THE SHOW | THE MICROTECHNOLOGY INFORMATION PORTAL
16.03.2026
C - Automation
Gigabit switches - Intelligent networking
Switches as captains in networked structures
Intelligent infrastructure components—known as switches—read incoming data and forward it to the port with the appropriate recipient. The performance of the network depends on the capabilities of the switches and the components/participants. Depending on this, the choice is made between unmanaged or managed switches.
Unmanaged switches provide Ethernet devices with network connections so that they can communicate with each other. However, as intermediaries, they merely add additional ports to the network and offer neither intelligent functions nor control options for network traffic. In industrial environments, unmanaged switches are therefore often used in small networks.
Managed switches, on the other hand, offer extensive options for port and device configuration. They also perform important functions in error analysis, network diagnostics, and redundancy mechanisms. While these switches optimize data transmission, they also increase the configuration effort and thus the overall costs. Nevertheless, their use in the network topology provides more control and thus offers decisive advantages, for example in remote access.
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