Switches

Shop network switches for small business, enterprise, campus, branch, and data center environments. Hummingbird Networks offers managed and unmanaged Ethernet switches, Layer 2 and Layer 3 switches, Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches, multi-gigabit switches, and high-performance switching solutions from leading networking manufacturers.

The right network switch provides the connectivity, bandwidth, management, and scalability your organization needs to connect computers, servers, wireless access points, IP phones, security cameras, storage systems, and other network devices.

Whether you are replacing an aging switch, adding network capacity, deploying new wireless access points, upgrading to faster Ethernet, or designing a larger network infrastructure, Hummingbird Networks can help you find switching solutions that fit your technical requirements and environment.

Shop Business & Enterprise Network Switches

A network switch is one of the fundamental building blocks of a wired network. Switches connect devices within a local area network and intelligently forward Ethernet traffic between connected devices.

Modern business switches range from straightforward plug-and-play models for basic connectivity to advanced enterprise platforms with Layer 3 routing, network segmentation, Power over Ethernet, high-speed uplinks, redundancy, stacking, centralized administration, and cloud management.

Organizations can choose switches based on network size, port count, management requirements, Ethernet speed, PoE capacity, uplink connectivity, deployment location, and expected growth.

Types of Network Switches

Understanding the major types of Ethernet switches can make it easier to identify the right hardware for your network.

Managed Network Switches

Managed network switches give administrators greater visibility and control over network operation. Depending on the platform, features can include VLAN configuration, Quality of Service (QoS), port management, network monitoring, link aggregation, access controls, redundancy, traffic management, and remote administration.

Managed switches are commonly used in businesses, enterprise networks, campuses, branch offices, data centers, and other environments where network performance, security, segmentation, and reliability are important.

Unmanaged Network Switches

Unmanaged switches provide straightforward Ethernet connectivity with little or no configuration. Devices can typically be connected and begin communicating without an administrator configuring individual switch settings.

These switches can be appropriate for small offices, basic network expansions, temporary installations, and other environments that do not require advanced management, monitoring, segmentation, or security features.

Layer 2 Switches

Layer 2 switches primarily use MAC addresses to forward Ethernet frames between devices on a local network. They are commonly deployed at the access layer where computers, IP phones, printers, wireless access points, security cameras, and other endpoint devices connect.

Depending on the model, managed Layer 2 switches can also support VLANs, QoS, link aggregation, security controls, and other business networking capabilities.

Layer 3 Switches

Layer 3 switches combine Ethernet switching with IP routing capabilities. This allows compatible switches to route traffic between VLANs and network segments without relying on a separate router for every internal routing function.

Layer 3 switching is commonly used in enterprise campuses, distribution networks, core infrastructure, larger branch environments, and networks requiring segmentation and efficient communication between multiple IP networks.

Power over Ethernet Switches

Power over Ethernet switches can provide network connectivity and electrical power through the same Ethernet cable to compatible devices.

PoE switches are commonly used to connect and power:

• Wireless access points
• VoIP phones
• IP security cameras
• Video conferencing equipment
• Access control devices
• Digital signage
• IoT devices

Using PoE can simplify deployment by reducing the need for separate electrical outlets and power adapters near compatible network devices.

Multi-Gigabit Switches

Multi-gigabit switches support Ethernet speeds above traditional 1 Gigabit Ethernet over compatible copper connections. Depending on the switch, ports may support 2.5GbE, 5GbE, 10GbE, or a combination of speeds.

Multi-gigabit switching can be especially useful when connecting high-performance wireless access points, workstations, servers, storage systems, and other devices that can benefit from more than 1 Gbps of bandwidth.

Data Center Switches

Data center switches are designed for environments requiring high bandwidth, low latency, dense connectivity, redundancy, and high-speed connections between servers, storage, network infrastructure, and other systems.

Depending on the platform and deployment, data center switching can include 10GbE, 25GbE, 40GbE, 100GbE, and higher-speed interfaces with fiber and direct-attach connectivity.

