Managed or unmanaged switches?

While thinking upon setting up a network in our hotel some have told me to
look into managed switches..

what is the difference between the unmanaged and managed? Also with the
managed switch do I need to buy any moduals to make it work?

heres one I was looking at
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=379347

I'll need about 3 of them so would it work? or would it be better to get
this unmanaged switch
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=424209

If it would work well I'd like to go with the unmanaged to keep costs down.

Next question is what kind of gateway should I go with?

"Joe Biadasz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
news:(E-Mail Removed):

> While thinking upon setting up a network in our hotel some have told
> me to look into managed switches..
>
> what is the difference between the unmanaged and managed? Also with
> the managed switch do I need to buy any moduals to make it work?

http://www.sensiblecinema.com/Knowledge/HUB.htm

A switch is managed network traffic where as the traffic knows to what
machine on what port the traffic belongs too.

A hub is unmanaged and the hub broadcasts the traffic to all ports.

>
> heres one I was looking at
> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=379347
>
> I'll need about 3 of them so would it work? or would it be better to
> get this unmanaged switch
> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=424209
>
> If it would work well I'd like to go with the unmanaged to keep costs
> down.

The hub will cause network traffic collision, because a machine can be
sending out data on a port while the hub is sending data down a port,
because it sends inbound data to all ports.

The collision slows the network down.
>
> Next question is what kind of gateway should I go with?
>
>
>

One that is a standalone device that has a real firewall.

http://www.firewall-software.com/fir...rewall_do.html

Duane

On Thu, 13 Nov 2003 17:58:18 GMT, Duane Arnold spoketh

>"Joe Biadasz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
>news:(E-Mail Removed):
>
>> While thinking upon setting up a network in our hotel some have told
>> me to look into managed switches..
>>
>> what is the difference between the unmanaged and managed? Also with
>> the managed switch do I need to buy any moduals to make it work?
>
>http://www.sensiblecinema.com/Knowledge/HUB.htm
>
>A switch is managed network traffic where as the traffic knows to what
>machine on what port the traffic belongs too.
>
>A hub is unmanaged and the hub broadcasts the traffic to all ports.

Wrong. A managed switch allows administrators to connect to a switch to
change a number of options including security and monitoring settings.
With an unmanaged switch, you still get all be benefits of a switched
network, but without all the "fancy" options. Hubs don't fit into this
at all.

As for the modules, you don't need them unless you either want to:
a) place the switches far apart, and want fiber optics to connect them,
and/or
b) want the uplink connections between the switches to be gigabit.

>
>>
>> heres one I was looking at
>> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=379347
>>
>> I'll need about 3 of them so would it work? or would it be better to
>> get this unmanaged switch
>> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=424209
>>
>> If it would work well I'd like to go with the unmanaged to keep costs
>> down.

For a hotel, I'd recommend the manage switches, as it makes it easier to
troubleshoot any type of network troubles.

>>
>> Next question is what kind of gateway should I go with?
>>
>>
>>
>
>One that is a standalone device that has a real firewall.
>
>http://www.firewall-software.com/fir...rewall_do.html
>
>Duane

Can't argue with that.

Lars M. Hansen
www.hansenonline.net

In article <Xns943279CA5126darnold92insightbbco@63.240.76.16> ,
Duane Arnold <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
:A switch is managed network traffic where as the traffic knows to what
:machine on what port the traffic belongs too.

:A hub is unmanaged and the hub broadcasts the traffic to all ports.

Your definitions are not correct -- or at least not with the usual
meaning of 'managed'. For example,

- The Allied Telesyn AT-FH800 is a managed hub.
- The Allied Telesyn AT-FS724i is an unmanaged switch.

"managed" when applied to network devices usually describes the
ability to remotely probe the device via RMON and/or SNMP in order
to determine the status of the device and its interfaces.

In networking terms, a hub is a Layer 1 repeater, sending the signals to
all ports, whereas a switch works at Layer 2, only sending the signals
to appropriate ports and able to work with different signal domains.

--
Reviewers should be required to produce a certain number of
negative reviews - like police given quotas for handing out
speeding tickets. -- The Audio Anarchist

"Joe Biadasz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>While thinking upon setting up a network in our hotel some have told me to
>look into managed switches..
>
>what is the difference between the unmanaged and managed? Also with the
>managed switch do I need to buy any moduals to make it work?
>
>heres one I was looking at
>http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=379347
>
>I'll need about 3 of them so would it work? or would it be better to get
>this unmanaged switch
>http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=424209
>
>If it would work well I'd like to go with the unmanaged to keep costs down.

Managed is always better for a business situation, assuming you have
someone who would look at the management interface and understand what
it is saying. (Although with problems you may bring in netowrking
consultant who would hopefully understand this).

Managed switches allow you to spot errors on specific ports, how much
traffic is go to each port (each hotel room). It will also allow you
to disable/enable ports individually without going back and yanking a
cable. For instance if your hotel charged a fee for network support
you would disable all the port and only enable those that paid. This
could be done from any PC in the building and would allow you to
manage services without someone going back and pulling wire. SImilarly
you could shutdown problem ports.

