"Cisco Business Basics: What Devices Play Well with an Unmanaged Switch"
When it comes to making connections, your Cisco Business unmanaged switch is like a Swiss army knife. Unmanaged switches provide extra ethernet ports to allow more devices to connect and create a reliable, gigabit, ethernet cabled connection – which makes it perfect for your home office or small business.
With as versatile as it is, it can be overwhelming to figure out what it all connects to. In this episode of Cisco Business Basics, we’re going to highlight what devices work best with your unmanaged switch and why your network may need them.
The Power of PoE
Before we dive in, it’s important that we start by talking about one of the unmanaged switch’s greatest features: Power Over Ethernet, or simply called “PoE”. PoE is a way to power devices with an Ethernet cable connect to a Local Area Network or LAN. Why PoE is so beneficial to your network configuration is that it reduces clutter and the number of power cords you would need to connect network devices such as routers, IP phones, security cameras, etc.For example of PoE in action, let’s say you have a big presentation for a client coming up. Luckily, your Cisco Business unmanaged switch allows for an easy wired connection to Smart TVs.
Given its reliability, and high-speed bandwidth, you won’t have to worry about your presentation lagging, disconnecting or acting up while you’re presenting – whether it’s in the office conference room or virtually through your computer.
How Unmanaged Switches benefit your business
The 110 series of switches are affordable and operate at high speeds so you can run your business or accomplish tasks at an efficient pace. They can also be mounted on either a rack or desktop, depending on the model or number of ports.But how do you choose which 110 Series model is for you? That’s determinant on what you feel you need. You want to identify your ideal port count including whether or not power over ethernet is a necessity for your situation.
What model is right for you?
For your small business, whatever model you choose (i.e., the 8PP-D, 16PP or 24PP), the PoE will always be half of the number of ports your device. Like an IP phone, for example. It’s like an unmanaged switch in that it hosts a variety of abilities. For your home office or small business, you might use it for video conferencing or file sharing – or you might simply use it for standard phone calls. No matter what you use it for, an unmanaged switch guarantees that you’re getting the best connection possible.Beyond those examples, there’s plenty of other devices that benefit from a little extra power: Mesh Extenders, IP Phones, and a Wireless Access Point. Thanks to its many ports, and PoE, the unmanaged switch creates a number of opportunities for secure and efficient connections to any devices you might need for your home office or small business.
Thanks for watching this edition of Cisco Business Basics. Happy networking, friends.