Gigabit Ethernet Switch Selection Guide

In recent times, high-speed networks have become the pursuit for businesses and households across the globe, making daily life more comfortable and facilitating business growth. Gigabit switches play an important role in building high-speed networks and are widely used around the world. This article introduces the different types of 1G network switches, and how to choose the right Gigabit Ethernet switch, as well as FS switch recommendations.

What is a Gigabit Switch?

A gigabit switch is a type of Ethernet network switch that allows devices to be connected to a LAN at speeds of 1 Gbps or higher. Gigabit Ethernet replaced Fast Ethernet as a new network standard for increased speed. A Gigabit Ethernet switch is a higher version of a Fast Ethernet switch, meeting the demands of internet service providers for high speeds. 1G Ethernet switches are available in a variety of configurations, forming various types of switches to provide different services:

Unmanaged switches are designed to be plug-and-play with fixed configuration, providing basic connectivity for a small LAN or single user. These switches are normally used in small businesses where precise network control is not as crucial.

Managed switches are designed with greater control and advanced functionality to support the user experience, security, manageability, and scalability. They allow Ethernet devices to connect with each other, realizing the ability to configure, manage, and monitor local area network (LAN) traffic.

Smart switches feature limited management functions, allowing traffic self-management. They offer less scalability than other switches and can be used as infrastructure for smaller and less complex networks.

PoE switches support data transmission and power supply for several network devices using an existing Ethernet cable. They greatly simplify cabling and increase the flexibility and reach of connected systems.

FS Gigabit Switches: Suitable for Various Networking Requirements

With extensive industry experience and expertise, FS offers an exclusive line of 1G network switches with a wide range of port types and rich functional features, suitable for a variety of different applications. These switches offer versatile designs for better operational performance, helping to ensure a more secure experience and build a sustainable network for the future.

ModelsPortsPoE SupportedManaged 
Unmanaged
Features Supported
S3900-48T6S-R48x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 | 6x 10G SFP+non-PoEManagedQoS, IGMP Snooping, Link Aggregation, IPv6, L3 Static Routing RIP, OSPF
S3900-24T4S-R24x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 | 4x 10G SFP+non-PoEManaged
S5810-28FS28x 1G SFP, 8x 1G RJ45/SFP Combo | 4x 1G/10G SFP+non-PoEManaged
S5810-48FS48x 1G SFP | 4x 1G/10G SFP+non-PoEManaged
S3150-8T2FP8x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 | 2x 1G SFPPoE+Managed
S3400-24T4FP24x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 | 4x 1G RJ45/SFP ComboPoE+Managed
S3260-16T4FP16x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 | 2x 1G SFP, 2x 1G RJ45/SFP ComboPoE+Managed
IES3100-8TF-P8x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 | 2x 100/1000/2500BASE-X SFPPoE+ManagedVLAN, QoS, LACP, IGMP, ACL, DHCP, Static Routing, MSTP

How to Select the Right Gigabit Switch for Your Network?

Ethernet switches play a significant role in enterprise network architecture and deserve serious selection. The following are the factors to consider when selecting 1G switches, which can provide you with some guidance.

Number of Ports You Need

First of all, determine how many network switch ports you need for your network. You need to not only calculate the number of connected devices in your home or business environment but also anticipate future connectivity needs. If it’s just for a home network that needs to connect three devices and a router, an 8 or 12-port Gigabit Ethernet switch is appropriate, due to the capability of future-proofing and connectivity for other devices provided. If you need a switch for a large network in a fast-growing enterprise, 24-port and 48-port managed switches are good choices, such as FS S3900-24T4S-R and FS S3900-48T6S-R.

Capability to Power Devices

Power over Ethernet (PoE) has become an important factor for users to consider when purchasing a network switch in recent years. This technology enables the capability to use existing Ethernet cables to power connected devices, such as VoIP phonesnetwork surveillance cameras, or wireless access points. If you need this function, select a PoE Gigabit Ethernet switch. Make sure the power per port (in watts) and the total power budget of the PoE ports meet the needs of your network devices.Check FS S3400-24T4FP to see if it meets your needs.

Features

The features of network switches determine the functions and services they can offer. Unmanaged switches and smart switches lack network management and monitoring capabilities. Managed switches provide features, such as traffic management, troubleshooting, access controls, and monitoring. Some common features, including LACP, VLAN, QoS, IGMP Snooping, Link Aggregation, and OSPF, also need to be considered. FS 1G network switches are designed as managed switches with a rich set of features that encompass the above features.Other features, such as noise, may be overlooked. However, for homes or small offices, it is important to consider the noise generated by 1G network switches. FS S3150-8T2FP switch has a low-power and noiseless design, and supports secure desktop connectivity, suitable for deployments in working areas or home scenarios. In conclusion, before choosing a switch, double-check that it provides the features you need.

