What Is a Managed Switch?

A managed switch is an electric device that interconnects two circuits. Most commonly used in computer networks, managed switches allow users to fine-tune and manage the computer's ports. Managed switches have the ability to turn the port on or off and control its link speed and duplex settings.

Purpose

1. Mid- to large-sized LANs (local area networks) contain multiple linked managed switches. Managed switches increase computer security because they prevent people from connecting to your LAN through an unused port. Given that a port is a piece of computer hardware that can serve as an interface between the computer and other computers or peripheral devices, unmanaged ports can serve as gateways to the computer's inner workings.
   
   A managed switch allows the network administrator to monitor and control the number and types of data packets sent or received on each port, and thereby facilitate troubleshooting. The term "managed" means that the switch can be monitored and controlled over the same network typically from a remote location.

Unmanaged Switches

2. Another name for an unmanaged switch is a "Plug and Play" switch. Unmanaged switches do not allow control of the network's communication system.

Management Methods

3. Network administrators can manage these switches in a variety of ways: from a web browser for controlling managed switches, via a serial console or command line interface, or via an embedded Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agent allowing remote management.

Configuration Changes

4. Network administrators can alter the configuration of networks by using managed switches to create or modify virtual LANs (otherwise known as VLANs), to enable features such as Spanning Tree Protocol, and to set port speed.

Types of Managed Switches

5. The two subtypes of managed switches are "smart" and "enterprise managed."
   
   A smart (or intelligent) switch has limited management features. Administrators can manage most smart switches remotely via a website interface Smart switches fall somewhere between unmanaged and managed in terms of security and ease of use. Smart switches are the cheapest type of managed switch.
   
   An enterprise-managed switch has a full array of management features. Administrators can manage them in a variety of ways. Many enterprise-managed switches may allow users to display, modify, back up and restore network configurations. Accordingly, enterprise switches are more expensive and more difficult to use than smart switches.