What is the difference between a managed, an unmanaged, and a web-smart switch?
The main difference between these types of switches are the range of feature sets and the ways that they can be configured. Managed and web-smart switches can be controlled via a user interface which, for example, allows the configuration of authentications, port prioritization, VLAN setup, or even the monitoring and blocking of ports. These functions are often essential in professional environments as they can increase security levels, contribute to effective networking, and thus they can save costs. While web-smart switches are configured with the aid of a web interface, managed switches offer the additional option of console-based configuration. LANCOM managed switches additionally feature a serial interface, they support virtual stacking, and they also support a larger number of VLANs than the web-smart switches. Unmanaged switches cannot be configured and are simply low-cost distributors in situations where the functions mentioned above are not necessary.
