Unmanaged vs Managed Switches
Summary
TLDRIn this video, Hayden Ireland and Terry Lawson discuss the critical differences between unmanaged and managed switches. Unmanaged switches, while seemingly sufficient, can lead to network issues like loops, lack diagnostics, and offer no security features. Managed switches, on the other hand, prevent loops with features like spanning tree, provide diagnostics for monitoring and troubleshooting, enhance security with port control, and enable VLAN segmentation for organized and efficient network management. The video emphasizes the importance of managed switches for robust and secure industrial networks.
Takeaways
- 🔁 Unmanaged switches can create loops when cables are accidentally connected to two ports on the same switch or multiple switches are looped together.
- 🌀 Loops in a network can cause a broadcast storm, leading to network crashes and unplanned downtime.
- 🛠️ Managed switches with spanning tree protocol can prevent loops by automatically blocking ports that are part of a loop.
- 📍 Managed switches provide diagnostics such as traffic monitoring and port statistics through their web interface, aiding in troubleshooting.
- 🔒 Managed switches offer enhanced security features, unlike unmanaged switches which provide no security.
- 🚫 Unmanaged switches do not support features like port enabling and disabling for physical security.
- 🏢 In large networks, managed switches allow for VLAN segmentation, which breaks up larger networks into smaller, more manageable ones.
- 🚧 VLANs help reduce overall network traffic and localize network issues, improving network management and troubleshooting.
- 🌐 Managed switches are essential for network segmentation, which is crucial for troubleshooting and adding devices in large networks.
- 🔑 For optimal network management, especially in manufacturing systems, managed switches provide the necessary tools and features to prevent issues and enhance security.
Q & A
What is the primary difference between unmanaged and managed switches?
-Managed switches offer additional features such as the ability to monitor and control network traffic, prevent loops, and provide security measures, which unmanaged switches lack.
Why can unmanaged switches lead to network issues?
-Unmanaged switches can cause network issues because they do not have the capability to detect and prevent loops, which can lead to broadcast storms and network crashes.
What happens when a loop is created in a network with unmanaged switches?
-When a loop is created, the traffic volume in the loop grows until it overwhelms the switches' capacities, leading to a network crash and unplanned downtime.
How do managed switches prevent loops in a network?
-Managed switches prevent loops by using protocols like Spanning Tree, which automatically blocks one of the ports if a loop is detected.
What diagnostic features do managed switches provide?
-Managed switches offer diagnostics such as traffic monitoring, port statistics, and the ability to test cables directly from the switch's web interface.
How do managed switches enhance security in a network?
-Managed switches enhance security by providing features like enabling and disabling ports for physical port security, which is not available in unmanaged switches.
What is the significance of VLAN segmentation in large networks?
-VLAN segmentation allows for breaking up larger networks into smaller, more manageable networks, which decreases overall network traffic and helps localize network issues.
Can VLANs be set up on unmanaged switches?
-No, unmanaged switches do not support VLAN configuration, which is a feature exclusive to managed switches.
Why is network segmentation important for troubleshooting?
-Network segmentation is important for troubleshooting because it localizes issues to specific segments, making it easier to identify and resolve problems without affecting the entire network.
What is the main takeaway from the discussion on managed vs. unmanaged switches?
-The main takeaway is that managed switches provide essential features like loop prevention, security, and diagnostics, which are critical for maintaining a stable and secure network, especially in manufacturing systems.
How can one get more information or assistance with networking decisions for their manufacturing systems?
-For more information or assistance, one should contact their local ES&S account manager or an automation specialist.
Outlines
🔌 Understanding Managed vs. Unmanaged Switches
In this video segment, hosts Hayden Ireland and Terry Lawson discuss the key differences between managed and unmanaged network switches. They highlight the disadvantages of unmanaged switches, such as the inability to prevent network loops that can lead to broadcast storms and network crashes. Managed switches, on the other hand, offer features like spanning tree protocol to eliminate loops, providing better network stability and performance. Additionally, managed switches provide diagnostics and port monitoring capabilities, which are absent in unmanaged switches.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Managed Switch
💡Unmanaged Switch
💡Loop
💡Spanning Tree
💡Diagnostics
💡Security
💡VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network)
💡Segmentation
💡IP Address
💡Troubleshooting
Highlights
Key differences between unmanaged and managed switches are discussed.
