Switches, Hubs

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
NT24K-10FX2-ST

NT24K-10FX2-ST

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 10 PORT

0

NT24K-10FXE2-SC-80-POE

NT24K-10FXE2-SC-80-POE

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 10 PORT

0

NT24K-10FXE2-SC-15

NT24K-10FXE2-SC-15

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 10 PORT

0

NT24K-12FXE4-ST-40

NT24K-12FXE4-ST-40

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 12 PORT

0

105FXE-SC-15-POE

105FXE-SC-15-POE

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 5 PORT

2

NT24K-10FX2-ST-POE

NT24K-10FX2-ST-POE

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 10 PORT

0

508FXE2-SC-40

508FXE2-SC-40

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 8 PORT

0

309FXE-N-SC-40

309FXE-N-SC-40

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-ADVANCED 9 PORT

0

NT24K-10GXE2-SC-10

NT24K-10GXE2-SC-10

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 10 PORT

0

NT24K-10GX2-SC-POE

NT24K-10GX2-SC-POE

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 10 PORT

0

NT24K-14FX6-ST-POE

NT24K-14FX6-ST-POE

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 12 PORT

0

305FXE-ST-80

305FXE-ST-80

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 5 PORT

0

NT24K-12GXE4-SC-80

NT24K-12GXE4-SC-80

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 12 PORT

0

NT24K-10GXE2-SC-10-POE

NT24K-10GXE2-SC-10-POE

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 10 PORT

0

105FXE-ST-40-MDR

105FXE-ST-40-MDR

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 5 PORT

0

105FXE-SC-15

105FXE-SC-15

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-UNMANAGED 5 PORT

0

SLX-8MS-5STL

SLX-8MS-5STL

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 8 PORT

0

SL-6RS-5STL-D1

SL-6RS-5STL-D1

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-ADVANCED 8 PORT

0

SLX-8MS-4SC

SLX-8MS-4SC

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-MANAGED 8 PORT

0

317FXE-N-ST-80

317FXE-N-ST-80

Red Lion

NETWORK SWITCH-ADVANCED 17 PORT

0

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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