How to Choose the Right Network Switch

Choosing a network switch involves more than selecting the number of Ethernet ports. The right switch should support the devices, applications, traffic, management requirements, and expected growth of the network.

Consider these factors when comparing switches.

Number of Switch Ports

Start by counting the wired devices that need network connections, including computers, wireless access points, IP phones, security cameras, printers, servers, storage systems, and other Ethernet devices.

Common switch configurations include 8-port, 16-port, 24-port, and 48-port models, although other port densities are available.

It is generally useful to leave additional capacity for future devices rather than selecting a switch that uses every available port immediately after installation.

Ethernet Speed

Switch port speed determines the maximum supported connection rate between compatible network devices.

Common Ethernet speeds include:

• 1 Gigabit Ethernet (1GbE): Common for computers, phones, printers, cameras, access points, and general business connectivity
• 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet (2.5GbE): Useful for compatible wireless access points, workstations, and higher-bandwidth devices
• 5 Gigabit Ethernet (5GbE): Provides additional bandwidth for compatible multi-gigabit devices
• 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE): Common for servers, storage, high-performance workstations, uplinks, and network aggregation
• 25GbE, 40GbE, 100GbE and higher: Used in data centers, high-performance aggregation, core networks, and other bandwidth-intensive environments

The appropriate speed depends on the connected equipment, applications, cabling, uplink requirements, and overall network architecture.

PoE, PoE+ & PoE++ Requirements

If your switch will power connected devices, consider both the Power over Ethernet standard supported by each port and the switch's total PoE power budget.

Different devices require different amounts of power. A network with several wireless access points, cameras, phones, or other powered devices may require substantially more total PoE capacity than a deployment with only a few low-power endpoints.

Checking both per-port power requirements and total switch power capacity can help prevent problems as additional devices are connected.

Copper & Fiber Connectivity

Most access switches use copper Ethernet ports for endpoint connectivity while providing higher-speed uplink interfaces for connections to other switches or network infrastructure.

Fiber connectivity is commonly used when longer distances, electrical isolation, or higher bandwidth are required. Switches may provide SFP, SFP+, SFP28, QSFP+, QSFP28, and other interfaces depending on the supported network speeds and platform.

Compatible transceiver modules and cabling are required when using many fiber and modular network interfaces.

Switching Capacity & Uplink Bandwidth

Port speed is only one part of switch performance. Organizations should also consider switching capacity, forwarding performance, and available uplink bandwidth when evaluating equipment for demanding environments.

A switch connecting many high-bandwidth devices may require substantially more uplink capacity than a switch supporting basic office endpoints.

Management

Consider how much control and visibility your IT team requires. Advanced networks may need VLANs, traffic prioritization, monitoring, port security, access controls, routing, automation, redundancy, and centralized administration.

Organizations with multiple locations may also benefit from cloud-managed switching that provides centralized visibility and administration across distributed networks.

Scalability

Switching infrastructure should support reasonable future growth. Consider additional users, wireless access points, cameras, phones, servers, IoT devices, higher-speed endpoints, and network uplinks that may be added over the expected life of the equipment.

Planning for expansion can help reduce premature hardware replacement and simplify future network upgrades.

Understanding Network Switch Speeds

Switching requirements have expanded as wireless networks, cloud applications, servers, storage, video, surveillance, and connected devices generate increasing amounts of traffic.

Gigabit Ethernet Switches

Gigabit Ethernet switches provide up to 1 Gbps per compatible port and remain widely used for general business connectivity. They can support desktop computers, printers, IP phones, cameras, and many other common network devices.

2.5GbE & 5GbE Multi-Gigabit Switches

2.5GbE and 5GbE provide an intermediate step between traditional Gigabit Ethernet and 10GbE. These speeds are particularly useful for compatible wireless access points and other devices that require more than 1 Gbps without necessarily requiring a full 10GbE connection.