Unmanaged switches can cause problems like accidental loops leading to network crashes.
Loops in unmanaged switches can overwhelm switch capacities and cause unplanned downtime.
Managed switches use spanning tree to eliminate loops by automatically blocking ports.
Managed switches provide diagnostics like traffic monitoring and port statistics.
With managed switches, you can identify the exact port causing a loop through the device manager.
Unmanaged switches offer no security features.
Managed switches offer robust security features including the ability to enable and disable ports.
Managed switches help in troubleshooting large networks with multiple production lines.
Segmentation of networks is crucial for managing large networks and avoiding IP address depletion.
VLANs allow for network segmentation, reducing overall traffic and localizing issues.
VLANs function like separate neighborhoods, creating isolated networks that require routers to communicate.
Managed switches are essential for eliminating network loops and enhancing security.
Managed switches provide VLAN segmentation and diagnostics to aid in network troubleshooting.
The video concludes with a summary of the benefits of managed switches over unmanaged ones.
Contact an es& account manager or automation specialist for more information on managed switches.
Transcripts
hello I'm Hayden Ireland and I'm Terry
Lawson with es& in this video we'll go
over key differences between unmanaged
and managed
[Music]
switches so Terry why do we need to use
a managed switch when an unmanaged
switch will work just fine good question
haen unmanaged switches seem like a good
idea but there are several disadvantages
one of the most common occurrences as we
run across is when someone accidentally
creates a loop on one or more unmanaged
switches so what exactly happens when we
create a loop in the system once the
loop is created then the traffic volume
in the loop grows and grows until it
overwhelms all the switches capacities
in the Loop's path Loops can occur when
someone accidentally physically Loops an
ethernet cable to two ports on the same
switch or Loops multiple switches
together broadcast messages get repeated
in an infinite Loop eventually the
network will crash as the broadcast
storm grows causing production lines to
shut down resulting in unplanned
downtime a managed switch with spanning
tree would eliminate Loops by
automatically blocking one of the ports
if someone creates a loop or plugs into
a port that shouldn't be connecting
could I tell where they're plugged into
with an unmanaged switch no not with an
unmanaged switch but with a managed
switch it will tell you exactly what
ports are involved in the loop if you
are using the device manager which is
nothing more than the manage switch's
web page you get Diagnostics such as
traffic monitoring Port statistics and
the ability to test cables directly from
the managed switch well Terry what about
security it's becoming a big issue with
OT networks does an unmanaged switch
help at all with security nope notada
zero absolutely no security at all with
an unmanaged switch well that couldn't
be any clearer but how are the security
features with a managed switch a managed
switch has great security features a
popular one is the ability to enable and
disable ports for physical Port security
directly from an HMI or the switch
management interface Terry I run into
this situation where there's a bunch of
ethernet devices spread across multiple
production lines they're huge networks
and they all have that famous 1921 1681
Network the biggest problem is that when
they have a network issue it affects the
entire line multiple lines so they don't
know where to begin troubleshooting also
it's almost impossible to add devices
because they're out of IP addresses they
really need to think about breaking up
their networks it's called segmentation
when segmenting VLS are the way to go
can you set up VLS on an unmanaged
switch no this is one of the best things
about managed switches when you have
large Networks you can segment by using
vlans which enables you to break up
larger networks into smaller networks it
decreases overall Network traffic and
helps localize network issues think of
vlands like separate neighborhoods in a
city each neighborhood has its own
houses and people within a neighborhood
can easily interact with each other but
if you want to visit another
neighborhood you'll need to use specific
transportation to get from one
neighborhood to the other vlans
similarly create isolated networks that
can communicate internally but require
special routers to connect with each
other Terry this has been a great
explanation of the difference between a
managed and an unmanaged switch can you
do a quick summary of what we just
talked about to sum it up simply
unmanaged switches are just standard
pieces of equipment that offer little to
no value to your facility especially in
a crisis situation using managed
switches will eliminate Loops which
could bring down an entire network they
also add a level of security VLAN
segmentation and Diagnostics to help
troubleshoot network issues we hope this
has helped you make the right networking
decisions for your Manufacturing Systems
if you have any questions or would like
more information please contact your
local es& account manager or automation
[Music]
specialist
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