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Managed & Unmanaged Switches

A network switch joins the cameras, access points, recorders and computers on a wired network. This page covers unmanaged switches that work straight out of the box and managed switches you configure for VLANs, loop prevention and security, including cloud-managed Layer 2 access switches and Layer 3 models that route between networks. Brands include Ruijie, Hikvision and AMG Systems, in PoE and non-PoE, desktop and rack-mount versions.

Choosing Managed & Unmanaged Switches

Decide whether the switch needs configuring, then count ports and uplinks, then decide whether it must power devices.

Unmanaged or managed

An unmanaged switch is plug and play. The Reyee RG-ES124G-L has 24 gigabit ports, needs no CLI or GUI and runs fanless in a metal housing, and the RG-ES116G-L adds port isolation and hardware flow control to steady camera video. A managed switch lets you set VLANs, loop protection and security policies. Cloud-managed Ruijie switches such as the RG-ES205GC and RG-NBS3200-24GT4XS are looked after through Ruijie Cloud and recognise IP cameras on the network.

Layer 2 or Layer 3

The RG-NBS3100-24GT4SFP-V2 is a Layer-2 cloud-managed access switch with VLAN, link aggregation, IGMP snooping and DHCP snooping. A Layer-3 switch can also route traffic between networks: the RG-CS83-48GT4XS runs the programmable RGOS operating system with Python support, and the AMG510-4G-24S-4XS adds static Layer-3 routing to a Layer-2+ feature set.

Ports and uplinks

Count the devices you have now and leave room for more. The RG-ES205GC is a desktop switch with 5 gigabit ports, while the RG-NBS3200-48GT4XS has 48 gigabit ports, 4 SFP+ uplinks and a switching capacity of 176 Gbps. SFP ports take fibre connections: the RG-NBS3200-24SFP/8GT4XS has 24 SFP ports with 8 combo RJ45 ports, and on the AMG510-4G-24S-4XS the SFP and SFP+ transceivers are ordered separately.

PoE or non-PoE

A PoE switch powers cameras and access points through their network cable, so check the total power budget as well as the port count. The DS-3E1518P-EI has 16 PoE ports on a 230W budget, and the RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PD supports PoE+ to IEEE 802.3af and 802.3at on its 48 ports. The RG-ES124G-L has no PoE, so it is paired with separate PoE injectors or PoE switches where cameras need power.

ModelTypePortsNotes
RG-ES124G-LUnmanaged24 × gigabit RJ45Fanless metal housing
RG-ES205GC-PCloud-managed5 × RJ45, 4 PoE/PoE+Desktop steel case
RG-NBS3100-24GT4SFP-V2Layer-2 cloud-managed24 × 1G + 4 × SFPFanless, non-PoE
DS-3E1528P-SI-24P4FSmart PoE24 PoE + 4 fibre370W budget
RG-CS83-48GT4XS-PDLayer-3 access48 × GE + 4 × SFP+PoE+
AMG510-4G-24S-4XSLayer-2+ managed4 RJ45, 24 SFP, 4 SFP+Dual power inputs

Ruijie makes most of the range, alongside Hikvision PoE switches and AMG Systems managed switches.

Related categories

See the wider network switches and PoE solutions range, compare powered models in PoE switches, browse the Ruijie range, or patch with Ethernet cables.

Brands we stock in Managed & Unmanaged Switches

AMG Systems, Hikvision and Ruijie.

Frequently asked questions

What is an unmanaged network switch?

An unmanaged network switch is a plug-and-play switch with no settings: you connect cables and it forwards data between devices automatically. It suits homes, small offices and simple CCTV systems, where nobody needs to split traffic or monitor ports. Add a managed model later if the network grows. The range here includes fanless unmanaged switches in desktop and metal cases.

What is the difference between a managed and an unmanaged network switch?

A managed switch can be configured and monitored, while an unmanaged switch simply passes data between connected devices with no settings to change. Managed models add tools such as VLANs, traffic priority and remote monitoring. Choose unmanaged for a small, simple network, and managed where cameras, phones and office computers share one network. The range here includes unmanaged, smart and cloud-managed switches.

What is a managed network switch?

A managed network switch is a switch you can log into and configure, so you control how traffic moves between its ports. Typical features include separate virtual networks, priority for voice or video traffic, and port monitoring through a web page or cloud app. Some models can also route traffic between networks. The range here includes cloud-managed and fully managed switches, some with PoE.

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