FAQs about switch purchasing

The ancients said: "I don't know the true colors of the mountains, but I am here ". In the face of the numerous switch products on the market, we need to open up its gorgeous appearance, and focus on the quality and practicality of the switch. When purchasing a switch, we only need to take the following measures, you can get good purchase results.

1. Product R & D capability: the manufacturer of the switch to be purchased shall have the R & D capability and the strength to master core technologies.

2. complete product lines: provide complete solutions to prove the network technical strength of products at various levels.

3. Product success stories: The specific success stories of the product can ensure the maturity of the product in the market.

4. Good Brand: the manufacturer has a good brand effect and user reputation.

5. Select an international quality system certification enterprise: this helps to effectively control product quality and enhance trust.

6. Perfect service system: product quality is the most important concern for users. If there is a perfect service system, there will be no worries.

Suggestion:

● Do not pay for unnecessary features.
● Select a device with more debugging functions.
● Consider your environment requirements carefully.
● Check the seller's customer service capabilities.
● The cheapest device is not necessarily the best choice.

What types of switches are divided?

Vswitches are generally divided into three types: low-level, intermediate-level, and advanced. Low-level switches only use one ASIC for layer-2 switching without any configuration. This type of switch is usually used in small enterprises or schools with around 200 people. Intermediate switches are usually assembled with CPUs and require simple configuration. These switches are usually used by large companies or schools. Advanced switches have the most advanced performance and remote configuration capabilities.
Do I need automatic MDI/MDIX?

This feature allows you to directly connect the port to the device through the five-class line without any cable configuration. This is very time-saving and labor-saving for users. Although this is not a very important feature, it is undoubtedly worth recommending.

How many Mac address list entries do I need?

The larger the number of entries in the Mac list, the faster the switch can run and the higher the efficiency. However, such a switch is more expensive.

What is a VLAN? Do I need it?

VLAN is A standard protocol (802.3q) that allows users to establish A secure channel from A to B. For example, A CEO can access the company's database at home like A company.

Since the execution of this task is not very costly, it is still wise to select the VLAN feature if you are not sure about it. At the same time, you also need a product that supports GVRP to simplify VLAN configuration.

What is a spanning tree?

If you have a large network system that is divided into multiple domains, there is no loop in the network. Once a loop exists in the network system, the same data packet exists in the network for round-trip transmission and bandwidth consumption. The spanning tree is an algorithm that can eliminate this annoyance (802.3d ). This performance is highly recommended.

What is a modular switch?

If a packet cannot be switched from one port to another, the switch is modular. This is usually caused by the internal structure of the device.

What if I want to expand my network in the future?

All modern switches can provide certain resizing capabilities for future upgrades. You can buy several identical switches and link them together to become a larger switch.

What is QoS? Why do I need it?

QoS is used to solve network latency and congestion problems. Without this function, some application systems, such as audio and video, cannot work reliably. However, if the network is only used for a specific application system with no time limit, such as Web or e-mail settings, you do not need to consider this function.

What is IGMP?

IGMP Snooping is a feature of a layer-2 switch. It can limit the forwarding of IP address multi-point transfer traffic, and it is only forwarded to the port that the IP host participates in a group, instead of forwarding to all ports. This function is required if the sending traffic is large.

Why do I use a managed switch or a non-managed switch?

A non-managed switch is easy to configure and can only use an ASIC solution. It is relatively inexpensive but not flexible without a CPU, so sometimes it may not meet the requirements.

The Management Switch is equipped with a CPU to meet various local or remote control needs. With a suitable central control tool, you can easily manage a large network system by employing just a few people.

Of course, the answer is also determined by the size of the network, the amount of good services required, and the amount of investment.

Is it necessary to upgrade the software?

A good software upgrade function not only allows buyers to solve problems, but also provides more outstanding features to meet their needs. This is a very necessary function for product life extension.

To correctly perform the upgrade function, the device must have enough flash space to save two copies of the Code. Do not purchase a machine that can only save one copy of the Code, so that the download failure may cause the device to become a pile of garbage.

Do I really need RMON?

RMON and SNMP work together as part of the remote management package. If the network is really large (more than 200 nodes need to be managed), RMON is required.

What is a port image?

This is a debugging function that allows you to copy all traffic from a specific port to an Image Port. In this way, the traffic can be monitored by a special device. It is helpful for fault discovery and repair.

What is WatchDog useful?

WatchDog is a hardware function that protects devices from being unresponsive. Once the device enters the unresponsive state, WatchDog restarts the device and redefines it. Many immature designs lack this important feature.

WatchDog is not a solution that truly enters the unresponsive state. In addition, restarting may interrupt the connection of some application systems, but it can significantly reduce the downtime due to its rapid recovery.

Where should I put my device?

Each electronic device has its environmental requirements. Most commercial devices set their operating temperature ranges to 0 ℃ ~ 55 deg C. This means that if the temperature is lower than 0 ℃, the machine will not start; if the temperature is higher than 55 ℃, the machine may also enter the unresponsive state. This also implies that the machine must work in a well-ventilated environment!

If the equipment is to be placed outdoors, in the attic, in the basement, or in a non-ventilated or hot place, it may cause work losses due to incorrect use of the equipment.

Customer Service saves time and money

Finally, customer service is also very important. Quick Service can save time and money! When purchasing a vswitch, do not forget to carefully consider this. The value of good customer service is far greater than the money saved in procurement.