Switches, Hubs

Image Part Number Description / PDF Quantity Rfq
NS-105A

NS-105A

ICP DAS USA Inc.

UNMANAGED 5-PORT INDUSTRIAL ETHE

30

NS-208PSE-4

NS-208PSE-4

ICP DAS USA Inc.

8 PORT INDUSTRIAL ETHERNET SWITC

30

NS-208PSE-R

NS-208PSE-R

ICP DAS USA Inc.

NS-208PSE ROBUST VERSION WITH CO

30

NSM-208PSE

NSM-208PSE

ICP DAS USA Inc.

NS-208PSE WITH METAL CASE

30

NSM-216

NSM-216

ICP DAS USA Inc.

UNMANAGED 16-PORT INDUSTRIAL 10/

30

NS-205

NS-205

ICP DAS USA Inc.

5-PORT ETHERNET SWITCH

25

NSM-208PSE-R

NSM-208PSE-R

ICP DAS USA Inc.

8 PORT INDUSTRIAL ETHERNET SWITC

30

NSM-205PSE-12V

NSM-205PSE-12V

ICP DAS USA Inc.

12V UNMANAGED 5 PORT 10/100 MBPS

30

NSM-205PSE-24

NSM-205PSE-24

ICP DAS USA Inc.

METAL CASE OF NS-205PSE-24

30

NS-208A

NS-208A

ICP DAS USA Inc.

NS-208 WITH POWER INPUT +12 ~ 48

30

NSM-208G

NSM-208G

ICP DAS USA Inc.

1 GB INDUSTRIAL ETHERNET SWITCH

30

NS-205AG

NS-205AG

ICP DAS USA Inc.

NS-205 WITH 48 VDC INPUT

30

NS-205PSE-IP67

NS-205PSE-IP67

ICP DAS USA Inc.

NS-205PSE IN IP 67 CASE

30

RSM-408

RSM-408

ICP DAS USA Inc.

INDUSTRIAL ETHERENT REAL TIME RE

30

NSM-316G

NSM-316G

ICP DAS USA Inc.

16-PORT GBE ETHERNET UNMANAGED S

30

NS-208

NS-208

ICP DAS USA Inc.

8-PORT ETHERNET SWITCH

25

NS-208R

NS-208R

ICP DAS USA Inc.

NS-208 WITH CONFORMAL COATING, W

30

NS-205IP67/DIN

NS-205IP67/DIN

ICP DAS USA Inc.

NS-205 IP 67 SWITCH WITH DIN RAI

30

RSM-405

RSM-405

ICP DAS USA Inc.

INDUSTRIAL ETHERENT REAL TIME RE

30

EDS-P208-TL

EDS-P208-TL

ICP DAS USA Inc.

8-PORT POE SWITCH, 10/100M

25

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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