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Switches, Hubs

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
2891453

2891453

Phoenix Contact

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 5 PORT

21241
2701418

2701418

Phoenix Contact

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 8 PORT

246
317FXE-ST-40

317FXE-ST-40

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 17 PORT

0
943866001

943866001

Hirschmann

M-FAST SFP-SM/LC

6
943434041

943434041

Hirschmann

RS20-2400T1T1SDAEHHXX.X.

2
24030080030

24030080030

HARTING

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 8 PORT

0
2891952

2891952

Phoenix Contact

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 16 PORT

5
EKI-5626CI-AE

EKI-5626CI-AE

Quatech / B+B SmartWorx

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 18 PORT

10
2702906

2702906

Phoenix Contact

MANAGED SWITCH 2000, 14 RJ45 POR

2
NG8POE

NG8POE

Tripp Lite

NETWORK 8 PORT 10/100/1000 MBPS

10
HES8M-VL

HES8M-VL

Henrich Electronics Corporation

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 8 PORT

6
24031060030

24031060030

HARTING

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 6 PORT

1
SW-505

SW-505

Brainboxes

INDUSTRIAL COMPACT ETHERNET 5 PO

31
NSM-108

NSM-108

ICP DAS USA Inc.

10/100 MBPS INDUSTRIAL ETHERNET

30
1121055006

1121055006

Woodhead - Molex

SWITCH;IP67:60MM;8FE;UNMANAGED;P

2
TP-SW5GNC-OUT48

TP-SW5GNC-OUT48

Tycon Systems, Inc.

OUTDOOR 5 PORT GIGABIT 48VDC PAS

0
24035060030

24035060030

HARTING

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 6 PORT

1
305FXE-SC-40

305FXE-SC-40

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 5 PORT

0
108TX-HV-MDR

108TX-HV-MDR

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 8 PORT

0
TP-SW5G-24

TP-SW5G-24

Tycon Systems, Inc.

5 PORT HIGH POWER (70W TOTAL) PO

100

Switches, Hubs

1. Overview

Network switches and hubs are fundamental components in wired networking infrastructure. While both devices connect multiple Ethernet devices, switches operate at Layer 2 (Data Link) of the OSI model with intelligent MAC address learning capabilities, while hubs function as basic Layer 1 (Physical) broadcast devices. Switches enable efficient point-to-point communication, reducing collisions compared to hubs. Their role in modern network architecture is critical for enterprise connectivity, data center operations, and industrial IoT deployments.

2. Main Types and Functional Classification

TypeFunctional CharacteristicsApplication Examples
Managed SwitchesSupport VLANs, QoS, SNMP monitoring, and port configurationEnterprise core networks
Unmanaged SwitchesPlug-and-play operation with fixed configurationsSmall office/home networks
PoE SwitchesDeliver power over Ethernet cables (IEEE 802.3af/at/bt)IP camera systems
Core SwitchesHigh-throughput backbone connectivity with redundant hardwareData center aggregation
Access SwitchesEdge network connectivity with basic security featuresCorporate workstations
Active HubsSignal amplification with multi-port repeater functionalityLegacy industrial control systems
Passive HubsSimple physical layer connections without signal regenerationTemporary network troubleshooting

3. Structure and Components

Typical switch architecture includes:

  • Modular/rackmount chassis with pluggable SFP/SFP+ ports
  • Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) for packet processing
  • Content-Addressable Memory (CAM) for MAC address tables
  • Power over Ethernet (PoE) midspan/injector circuitry
  • Embedded firmware with CLI/Web GUI management interfaces

Hubs feature simpler construction:

  • Basic printed circuit board with Ethernet transceivers
  • Passive backplane connecting all ports
  • LED indicators for link/activity status

4. Key Technical Specifications

ParameterDescriptionImportance
Port DensityNumber of 10/100/1000 Mbps or 10/25/40/100 GbE portsDetermines scalability
Switching CapacityBackplane bandwidth (bps)Maximum data throughput potential
MAC Address Table SizeNumber of supported device entriesAffects network scale and performance
LatencyStore-and-forward delay ( s)Critical for real-time applications
PoE BudgetTotal power delivery capacity (W)Limits connected device count
Redundancy ProtocolsSTP/RSTP/MSTP supportNetwork fault tolerance

5. Application Domains

  • Enterprise networks (Fortune 500 offices with 10k+ devices)
  • Industrial control systems (Manufacturing plant floor switches)
  • Data centers (40/100 GbE spine-leaf architectures)
  • Smart buildings (PoE-enabled lighting and HVAC control)
  • Educational institutions (Campus network access layer)

6. Leading Manufacturers

VendorFlagship Products
Cisco SystemsCatalyst 9500 Series, Nexus 9000
HuaweiCloudEngine 8800, S5735 Series
HPEAruba 6200M, 5400R zl2
Juniper NetworksEX4600, QFX5100 Series
UbiquitiUniFi Switch Pro, EdgeSwitch

7. Selection Guidelines

  • Assess network scale (Small business vs. enterprise campus)
  • Determine management needs (CLI access vs. SNMP monitoring)
  • Calculate PoE requirements (Device wattage and total consumption)
  • Evaluate future expansion (Modular vs. fixed configuration)
  • Consider security features (802.1X authentication, ACLs)
  • Budget planning (Capex vs. Opex optimization)

8. Industry Trends

Key developments shaping the future of network switching include:

  • Software-Defined Networking (SDN) integration for centralized control
  • Multi-gigabit Ethernet adoption (2.5/5/10 GbE for Wi-Fi 6/7 backhaul)
  • AI-powered network analytics for predictive maintenance
  • Open networking platforms (White-box switches with disaggregated OS)
  • Energy-efficient designs (IEEE 802.3az compliant devices)
  • Convergence of wired/wireless management interfaces
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