN partitioning, network prone to broadcast storms;

不Support traffic based control；

Poor reliability of data transmission, prone to packet loss；

Single component, with significant limitations on network upgrades and expansions；

Inconvenient management and high hardware failure rate。

Advantages of unmanaged switches:

Low price, cost saving；

Dense port numbers；

Flexible users

2.Advantages and disadvantages of management switches

The advantages of management switches:

Backplane bandwidth is large, and data forwarding speed is fast；

Flexible networking, suitable for medium to large network access layers；

Provide flexible ports and choose different interface forms according to network applications；

Support VLAN partitioning, allowing targeted control over the network; Management switches have low data loss and latency rates；

Can control data information flow based on destination and network segment；

Link aggregation allows switches, such as core switches and access switches, to bind multiple Ethernet ports between switches and between switches and servers together；

Equipped with ARP protection function, reducing network ARP spoofing, and having MAC address binding function；

The port mirroring function can copy the traffic and status of one port to another port on the switch；

Support DHCP function；

Access control lists can control IP packets；

Has better security performance；

Having SNMP functionality for better management and control of retention processes；

Easy to expand and flexible in application, it can be managed through network management software or remotely accessed through its own access control, increasing the security and controllability of the network。

Disadvantages of Management Switches: None

In short, unmanaged switches are easy to use but cannot be configured; Management switches have a web management page that can be accessed through IP to log in and configure the switch (assign VLAN ports, set port rates, etc.).