Understanding Switch Management: Unmanaged vs. Lightly Managed Switches

As covered in this article, setting up or upgrading a network, and understanding switch management types is key to making the right choice. NETGEAR Business offers a wide range of Ethernet switches built around varying levels of management, starting with unmanaged and lightly managed switches, ideal for small to medium-sized networks.

Unmanaged Switches: Plug-and-Play Simplicity
Unmanaged switches are the easiest to use. Perfect for home offices, small businesses, or temporary setups, these switches offer simple, reliable network expansion without the need for configuration. Just plug in your devices, and you're ready to go. They're especially useful for basic connectivity like printers, PCs, IP cameras, or expanding router ports on a budget.

Lightly Managed Switches: Smart Control for Growing Networks
NETGEAR’s Smart and Easy Smart switches offer a step up. These lightly managed switches provide VLAN support, Quality of Service (QoS), traffic monitoring, and even remote management through NETGEAR Insight. They are ideal for SMB networks, classrooms, IoT deployments, and branch offices, they balance ease of use and functional depth.

Whether you need a plug-and-play solution or some network control without complexity, NETGEAR’s unmanaged and lightly managed switches provide scalable, cost-effective options to match your business needs.

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