10 Gigabit Switches

10 Gigabit Ethernet switches and uplinks can support high-performance workstations, servers, storage, switch-to-switch connections, virtualization environments, and network aggregation.

Some switches provide 10GbE on every port, while others combine Gigabit or multi-gigabit access ports with 10GbE uplinks.

25G, 40G & 100G Switching

Higher-speed switching is commonly associated with data centers, enterprise cores, aggregation networks, servers, storage systems, and other environments where substantial bandwidth is required.

Selecting the appropriate interface speed should be based on actual traffic requirements, network architecture, connected equipment, and expected growth rather than speed alone.

Managed vs. Unmanaged Switches

One of the most important decisions when selecting a network switch is whether the environment requires a managed or unmanaged platform.

An unmanaged switch is generally focused on straightforward connectivity. A managed switch gives administrators substantially greater control over how the network operates.

Managed switch capabilities can include:

• VLAN configuration and network segmentation
• Quality of Service
• Port monitoring and configuration
• Link aggregation
• Access controls and port security
• Spanning Tree and redundancy features
• Traffic monitoring
• Remote administration
• Layer 3 routing on supported models
• Centralized or cloud-based management

Small networks that only require additional Ethernet ports may be well served by an unmanaged switch. Business and enterprise environments requiring segmentation, monitoring, security, redundancy, or centralized administration will typically benefit from managed switching.

Layer 2 vs. Layer 3 Switches

Layer 2 and Layer 3 switches perform different roles within a network.

Layer 2 switching focuses primarily on forwarding Ethernet traffic between devices using MAC addresses. It is commonly used for endpoint connectivity within a local network or VLAN.

Layer 3 switching adds IP routing functionality, allowing compatible switches to route traffic between VLANs and different network segments.

A smaller network may only require Layer 2 switching, while larger and more segmented environments often use Layer 3 capabilities at the distribution or core layers.

Power over Ethernet Switches for WiFi, Phones & Cameras

PoE switching has become increasingly important as more network devices require both data connectivity and electrical power.

A PoE switch can simplify installations by powering compatible wireless access points, IP phones, cameras, access control devices, and other equipment through Ethernet cabling.

This is particularly useful when devices need to be installed on ceilings, walls, outdoor structures, or other locations where providing a dedicated electrical outlet would be difficult or expensive.

When comparing PoE switches, pay attention to:

• PoE standard supported
• Maximum power available per port
• Total PoE power budget
• Number of PoE-capable ports
• Power requirements of connected devices
• Future powered-device requirements

A switch may have enough PoE-capable ports for a deployment while still lacking the total power budget required to operate every connected device at maximum demand.

Network Switches by Deployment

Small Business Switches

Small business networks often prioritize reliable connectivity, straightforward management, reasonable cost, and room for expansion.

Depending on the environment, a small business may need an unmanaged switch for basic connectivity, a smart or managed switch for greater control, or a PoE switch to support wireless access points, phones, and security cameras.

Enterprise Network Switches

Enterprise switching environments can require high availability, redundancy, network segmentation, advanced security, centralized management, automation, stacking, high port density, and high-speed uplinks.

Enterprise organizations may deploy different switching platforms at the access, distribution, and core layers based on the performance and resiliency required at each point in the network.

Branch Office Switches

Branch locations often require reliable switching with centralized or remote management. PoE can also be important for supporting phones, cameras, and wireless access points without requiring separate power infrastructure for each device.

Campus Switches

Campus networks may contain many access switches distributed across buildings and wiring closets. These environments can require high port density, PoE, redundant uplinks, segmentation, centralized management, and substantial aggregate bandwidth.

Data Center Switches

Data center switching emphasizes high bandwidth, low latency, dense connectivity, redundancy, and high-speed interfaces for servers, storage, virtualization platforms, and network infrastructure.

Fiber optic transceivers, direct attach cables, and high-speed Ethernet interfaces are commonly used to support these environments.