The polish and ability of the management interface is going to vary
from vendor to vendor. Hard to recommend one versus the other.

I just installed a 3COM 2446 switch. More expensive than dlink.
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=403371
It comes with 2 10/100/1000 ports. I doubt your hotel is generating
enough traffic to warrant a gigabit connection between the switches.

One compromise: Buy one managed and two unmanaged. If you have a
connection that you are concerned about you can move it to the managed
switch for better monitoring. Also locate your key connections
(connection to unmanged switches, internet, servers) on the managed
one.

>Next question is what kind of gateway should I go with?

I assume you are going to the Internet with this gateway. What kind of
Internet connection (bandwidth amount?) do you need to connect?
DiGiTAL_ViNYL (no email)

DigitalVinyl <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>"Joe Biadasz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>Also with the
>>managed switch do I need to buy any moduals to make it work?

Forgot to answer this one. SOmetimes yes. Have to look at each vendor.
They do this much less now. Sometimes you need to add a management
module to the unit, so it is "management-ready." They've gotten better
about this. Now, the modules that are open are typically to install
Gigabit connectors.


DiGiTAL_ViNYL (no email)

Everybody has adequately answered the question about "managed" vs.
"unmanaged". I'd just add the suggestion that you should make sure your
switches have a "spy", or "mirror" port, so you can monitor traffic with an
analyzer. Without a spy port you can only do that on a hub. Sometimes an
analyzer is essential to debugging. Ethereal on a laptop with nearly any
100BaseT adapter is an excellent freeware analyzer.

"Joe Biadasz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> While thinking upon setting up a network in our hotel some have told me to
> look into managed switches..
>
> what is the difference between the unmanaged and managed? Also with the
> managed switch do I need to buy any moduals to make it work?
>
> heres one I was looking at
> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=379347
>
> I'll need about 3 of them so would it work? or would it be better to get
> this unmanaged switch
> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=424209
>
> If it would work well I'd like to go with the unmanaged to keep costs
down.
>
> Next question is what kind of gateway should I go with?
>
>

I do no understand the managed and un managed.. My next question was going
to be. should this be a stand alone unit that is pluged into the internet
gatway? or should we get a pc and use some sortof network management
software..

if the software issue is a good route what is some good software?


"gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:%PSsb.398$%(E-Mail Removed) y.com...
> Everybody has adequately answered the question about "managed" vs.
> "unmanaged". I'd just add the suggestion that you should make sure your
> switches have a "spy", or "mirror" port, so you can monitor traffic with
an
> analyzer. Without a spy port you can only do that on a hub. Sometimes an
> analyzer is essential to debugging. Ethereal on a laptop with nearly any
> 100BaseT adapter is an excellent freeware analyzer.
>
> "Joe Biadasz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > While thinking upon setting up a network in our hotel some have told me
to
> > look into managed switches..
> >
> > what is the difference between the unmanaged and managed? Also with the
> > managed switch do I need to buy any moduals to make it work?
> >
> > heres one I was looking at
> > http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=379347
> >
> > I'll need about 3 of them so would it work? or would it be better to get
> > this unmanaged switch
> > http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=424209
> >
> > If it would work well I'd like to go with the unmanaged to keep costs
> down.
> >
> > Next question is what kind of gateway should I go with?
> >
> >
>
>

Sorry for fast typing.. the 1st part above should be

"I do now "


"Joe Biadasz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I do no understand the managed and un managed.. My next question was
going
> to be. should this be a stand alone unit that is pluged into the internet
> gatway? or should we get a pc and use some sortof network management
> software..
>
> if the software issue is a good route what is some good software?
>
>
> "gary" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:%PSsb.398$%(E-Mail Removed) y.com...
> > Everybody has adequately answered the question about "managed" vs.
> > "unmanaged". I'd just add the suggestion that you should make sure
your
> > switches have a "spy", or "mirror" port, so you can monitor traffic with
> an
> > analyzer. Without a spy port you can only do that on a hub. Sometimes an
> > analyzer is essential to debugging. Ethereal on a laptop with nearly any
> > 100BaseT adapter is an excellent freeware analyzer.
> >
> > "Joe Biadasz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > While thinking upon setting up a network in our hotel some have told
me
> to
> > > look into managed switches..
> > >
> > > what is the difference between the unmanaged and managed? Also with
the
> > > managed switch do I need to buy any moduals to make it work?
> > >
> > > heres one I was looking at
> > > http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=379347
> > >
> > > I'll need about 3 of them so would it work? or would it be better to
get
> > > this unmanaged switch
> > > http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/def...spx?EDC=424209
> > >
> > > If it would work well I'd like to go with the unmanaged to keep costs
> > down.
> > >
> > > Next question is what kind of gateway should I go with?
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

"Joe Biadasz" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I do no understand the managed and un managed.. My next question was going
>to be. should this be a stand alone unit that is pluged into the internet
>gatway? or should we get a pc and use some sortof network management
>software..
>
>if the software issue is a good route what is some good software?

What kind of Internet connection? bandwidth amount? do you need to
connect to?

Are you looking for any kind of controls on what people view have
access to?
DiGiTAL_ViNYL (no email)