Unmanaged vs Managed Switches

Summary

In 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

00:00

🔌 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.

Keywords

💡Managed Switch

A managed switch is a type of network switch that can be configured and managed through a software interface. It allows for greater control over network traffic and provides advanced features such as security settings, diagnostics, and VLAN segmentation. In the video, Terry and Hayden discuss how managed switches can prevent network issues like loops and enhance security, which is crucial for operational technology (OT) networks.

💡Unmanaged Switch

An unmanaged switch is a simpler, plug-and-play device that does not require configuration and lacks advanced management features. It is typically used in small networks where minimal control is needed. The video script highlights the disadvantages of unmanaged switches, such as the inability to prevent network loops or provide security features, which can lead to network crashes and security vulnerabilities.

💡Loop

A loop in networking refers to a situation where a data packet continuously circulates between two or more devices in a network, causing a broadcast storm. Loops can occur when Ethernet cables are mistakenly connected to form a closed path. The script mentions that unmanaged switches are prone to loops, which can overwhelm the network's capacity and lead to downtime, while managed switches can prevent this with features like spanning tree.

💡Spanning Tree

Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) is a network protocol that ensures a loop-free topology for any bridged Ethernet local area network. It works by blocking ports to prevent loops. In the context of the video, managed switches utilize STP to automatically block ports that are part of a loop, thus maintaining network stability and preventing broadcast storms.

💡Diagnostics

Diagnostics in networking refers to the tools and processes used to identify and troubleshoot network issues. Managed switches offer diagnostic features such as traffic monitoring and port statistics, which can be accessed through a web interface. The video emphasizes how these diagnostic tools can help in identifying and resolving network problems more efficiently compared to unmanaged switches.

💡Security

In the context of the video, security refers to the measures taken to protect a network from unauthorized access and potential threats. Managed switches provide security features such as the ability to enable and disable ports, which is crucial for preventing unauthorized access to the network. The script contrasts this with unmanaged switches, which offer no security features at all.

💡VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network)

A VLAN is a logical grouping of network devices that are configured to operate as a separate network, even though they might be physically connected to the same local area network. The video explains how managed switches can segment large networks into smaller, more manageable VLANs, which can improve network performance and localize network issues, making troubleshooting easier.

💡Segmentation

Segmentation in networking refers to the practice of dividing a large network into smaller, more manageable parts. This is done to enhance security, improve performance, and simplify management. The video script discusses how managed switches can facilitate network segmentation through VLANs, which is particularly useful for large networks with multiple production lines.

💡IP Address

An IP address is a unique numerical label assigned to each device connected to a computer network that uses the Internet Protocol for communication. The video script mentions that large networks with many devices can run out of IP addresses, which can complicate adding new devices. VLANs can help alleviate this issue by creating separate subnets with their own IP address ranges.

💡Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting in networking involves identifying, diagnosing, and resolving issues within a network. The video emphasizes the importance of managed switches in troubleshooting, as they provide diagnostic tools and features that can pinpoint the source of network problems, such as loops or security breaches, which would be more challenging with unmanaged switches.

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