Industrial & Rugged Switches

Industrial and ruggedized switches are designed for deployments where environmental conditions may exceed those found in a traditional office or data center.

Depending on the model, these switches may be designed for industrial facilities, transportation, outdoor cabinets, manufacturing environments, and other specialized installations.

Network Switch Brands

Hummingbird Networks offers switching solutions from multiple networking manufacturers, giving organizations the flexibility to select a platform based on management preferences, existing infrastructure, performance requirements, security strategy, scalability, and budget.

Cisco Switches

Cisco offers switching platforms for business, enterprise, campus, branch, industrial, and data center environments. Cisco switching solutions range from access switches to advanced enterprise and high-performance data center platforms.

Meraki Switches

Cisco Meraki provides cloud-managed switching designed around centralized visibility and administration. Meraki switches can be particularly useful for organizations managing multiple offices, branches, campuses, or other distributed environments.

HPE Aruba Networking Switches

HPE Aruba Networking offers switching solutions for business, enterprise, campus, branch, and other networking environments, with platforms designed to support secure wired connectivity and centralized network operations.

Aruba Instant On Switches

Aruba Instant On provides switching solutions designed for small and growing businesses that want business-class connectivity with straightforward deployment and management.

Fortinet Switches

Fortinet offers switching solutions that can be deployed as part of a broader Fortinet networking and security environment. These platforms can appeal to organizations seeking closer integration between network access and cybersecurity infrastructure.

NETGEAR Switches

NETGEAR offers unmanaged, smart, and managed switching solutions for small business and professional environments, with options spanning basic Gigabit connectivity through higher-performance and PoE deployments.

Ubiquiti Switches

Ubiquiti offers switching solutions for organizations using its broader networking ecosystem, with options for centralized management, PoE, multi-gigabit connectivity, high-speed uplinks, and a variety of network sizes.

ADTRAN Switches

ADTRAN provides business and service provider switching solutions designed to support reliable network connectivity across a variety of edge and distributed networking environments.

Sophos Switches

Sophos provides managed switching solutions that can integrate with the broader Sophos security and management ecosystem, giving organizations another option for centrally administered business network infrastructure.

Explore all of the technology brands available from Hummingbird Networks to compare manufacturers across networking, security, power, servers, and IT infrastructure.

Build a Complete Switching Infrastructure

The switch itself is only one component of a reliable wired network. A complete deployment may also require appropriate cabling, transceivers, power protection, racks, and wireless infrastructure.

Depending on your network design, you may also need:

• Transceiver modules for compatible fiber and network interfaces
• Network cables for copper, fiber, DAC, AOC, and other connectivity requirements
• Wireless networking equipment for business and enterprise WiFi
• Racks and infrastructure for mounting and organizing network equipment
• Power and cooling solutions to help protect and support critical network infrastructure

Why Buy Network Switches from Hummingbird Networks?

Selecting a network switch involves more than matching a port count to a product. Compatibility, Ethernet speed, PoE requirements, uplink capacity, transceivers, management, licensing, redundancy, security, physical installation, and future expansion can all affect the right purchasing decision.

Hummingbird Networks helps businesses and organizations source network switches and supporting infrastructure from leading technology manufacturers.

Customers can turn to our team for:

• Business and enterprise network switches
• Managed and unmanaged switching solutions
• PoE and multi-gigabit switch options
• Products from leading networking manufacturers
• Help identifying compatible network hardware
• Assistance with network upgrades and infrastructure refreshes
• Business and enterprise technology purchasing support

Whether you need a single Ethernet switch or are planning a larger network refresh, our team can help you evaluate switching solutions based on your technical and business requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions About Network Switches

What does a network switch do?

A network switch connects devices within a local area network and forwards Ethernet traffic between them. Switches commonly connect computers, servers, printers, wireless access points, IP phones, security cameras, storage systems, and other network-enabled devices.

What is the difference between a network switch and a router?

