What is a Network Switch? A Beginner's Guide
Never sure what that box of blinking lights actually does? This guide explains exactly what a network switch is, how it differs from a router, and which type you need — in plain English.
In short: A switch connects multiple devices on the same network so they can talk to each other at full speed — think of it as a smart power board for network cables.
If you have ever peered into a server room or a home AV cabinet, you have probably seen a flat, rectangular box covered in Ethernet ports with a row of blinking green lights. That is a network switch. But what does it actually do — and do you need one?
This guide covers everything you need to know as a beginner, including how a switch differs from a router, what managed and unmanaged mean, and whether a PoE switch is worth it for your setup.
Switch vs Router — What's the Difference?
Most people confuse switches and routers because they look similar, but they do very different jobs:
- Router — connects your local network to the internet. It assigns IP addresses (DHCP) and handles traffic between your home and your ISP.
- Switch — connects devices within your local network. It forwards data between computers, printers, NAS devices, access points, and anything else plugged in via Ethernet.
Think of the router as your building's front door to the street, and the switch as the hallways connecting rooms inside the building. You need both for a well-wired network.
Almost every home router already includes a small 4-port switch built in. A dedicated switch simply gives you more ports and better performance — especially important once you have five or more wired devices.
What About a Hub? Is That the Same Thing?
No — a hub is an older, dumber version of a switch. A hub sends every incoming packet to every single port, so all devices share the same bandwidth and constantly compete with each other. A switch is intelligent: it learns which device is on which port and only sends packets where they need to go. Hubs are essentially obsolete; you will almost never encounter one in a modern home or office network.
Managed vs Unmanaged Switches
This is the most common question when buying a switch, and the answer depends entirely on what you need to do with it.
| Unmanaged | Plug in and it works — no configuration needed. Fixed settings, no web interface, no VLANs. Best for simple home setups. |
|---|---|
| Smart / Web Managed | A middle ground. Basic management via a web browser — you can set VLANs and monitor traffic without a full management platform. |
| Managed | Full control over every port: VLANs, QoS, SNMP monitoring, link aggregation, port mirroring. Required for business and advanced home networks. |
For most home users: an unmanaged or smart switch is all you need. Plug it in, connect your devices, done.
For home labs, small businesses, or UniFi setups: a managed switch is worth the extra cost — you get VLANs to separate your IoT devices from your main network, and centralised management from a single dashboard.
What is a PoE Switch?
PoE stands for Power over Ethernet. A PoE switch can deliver electrical power through the same cable it uses to carry network data. This means you can power devices like:
- WiFi access points (no separate power adapter needed)
- IP security cameras
- VoIP phones
- Smart door locks and intercoms
Instead of running both a power cable and a network cable to your access point across the ceiling, you run a single Ethernet cable from the PoE switch. Much cleaner, cheaper, and more flexible.
PoE comes in different wattage standards: 802.3af (15.4W per port), 802.3at PoE+ (30W), and 802.3bt PoE++ (60–90W). Make sure the switch provides enough watts for your devices — WiFi 6E access points often need PoE+ or better.
How Many Ports Do You Need?
Switches come in standard sizes: 5, 8, 16, 24, and 48 ports. Here is a simple guide:
- 5–8 ports — Small home setup: a couple of computers, a NAS, and an access point.
- 16–24 ports — Most homes and small offices: multiple APs, smart TVs, gaming consoles, security cameras, printers.
- 48 ports — Larger offices or home labs.
A good rule of thumb: count your current wired devices, add 30% for future growth, then round up to the next standard size.
UniFi Switches — A Great Managed Option
If you are building a home lab or small business network, Ubiquiti's UniFi switch range is one of the best value managed switch options available. They are all managed via the free UniFi Network application — the same app that controls your UniFi access points and gateway — meaning your entire network is managed from one place.
Popular UniFi switch models include:
- USW-Flex-Mini (MPN: USW-FLEX-MINI) — 5-port Gigabit, powered by PoE or USB-C. Perfect for a desk or small room.
- USW-16-POE (MPN: USW-16-POE) — 16-port Gigabit with 8 PoE ports. Ideal for powering multiple access points.
- USW-24-POE (MPN: USW-24-POE) — 24-port with 16 PoE+ ports. The go-to for most small offices.
- USW-Enterprise-8-POE (MPN: USW-ENTERPRISE-8-POE) — 8x 2.5GbE ports with PoE+. Designed for WiFi 6/6E APs needing higher throughput.
Only if you need more wired ports than your router provides, or want to connect devices in a different room. Most routers have 4 Ethernet ports built in. If that is enough for your setup, you do not need a separate switch.
Yes — this is called daisy-chaining or cascading switches. It works fine for home setups. For best performance, keep the chain to two levels deep, and use a higher-speed uplink port if available.
Standard Gigabit switches transfer data at up to 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps). Newer 2.5GbE switches support up to 2,500 Mbps — useful if you have a fast NAS, a 2.5GbE router, or WiFi 6/6E access points that can push more than 1Gbps through a single cable.
No. A switch operates on your local network and does not affect your internet connection speed. Traffic between your devices may actually be faster with a dedicated switch than through a router's built-in ports.
Ready to go deeper? Learn about the full UniFi ecosystem — switches, access points, cameras, and gateways — all managed from one app.
What is UniFi? →