What Is an Ethernet Micro Switch?

A micro switch is a small-form-factor Ethernet switch that has only 4 to 6 ports and can be mounted near network endpoints discreetly, such as in a wall socket, on a DIN rail, or on a desktop.

Ethernet micro switches—also called mini switches—are commonly used for wired network access in buildings with a fiber-to-the-office (FTTO) architecture. FTTO uses fiber cables instead of copper.

Cisco Catalyst Micro Switches

How do copper and fiber cable compare?

Today, Category 5e (Cat 5e) copper cable is the type of cable used in most network installations. Fiber optic cable is often perceived to be more expensive and a bit of overkill. Yet the balance may be shifting from copper to fiber as applications and devices demand more and more bandwidth.

Cost aside, fiber has many advantages over copper. Cat 5e cable can transmit at only up to 1 Gbps over 300 feet, while fiber optic cable can transmit at up to 10 Gbps over 12 miles. Copper cable is also heavier and bulkier, susceptible to electromagnetic interference, and vulnerable to tapping. And it has a shorter lifespan.

How does FTTO work with micro switches?

FTTO is a decentralized network architecture. It offers several advantages over installations that use copper cable for intermediate distribution throughout a building. Micro switches are designed primarily for FTTO.

In an FTTO architecture, one central network closet houses the core switches of the network. Fiber optic cable runs throughout the building, all the way to micro switches installed in the locations where endpoints need wired connectivity.

Endpoints such as wireless access points, voice-over-IP (VoIP) phones, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices can be connected to a micro switch with short copper cabling.

There are even desktop micro switches that include USB-C ports to provide power for laptops, phones, or video conferencing stations.

What are the benefits of using micro switches with FTTO?

Using Ethernet micro switches in an FTTO architecture offers several advantages over traditional deployments, including:

Potential for cost savings, by eliminating intermediate distribution hardware, as discussed below
More-agile workspace, by providing Ethernet connections near work areas
Greater reliability, by narrowing the failure zone to the local switch
No RF interference, by connecting to fiber uplinks instead of copper

Can users of micro switches with FTTO save money?

Using FTTO with micro switches can help organizations save on costs in addition to upgrading their network infrastructure.

The most prominent way FTTO networks can save on costs is by eliminating intermediate distribution frames (IDFs) on each floor or division of a building or campus. Fiber optic cable can run all the way from the network core to the endpoints. This saves money on distribution hardware and on the space needed for climate-controlled network closets on every floor.

It also can cost less to install fiber optic cabling than copper, since fewer cables are needed than for copper. Finally, fiber means more reliability, which can save time on issue resolution.