Managed Network Switches
Switch specification by site
Count every wired device, then add room to grow.
| Site | Type | Ports | Why | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small office or shop | Unmanaged | 8–16 | Plug in and go, with nothing to configure | View range |
| Office, 10 to 50 staff | Managed PoE | 24 | Powers access points and phones, and separates traffic with VLANs | View range |
| Schools & larger offices | Managed | 48 | High port density per cabinet and central management | View range |
| Core & server rooms | Managed, 10 Gigabit | 24–48 | Fast links between switches and to servers | View range |
Frequently asked questions
Managed or unmanaged?
Unmanaged switches need no set-up and suit small, simple networks. Managed switches add VLANs, monitoring and access control, which you need once guests, phones and staff share the network.
How much PoE power do we need?
Add up the power draw of every device the switch will power, such as access points, phones and cameras, and choose a switch whose total PoE budget covers it with headroom.
Do switches include rack ears?
Most rackmount switches include mounting brackets for a 19-inch cabinet; desktop models may not. Check the listing.
Can we buy on account?
Yes. A trade account gives access to trade pricing, bulk discounts and credit of up to £20,000, with a named account manager for repeat orders.
Equipping a whole team?
Trade pricing on volume, credit up to £20,000 and a dedicated account manager.