Network Switches- Managed vs Unmanaged

[Alpha Centauri]

Hi all

I've lived without a switch for ever but would just like to clean my set-up up a bit. My needs are basic, one network, fanless design and currently only 4 devices to hook up. That would be 1. TV (4k streaming), 2.Master Node of mesh router, 3. AVR (SW updates only), and 4. BR Player (SW updates).

Having read the basics I'd think a plug & play unmanaged switch would do? Likely perhaps more RJ45 inputs might be good for future device purchases i.e. game console, so perhaps 8 ports rather than the 5 port total.

My thread is rather about being able to prioritise device 1. and 2. for streaming and the WiFi connection to hand held devices. Device 3. 4. will likely hardly ever see any action. So would a managed switch be a better move? There appears also to be web based switches around where very basic customisation of prioritising devices is possible. That's how I understood it anyways.

In my country the most popular switches appear to be from TP-Link and Netgear.

Cheers

 

[Nermal]

A managed switch is overkill for a home network. You'll likely be going for a gigabit switch, and there's no way that you'll saturate all that bandwidth with streaming (which tends to sit at around 20-50 Mb/s).

 

[Alpha Centauri]

A managed switch is overkill for a home network. You'll likely be going for a gigabit switch, and there's no way that you'll saturate all that bandwidth with streaming (which tends to sit at around 20-50 Mb/s).

I hit the post button by mistake much too soon so have re edited the message. With the complete information I guess your reply still holds true?

 

[Nermal]

I was hoping that someone else would come along and corroborate my post, but it hasn't happened. I'd still recommend unmanaged though.

 

[Allyance]

I used Netgear switches in all kinds of small business networks for years, never had a need for a managed switch. Good reliable products.

 

[Reverend Benny]

I do love managed switches, nice if you wanna do geeky stuff like mess around with vlans etc.
But if you have no need for it just get an unmanaged one, that also saves you the headache of having to patch them with software updates.

Other aspects to consider could be PoE support if you think will need it. And as you mentioned, more ports.
Also, spend a few pennies extra and get a decent brand. Netgear has a few prosumer ones, so does linksys.

 

[splifingate]

Hi all

I've lived without a switch for ever but would just like to clean my set-up up a bit. My needs are basic, one network, fanless design and currently only 4 devices to hook up. That would be 1. TV (4k streaming), 2.Master Node of mesh router, 3. AVR (SW updates only), and 4. BR Player (SW updates).

Having read the basics I'd think a plug & play unmanaged switch would do? Likely perhaps more RJ45 inputs might be good for future device purchases i.e. game console, so perhaps 8 ports rather than the 5 port total.

My thread is rather about being able to prioritise device 1. and 2. for streaming and the WiFi connection to hand held devices. Device 3. 4. will likely hardly ever see any action. So would a managed switch be a better move? There appears also to be web based switches around where very basic customisation of prioritising devices is possible. That's how I understood it anyways.

In my country the most popular switches appear to be from TP-Link and Netgear.

Cheers

As your needs are indeed pleasantly basic, I would not recommend adding another layer of management (the-move-to which will definitely appoint you as "Manager" <smile>).

There are definite +'s to managing the management layers in one's-own network, and there are definitely ways that adopting such a methodology can directly benefit the experience.

Nevertheless . . . it's really fun to learn, and self-instruct; no harm in that, if it's your goal.

But, you may very-well transform something you once found enjoyable into a chore.

I have grown to understand why System Administrators garner their appreciated Compensation.

All that being said, un-managed "dumb" switches are essential in a personal network where one wants to have more than a handful of devices hardwired to the WAN.

My current 'home' network has a custom router, with five un-managed switches, and three managed switches . . . I'll not bore you with the types of devices I have connected-to. It's a very dis-organised, ad-hoc lab.

I sometimes spend the entirety of random nights ensuring fixing that all these devices keep communicating and functioning, rather than enjoying time with friends, family, et al. 🤷‍♂️

I was hoping that someone else would come along and corroborate my post, but it hasn't happened. I'd still recommend unmanaged though.

Yeah; here's a definite "I'm with you, Brother!"

 

[chrfr]

Having read the basics I'd think a plug & play unmanaged switch would do? Likely perhaps more RJ45 inputs might be good for future device purchases i.e. game console, so perhaps 8 ports rather than the 5 port total.

An unmanaged switch is more than sufficient for this sort of home usage.

 

[Fishrrman]

"In my country the most popular switches appear to be from TP-Link and Netgear."

I will guess that a "plain" unmanaged switch from either company above will be all that you need.
Cheap and it should work well.

 

[MapleBeercules]

A managed switch is overkill for a home network. You'll likely be going for a gigabit switch, and there's no way that you'll saturate all that bandwidth with streaming (which tends to sit at around 20-50 Mb/s).

Maybe its overkill for your use, by having a manage switch gives me more control over my network configuration and more visibility into your network.

the limitation of your wifi will always be the backhaul connection, how is it connecting to the rest of your network. example I have 3 Airport Extremes, I have 3 so I distribute the load across each radio which is backed up by a 1GB backhaul to my main switch. A managed switch wont solve this but will provide you with data to support this conclusion (port monitors, traffic tracking)

Previously network devices would create a stream and continuously request data, but devices today do bust downloading so its entirely possible for 4 devices to saturate a network connection if they all bust download at once, this would require some serious timing (stars aligning) for it to impact your network.

 

[Ethosik]

I was hoping that someone else would come along and corroborate my post, but it hasn't happened. I'd still recommend unmanaged though.

I agree. For my case I have a home office set up with 10Gb at a minimum with 25Gb and even starting to get some 40Gb networking with my NAS. This is highly unusual for a home network though so I agree with your statement. Unmanaged will be fine.

 

[BenGoren]

Hi all

I've lived without a switch for ever but would just like to clean my set-up up a bit. My needs are basic, one network, fanless design and currently only 4 devices to hook up. That would be 1. TV (4k streaming), 2.Master Node of mesh router, 3. AVR (SW updates only), and 4. BR Player (SW updates).

Having read the basics I'd think a plug & play unmanaged switch would do? Likely perhaps more RJ45 inputs might be good for future device purchases i.e. game console, so perhaps 8 ports rather than the 5 port total.

My thread is rather about being able to prioritise device 1. and 2. for streaming and the WiFi connection to hand held devices. Device 3. 4. will likely hardly ever see any action. So would a managed switch be a better move? There appears also to be web based switches around where very basic customisation of prioritising devices is possible. That's how I understood it anyways.

In my country the most popular switches appear to be from TP-Link and Netgear.

Cheers

For the life of me, I can’t imagine why you even need a wired network in the first place. Any WiFi router from the past few years is already overkill for what you describe. If you really can’t use wireless, a ten-year-old dumb GigE switch from the $1 bin at your local thrift store is past overkill.

If you’re doing this to learn something about networking, give yourself a budget and get the most over-the-top used Cisco device you can find for that budget. Go crazy with your network architecture as a way to learn the ins and outs of IOS.

But if you just want to watch TV while somebody else plays a game and somebody else checks TikTok … spend more time worrying about how the color scheme of the device will fit into your home decor than anything technical.

b&