How to Select an 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch? - A Complete Guide

How to Select an 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch? - A Complete Guide

Have you ever wondered how to select the best 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch? It might seem simple at first. Nevertheless, when you start comparing switches, you soon realize it is not as straightforward as you originally thought.

Today everyone wants a high-speed networking system, even if it is a workplace or home. Small and medium-sized enterprises are shifting towards automation and adopting new technology. An 8 port industrial switch is the best option, and the Gigabit switch has become more popular due to its efficiency.

Therefore, this article will briefly discuss some of the main factors you need to consider when buying a switch.

A Complete Selection Guide of an 8-Port Ethernet Gigabit Switch

It would be best to look at a few things before buying a network switch. Of course, speed and capacity are the standard things you would look for when purchasing any product. But there are some other factors that you might want to consider when planning to buy an 8-Port Gigabit switch.

Managed Switched

You can configure the switch to automatically detect and prioritize traffic from multiple devices on your network. The switch also comes with the most advanced security features. It has a built-in firewall to help protect against malicious attacks.

It protects the system and prevents your network from intruders from trying to access it illegally. A managed switch can also incorporate STP- Spanning Tree Protocol to ensure path redundancy. Managed Gigabit is ideal for a higher-performance network due to more bandwidth.

Unmanaged switch

The 8-Port Gigabit unmanaged switch is perfect for home offices and small businesses. You can connect up to eight devices with 10/100/1000Mbps autosensing ports, and it is easy to use—plugin and go.

It also features auto MDI/MDIX crossover and auto-negotiation so that you can easily connect your computers and other networking devices with a single cable.

PoE switch & Non- PoE switches

Power over Ethernet (PoE), allowing you to power other devices like IP cameras through the switch's Ethernet ports. In addition, the switch features an auto-sensing design to automatically detect the power requirements of connected devices.

Suppose you plug in a device that does not support (PoE), such as a non-PoE camera or printer. However, it will still receive power from the switch via an AC adapter used by this device.

Stackable & Standalone Switches

Stackable or Standalone Switches are a great option for increasing the number of ports in your office, school, or business. Using a standalone switch is not a bad option, but you need to configure each switch separately.

In comparison, a stackable switch can add more ports to your network. They are also easy to set up, thanks to plug-and-play technology. As a result, you do not have to worry about complicated installation processes or configurations.

Conclusion

The 8-port gigabit switch is one of the most versatile network equipment you can buy. Unfortunately, this also makes it one of the most complicated to purchase. Overall, we hope this selection guide provides you with all of the information you need to make a well-informed purchase!