| For most homes that share internet connection and | | | | switch into the wall outlet, attach all the network cables, |
| storage using a home network, a managed network | | | | and the switch "just works." They might work for you |
| switch will be an overkill. However, these days, many | | | | as well, but, stay alert. If you notice lower quality of |
| of us are using our home networks for streaming of | | | | your VoIP telephone connection with the clients, or |
| videos to our HDTVs, for VoIP telephone lines. Some | | | | even dropped calls, maybe it is time to upgrade to a |
| of us are even entrusting our home security footage | | | | managed version. |
| to our home network storage. In such situations, an | | | | Smart switches |
| unmanaged switch may not be sufficient. | | | | "Smart switches" were invented by marketing |
| Why Are Managed Network Switches On The Rise in | | | | departments of large computer and networking |
| Home Offices? | | | | manufacturers when it was obvious that the prices |
| Regardless of why, managed switches have found | | | | were coming down and the features were increasing. |
| their way from large corporations, to smaller ones, and | | | | One of the important features was management of a |
| finally to home offices and homes. The prices of | | | | switch over a web interface, resulting in a term |
| managed switches, even managed gigabit switches | | | | network managed switch. The switches were |
| are falling recently and the number of features and | | | | marketed as switches that can smartly manage most |
| their user friendliness is increasing, so it makes sense | | | | of the features on their own, while giving you web |
| even for a home office to consider replacing a regular | | | | access to some other features. For the most part this |
| switch with a manged one. Why? To improve quality | | | | meant that, using the web interface, you just could not |
| of video streams, including security footage video | | | | control as many features of a network switch as with |
| streams, and to improve your VoIP quality. In a | | | | a regular, older, command-line interface. So we can |
| business that uses VoIP telephone lines, that should be | | | | classify smart or web managed switches somewhere |
| reason enough! In this article, we will give a quick | | | | in between the unmanaged and fully managed. When |
| overview of the three types of a managed network | | | | you are shopping for smart network switches, you are |
| switch that you can choose from: Unmanaged, Smart | | | | shopping for a compromise between the price and the |
| Managed, and Managed network switch. We will | | | | features, so keep that in mind. |
| refute some of the myths and market-speak in the | | | | Fully managed network switches |
| process. This should make it easier for you to | | | | These are the switches which allow you maximal |
| determine what kind of a switch is best for your home | | | | control of the traffic through your network. They |
| or home office and whether you should s-w-i-t-c-h | | | | usually include a powerful CLI, command line interface, |
| now. Pun intended. | | | | and often times also include the web interface. These |
| Unmanaged network switches | | | | are the top of the line managed switches, and also the |
| Unmanaged switches are the type where you plug the | | | | most expensive ones. |