A switch primarily connects devices within a local network, while a router directs traffic between different IP networks. In a typical business environment, switches provide local device connectivity while routers or gateways connect the local network to other networks, locations, or the internet.

What is the difference between a managed and unmanaged switch?

A managed switch provides configuration, monitoring, segmentation, security, traffic management, and other administrative capabilities. An unmanaged switch primarily provides straightforward Ethernet connectivity with little or no configuration.

Should I buy a 24-port or 48-port switch?

The right port count depends on the number of wired devices you need to connect and how much expansion you expect. A 24-port switch may be appropriate for smaller deployments, while a 48-port switch can provide greater density for larger offices and network closets. In either case, leaving unused ports for future devices can make expansion easier.

What is the difference between Layer 2 and Layer 3 switches?

Layer 2 switches primarily forward traffic using MAC addresses within a local network or VLAN. Layer 3 switches add IP routing capabilities, allowing them to route traffic between VLANs and network segments.

What is a PoE network switch?

A PoE network switch can deliver electrical power and network data through Ethernet cabling to compatible devices. PoE is commonly used for wireless access points, IP phones, security cameras, access control devices, and other network-connected equipment.

What is the difference between PoE, PoE+ and PoE++?

PoE, PoE+, and PoE++ refer to Power over Ethernet technologies capable of delivering different levels of electrical power to compatible devices. The appropriate standard depends on the power requirements of the connected equipment and the capabilities of the switch.

Do I need a Gigabit or multi-gigabit switch?

Gigabit Ethernet is sufficient for many common business endpoints. Multi-gigabit switching may be useful for devices that can exceed 1 Gbps, including certain wireless access points, workstations, servers, and other higher-performance equipment. The correct choice depends on device capabilities, applications, cabling, and network traffic requirements.

When do I need a 10 Gigabit switch?

10GbE can be useful for servers, storage, virtualization, high-performance workstations, network uplinks, aggregation, and other bandwidth-intensive applications. Some organizations use 10GbE only for switch uplinks while maintaining 1GbE or multi-gigabit connectivity at the access layer.

Do I need fiber ports on my network switch?

Fiber connectivity is useful for longer distances, building-to-building connections, high-speed uplinks, backbone infrastructure, and environments where copper Ethernet is not appropriate. The required fiber interfaces and transceivers depend on network speed, distance, fiber type, and the equipment being connected.

What size PoE budget do I need?

Your required PoE budget depends on the number and power requirements of the devices connected to the switch. Add the expected power requirements of the access points, cameras, phones, and other PoE devices, then allow appropriate capacity for future additions and peak demand.

Can I use network switches from different brands together?

In many networks, yes. Ethernet and other networking standards allow switches from different manufacturers to operate together. However, proprietary management systems, stacking, advanced features, transceiver compatibility, licensing, and support requirements should be evaluated when designing a mixed-vendor environment.

Which network switch brand is best?

There is no single switch manufacturer that is best for every network. Cisco, Meraki, HPE Aruba Networking, Aruba Instant On, Fortinet, NETGEAR, Ubiquiti, ADTRAN, Sophos, and other manufacturers address different management, performance, security, scalability, and budget requirements.

Can Hummingbird Networks help me choose a network switch?

Yes. Hummingbird Networks can help businesses and organizations evaluate network switches based on port count, Ethernet speed, PoE requirements, uplinks, management, compatibility, deployment environment, scalability, and other technical requirements.

Shop Network Switches for Your Business

Find network switches for small business, enterprise, campus, branch, and data center environments. Compare managed and unmanaged switches, Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching, PoE solutions, multi-gigabit connectivity, and high-speed Ethernet platforms from leading networking manufacturers.

Whether you are adding a few Ethernet ports, upgrading wireless infrastructure, increasing network bandwidth, replacing legacy equipment, or planning a larger network refresh, Hummingbird Networks can help you identify switching equipment that fits your environment and requirements.