Applications

Special application scenarios will place additional requirements on Gigabit switches. For example, industrial scenarios pose higher requirements on the switch in terms of operating temperature, enclosure design, management, and durability. You need to check whether the Gigabit Ethernet switch can keep working well in the application scenario you want.If you need a switch for industrial scenarios, the FS IES3100-8TF-P can meet your needs to maintain stable operation in harsh environments, such as low temperatures and high vibration, and to enable easy network management.

The Closing Thought

To build a future-proof and reliable network, the selection of a switch needs to be done carefully, considering multiple aspects. I hope the above points will be helpful to you. Besides, FS offers a wide range of Gigabit network switches, one of which may meet your needs. check FS.com to know more.

Gigabit Switch Review: Ethernet Switches Recommendations

Ethernet switches, also known as network switches, serve as the brain of the whole network, especially for data center. On the market, there are various types of Ethernet switches which are designed for different requirements, such as port number, speed, managed or unmanaged. Faced with so many choices, you may get confused about which one is the best switch. In fact, not just you, there are a lot of people who don’t know how to make the choice. In the year 2017, Gigabit switch has been the hot topic at several big forums, and the question “Can you recommend a Gigabit switch for me?” frequently occurred. This article will focus on Gigabit switch review and recommend several Ethernet switches for you.

Gigabit Switch Review 1: D-Link DGS-1008G Gigabit Switch

D-Link DGS-1008G Gigabit switch has eight gigabit ports and boasts data transfer speeds of up to 2000 Mbps. It comes with QoS features, which automatically organize and prioritize important and time-sensitive data packets, ensuring efficient delivery. This feature helps enable smoother media streaming, VoIP calling and online gaming features. In addition, it utilizes D-Link’s Green Technology which allows the switch to reduce heat and use less energy. D-Link DGS-1008G Gigabit switch is a solid choice if you are looking for a fast, easy-to-use and reliable network switch.

Gigabit Switch Review 2: FS S5800-8TF12S Managed Switch

FS S5800-8TF12S switch is a 12 port smart managed switch. It is designed with twelve 10G SFP+ ports and eight 1000BASE-T/ SFP combo ports. The 1000BASE-T copper RJ45 ports support Gigabit speeds over Cat6 cable up to 100 meters, and the 1G SFP fiber ports can be connected to other devices via SFP transceivers over fiber optic cable. FS S5800-8TF12S 12 port smart managed switch is designed to support a demanding and dynamic environment of SMB networks. It is a good choice for 10G access Layer switch for hyper-converged infrastructure.

Gigabit Switch Review: FS-S5800-8TF12S 12-port smart managed switch

Gigabit Switch Review 3: UniFi US-24-500W PoE Switch

UniFi US-24-500W switch is a 24 port PoE switch which comes with 24 Gigabit RJ45 ports and 2 SFP ports. Its non-blocking throughput is up to 26 Gbps and the switching capacity is up to 52 Gbps. UniFi US-24-500W PoE switchh is a fully managed Gigabit switch which can deliver robust performance and intelligent switching for networks. Besides, it offers the forwarding capacity to simultaneously process traffic on all ports at line rate without any packet loss. It is really a cost-effective PoE switch at $399.00. For more details about Gigabit PoE switch review, you can read my previous article: 8 Port PoE Switch Recommendations.

Gigabit Switch Review 4: FS S5850-48T4Q 10GBASE-T Switch

FS S5850-48T4Q 10GBASE-T copper switch is a 1U managed L2/L3 Ethernet switch. It has forty-eight 10GBASE-T RJ45 ports and four 40G QSFP+ ports. And it can provide 1.28Tbps switching capacity. FS S5850-48T4Q switch is designed to meet next generation Metro, Data Center and Enterprise network requirements. For example, it can be used for Spine-Leaf network which is a popular architecture design for data center. For 1GBASE-T copper switch at lower cost, FS S5850-48T4Q switch is a great option to help you migrate to 10GbE network.

Conclusion

The above content Gigabit Ethernet switch review has recommend 8 port unmanaged Gigabit switch, 12 port 10G smart managed switch, 24 port PoE switch and 48 port 10GBASE-T copper switch. All of them are good choices when compared with the same type of Ethernet switches. I hope this article can help you choose the best switch when you feel confused.

Related Article: FS 1000BASE-T Gigabit Switch: S3800-24T4S vs. S3800-48T4S