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And that’s where connection switches are essential.

The best data pipe switch overall

1.

A network switch with dark pink cables attached

(Image credit: Future)

The CBS350-8MGP-2X offers the right balance in terms of the number of ports, speed, and features.

The web interface and companion mobile utility increase the utility of the managed switch by simplifying its configuration.

The case could definitely be smaller if the 10G combo ports were stacked.

C1300-8MGP-2X front.

(Image credit: Future)

Read our fullCisco CBS350-8MGP-2X review.

The best online grid switch on a budget

2.

Oh, and its as affordable as switches of its kind come.

C1300-8MGP-2X back.

(Image credit: Future)

Whats not to like?

The best internet switch for quiet operation

3.

Its plug-and-play, making it suitable for small-to-medium-sized businesses and its power efficient to boot.

Cisco CBS350-8MGP-2X 3

(Image credit: Future)

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The best online grid switch for video

4.

5.

Cisco CBS350-8MGP-2X 4

(Image credit: Future)

It can supply up to 30W of PoE+ power per port with a 65W total budget.

Oh, and its lifetime warranty will give you peace of mind.

The best web connection switch for beginners

6.

C1300-8MGP-2X side.

(Image credit: Future)

The switches are very reliable since they have no moving parts and are extremely simple to use.

They are compatible with most modern web link infrastructure and are decently priced.

The TEG-S750 has a maximum power consumption of 18W and is heavy given the limited number of ports.

Cisco CBS350-8MGP-2X 5

(Image credit: Future)

It has no mounting hole and is designed to be placed on a desk.

Conversely, the TPE-TG380 is bigger but lighter and offers the option of being wall-mounted.

Read our fullTRENDnet TPE-TG380/TEG-S750 review.

Cisco CBS350-8MGP-2X 2

(Image credit: Future)

The best high-powered internet switch

7.

The connection switch with 32 x 1GbE and 16 x 2.5GbE supports both legacy and modern equipment.

If that’s not enough, four additional SFP+ ports allow easy scalability when connected to other ECS2552FP.

Cisco CBS350-8MGP-2X 1

(Image credit: Future)

A 740W PoE power supply available to all copper ports makes running power-hungry devices fuss-free.

What makes the ECS2552FP great is the mobile program and cloud services.

They are straightforward to use and make deploying and managing the switch and other EnGenius devices a breeze.

Cisco CBS350-8MGP-2X hero image

(Image credit: Future)

Furthermore, some parts of the cloud service, such as the firmware upgrade, can be improved.

At an MSRP of $1599, the ECS2552FP is priced just about what other similar switches cost.

Read our fullEnGenius ECS2552FP review.

TP-Link 16-Port Fast Ethernet Unmanaged Switch

The best web connection switch for small businesses

8.

TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2

The TP-Link TL-SG3210XP-M2 managed switch offers eight 2.5GbE ports and two 10G SFP+ connectors.

A 240W power supply dedicated to PoE devices means cameras can be powered without any worry.

NETGEAR 24-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch

The onboard 800MHz single-core processor ensures that webpages are served quickly with port statistics rendered in real-time.

The switch could have been perfect if not for the noisy fan.

At about 45dB, it is not the quietest piece of office equipment.

CISCO SYSTEMS 24-Port Gigabit Switch

The power consumption is on the lower end, at 20W when idle.

The TL-SG3210XP-M2 requires the purchase of an additional controller box to be accessible from the Internet.

Read our fullTP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 review.

TRENDnet 8-Port Gigabit Long Range PoE+ Switch

The best connection switch for small networks

9.

The passively cooled unit will last longer and help avoid unnecessary hardware maintenance.

The C1300 has its quirks.

TRENDnet TPE-TG380/TEG-S750 hero image

(Image credit: Future)

Having a single LED per port does not help visually diagnose field issues.

The C1300 remains more expensive than similar products because it carries the Cisco brand.

Read our fullCisco Catalyst C1300-8MGP-2X review.

TRENDnet TPE-TG380/TEG-S750 front

(Image credit: Future)

How to buy a online grid switch?

This will be dictated by the number of devices you want to connect.

They come with a variety of features and capabilities and these factors will also influence your choice.

TRENDnet TPE-TG380/TEG-S750 side

(Image credit: Future)

But you could also achieve this by purchasing an additional switch later on.Power over Ethernet?

The second question will be whether or not you want Power over Ethernet (PoE) or not.

But usually, its a straight choice with or without PoE.

TRENDnet TPE-TG380/TEG-S750 accessories

(Image credit: Future)

Youll always pay a little more for a switch with PoE.

Here, the overall PoE budget and how it is allocated by the switch may be important.

Remember that connected devices will consume more power when active than inactive.

TRENDnet TPE-TG380/TEG-S750 back

(Image credit: Future)

up to 30W per port.

On some switches, you might have only 15W per port maximum.

Also, the way that the power is distributed might be significant.

EnGenius ECS2552FP side

(Image credit: EnGenius)

These come in U sizes, which is just a standard designation for the height of the switch.

Usually, they are 1U or 2U.

But there are a growing number of devices that offer multiple speeds on different ports.

EnGenius ECS2552FP accessories

(Image credit: EnGenius)

For bigger networks you might want to take advantage of the multi-gig capability.

Put simply, an unmanaged switch is a junction box on which you cant really change anything.

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TP-Link TL-SG3210XHP-M2 accessories.

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