Network Switches

Up to 24 network devices on the same network with a network switch

If you plan to set up a network of computers, the first thing you usually need is a network switch. The network switch is the piece of equipment that facilitates the connection between the computers on the network and is thus a central part of your network setup.

In terms of size, network switches can vary significantly. From small five-port models to large, expensive models for big offices and similar environments with up to 24 network ports. In other words, you can connect up to 23 devices via the network if you need to go online. The last port must be used to connect your network switch to the internet.

Having a network can be practical instead of letting everything run online. Especially if it's about internal gaming or work, where you only have the option to establish a connection between the specific devices and not devices via the internet connection.

When you choose to go "offline", it means there's data that can be made available to everyone - simply by sharing it with the other devices on the network. This also means that the data transfer speed is higher since the connection goes directly through the LAN cables and into the switch and back out to the other connected devices.

Different types of networks

There can be several contexts where you might need a network switch. You can use a LAN switch if you want to share an internet connection among multiple computers or if you want several computers connected to the same network.

Here, the computers are thus connected both internally while also having external connection in the form of the internet.

Some people create enormous LAN parties. Here, hundreds of people meet and connect their computers via large network switches. They do this to game and transfer data at enormous speeds.

Others want to set up an office network where the various work computers are connected to each other. In such an office network, it is possible to have data that everyone has access to while also having information sent directly between two machines.

The recognition of the various devices in the network happens with the help of the ports' MAC addresses, which simply means you can send data from a specific MAC address to another MAC address, so the data is only shared between the selected devices on the network.

Internet switch

A network switch works by sending data packets out through one or more ports. Most switch ports can both send and receive data simultaneously. This is called duplex. If you have an Ethernet switch port set to autonegotiation, it can often determine the speed that the connected equipment can communicate with. Most internet switches use "store-and-forward." This means the switch can store the data packet internally. Here, a checksum calculation is performed and if it matches, the packet is sent to one or more outgoing port queues.

LAN network

A LAN network can have a range of five km and therefore connect many computers in a large building. A LAN network works as follows:

If you imagine taking a router connected to a network switch. The network switch has four outputs. One of the four LAN outputs is just used to connect the router and the switch. This means you have three inputs left. You connect them to computer 1, computer 2, and computer 3 respectively.

If computer 1 wants to connect with computer 2, the switch, via the LAN connection, ensures to facilitate the contact between them. It does this because each LAN input has an individual MAC address. 

The computer uses the MAC address to identify which input it and the other devices in the network use. Thus, the switch sends enhanced data packets out to one or more ports, each with its MAC address. The switch then sends packets, calculates the packets' checksum, and evaluates whether it matches the port buffer's packet checksum. If it does, the data packet is sent on. This way, the switch learns to recognize which ports should receive which packets. When it comes to LAN networks, there are virtually no limits on how many computers can be connected to the network.

We have a large selection of internet switches

We have internet switches for a variety of purposes. With them, you can set up your own network. Some people choose to create networks for fun, while others need them for work purposes. 

Common to them is that they are looking for a solution that works. It may seem a bit tricky at the beginning, but it is incredibly efficient once you've got the hang of it.

It is important for us that you get the best possible experience when setting up your network, and that is why we only select the best products. You can see avXpert's wide selection of internet switches here on the page, where you can also order them, and see our selection of ubiquiti switch which is another type of internet switch from the popular Ubiquiti brand. 

If you order before 4:30 PM from Monday to Thursday and before 3:30 PM on Friday, your order will be shipped the same day. In most cases, this means that your network switch will arrive the next day. Therefore, we pride ourselves on having next-day delivery when goods are ordered within the mentioned time frames.

The number of ports

As previously mentioned, the number of ports in network switches ranges from five up to 24 network ports. You can also get network switches with as few as three ports, but this typically applies to PoE switches. You can read more about them in the section about PoE switches.

Which network switch should you choose? Essentially, it is your needs and the number of devices you want to connect that determines which network switch you should choose, how many ports it should have - and not least, what speed it can send data.

If you only need to connect a few devices via a network, you should look for a network switch that has a corresponding number of network ports. However, it never hurts to have a couple of network ports in reserve, should you need to connect a network hard drive, printer, or anything else that isn't included in your original needs. So the rule of thumb here is that it never hurts to have two to three extra network ports than the minimum number you need when you look at the original number of devices you want connected via a network.

