Why you need a managed switch

The principle of operation of computer networks is toconnecting various devices (personal computers, peripheral devices) into a single system using only two equipment components: routers and switches. Thanks to such devices, all network elements can interact with each other, as well as with other networks. Externally, switches and routers look alike, but they perform different functions. In this article, we will focus on the first devices, namely, on such a separate form, such as a managed switch. So what are these devices?

Purpose and types of switches

These devices are used to create networks inwithin a single building or specific territory. Switches connect personal computers, servers, printers, scanners, thereby creating a network share. Such devices can operate as controllers, that is, allow different elements to provide access to information, as well as interact with other participants. By providing such data access and allocation of all resources, switches increase the performance of the entire network.

Существует два типа таких устройств:managed and unmanaged. The latter work according to the standard scheme. The user can not make changes to it. In home networks it is customary to use this type. A managed switch allows access for programming. Thanks to this quality, high flexibility of system is provided. This is because the managed switch can be configured and monitored remotely or locally to control traffic over the network and access to it. Consider in more detail this type of device.

Switch managed: technical features

Such devices are capable of supporting many different functions for making changes to instrument settings.

The operator can connect to the device oneconsole cable and use the CLI feature to configure device operation. In addition, the device can be controlled via SNMP, Telnet, SSL and SSH. A managed switch can support extended functions (RSTP, MSTP, STP) if there are two or more routes on the network (between devices and computers). If the user needs to strengthen the security level of the network, then you can configure a special function 802.1 X, ACL. A managed switch, depending on the task, is capable of supporting multiple VLANs. Such devices can provide high reliability and stability of computer networks.

Conclusion

The development of network equipment does not stand still.In this industry, new devices are constantly emerging. Some of them are designed to create computer networks using copper cables, while others are designed for networks based on fiber-optic technologies. Similarly, the devices we have reviewed are also developing very quickly. For example, you can see computer networks that are controlled by a managed switch of Level 2 or even Level 3. The popularity of such equipment is due to ubiquitous computerization, because now they are uniting a single system and telephony, and television, and the Internet, and even banking networks.