Typically, you will find that network switches come in versions with five, eight, 16, or 24 ports. However, other variations also occur.

Different speeds

How fast should your data sharing be? The speed differs depending on whether you choose a network switch with 100 mbps or if you choose a network switch with a speed of 1000 mbps.

If you also need to use your network switch in connection with an external network - that is, the internet, keep in mind that your network switch can never have a faster external speed than that which you have through your internet provider.

In practice, this means that if your internet doesn't have a download speed of over 100 mbps, you don't need a network switch above 100 mbps, as you wouldn't be able to achieve a higher speed anyway.

However, the speed between the connected computers in the internal network can have a higher internal data speed, so in this case, you can never take advantage of a 1000 mbps network switch.

Whether you have an internet speed of 100 mbps or above likely depends on your internet usage. If you only use your internet for browsing, checking emails, and Facebook, then 100 mbps is enough. However, if you use it for streaming and other data-intensive activities, you should consider a network switch at 1000 mbps.

Internet speeds have only gone one way over the years - and will undoubtedly continue to do so. If you currently have an internet speed of around 100 mbps, you should already consider investing in a network switch at 1000 mbps so you are future-proofed for getting the most out of your network switch the next time your internet speed is adjusted.

A network switch at 1000 mbps is also what is referred to as a gigabit switch. This is because 1024 mbps corresponds to 1 gbps.

PoE switch - power your network

While the most common types of network switches differ from each other by the number of ports or speed, there is also a third version of network switches.

Here you find PoE switches. It essentially contains the same as the other network switches - with one difference. PoE stands for power over ethernet - translated to Danish: power via network.

PoE switches differ from other types of network switches in that they can transfer power and thus supply the network devices connected to the switch with power, so they don't need to have a power plug to operate. This can be devices such as a network router, IP cameras, wireless access points, alarm systems, or similar.

This means that you can simply connect a network cable to the device using a PoE switch so that it both has network connectivity and power.

PoE switches come in many variants, so they are certainly not just developed for places and buildings where there is a need for many connections. You can get PoE switches with down to three ports, so they can also be used for smaller setups like private homes.

How to install your network switch

It is simple and straightforward to install a network switch. Even if you haven't tried it before, we dare say that by following these steps you can easily connect your network switch. Even if you have never tried it.

Step 1 - Connect the power cable

The first thing you need to do when connecting your switch is to plug in the power cable. You do this by plugging the power cable into the power outlet. If you have a PoE switch, you need to connect the network cable to a port with power.

Step 2 - Connect the network cables

Once the power outlet is connected, you need to connect the network cables. Although the choice of port does not affect how devices are connected, we recommend that you connect the first crossover network cable to the first port, as identification will thus go faster.

In smaller homes, it will typically be the cable from your modem that you connect to the first port in the network switch.

Step 3 - Connect the other devices

Once power is connected to your network switch and it is connected to the internet, connect your category five or six network cables to the remaining ports, then connect them to the devices you want connected to the network.

Once you have done that, your network switch is installed and your devices that should be on the network are connected, after which you can use them via the network. Note that some of your devices may need to be configured so that they can be used via the network.

Improve your streaming with a network switch

The number of Danes streaming movies and music is now so high that we can safely say that almost everyone does it. Therefore, most people also know how annoying it is when the wireless connection fails and the signal stops.

If you have a smart TV, so you're not streaming via Chromecast, you and the rest of the household can greatly benefit from a network switch, which can enhance the streaming experience on all of the home's TV screens.

We previously mentioned that you should choose a 1000 mbps switch if the internet is used for streaming. That hasn't changed. If you connect your TV screens to the network switch, you will experience a faster and more stable internet signal than if you are streaming via WiFi.

The network switch provides a stable internet signal of up to 1000 mbps - if you have such a high network connection. Even if you have such a high internet speed, you are far from always guaranteed this speed when it is via WiFi. However, you are with a cat 6 network cable or above and a network switch. With a cat 6 cable, you gain access to the very high speeds, provided your network has access to this. In other words, it enables you to stream in 4K quality.