Skip to main content
  • Workstations – Enterprise Power for Every Vision
  • RTX PRO 6000 Series – From AI to Render
  • Protect Your Power – Power Managment Your Way
  • DGX Spark – AI from Idea to Impact
  • ABS x Phison - AI Training PCs
  • AMD EPYC 4005 Series
  • Workstations – Enterprise Power for Every Vision
  • RTX PRO 6000 SERIES – From AI to Render
  • PROTECT YOUR POWER – POWER MANAGEMENT YOUR WAY
  • DGX Spark – AI from Idea to Impact
  • Featured Brands

    See Deals from SonicWallSee Deals from Netgear Inc.

Switches & Hubs Featured Items

See All Featured Shop all products
Netgear ProSafe GS105 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch, GS105NA
Netgear ProSafe GS105 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch, GS105NA
  • Brand: NETGEAR
  • Series: ProSafe
  • Standards: IEEE 802.3i 10BASE-T Ethernet IEEE 802.3u 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet
  • Network Management Type: Unmanaged
  • Model #: GS105NA
  • Item #: 9B-33-122-128
  • Return Policy: 15-Day Return Policy
Netgear GS108 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch, GS108-400NAS
Netgear GS108 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch, GS108-400NAS
  • Brand: NETGEAR
  • Series: ProSafe
  • Part Number: GS108-400NAS
  • Format: Desktop
  • Model #: GS108-400NAS
  • Item #: 9B-12K-008X-00026
  • Return Policy: 15-Day Return Policy
Ubiquiti Pro XG 10 PoE, 10-Port Layer 3 PoE+++ Switch (USW-Pro-XG-10-PoE (400W))
Ubiquiti Pro XG 10 PoE, 10-Port Layer 3 PoE+++ Switch (USW-Pro-XG-10-PoE (400W))
  • Format: Rack mount (1U)
  • Primary Ports: 10 GbE RJ45:10 (All PoE+++) (10G/5G/2.5G/1G/100M) 10G SFP+:2 (10G/1G)
  • PoE: Yes
  • Layer: 3
  • Model #: USW-PRO-XG-10-POE
  • Item #: 9B-33-664-177
  • Return Policy: 15-Day Return Policy
Cisco Catalyst C1300-48P-4X Ethernet Switch, 48 Ports - Manageable - 10 Gigabit Ethernet - 10/100/1000Base-T, 10GBase-X - 3 Layer Supported
Cisco Catalyst C1300-48P-4X Ethernet Switch, 48 Ports - Manageable - 10 Gigabit Ethernet - 10/100/1000Base-T, 10GBase-X - 3 Layer Supported
  • Brand: Cisco Systems, Inc
  • Series: Catalyst
  • Part Number: C1300-48P-4X
  • Format: Rackmount
  • Model #: C1300-48P-4X
  • Item #: 9B-0XP-003P-031T7
  • Return Policy: 15-Day Return Policy
Ubiquiti Networks - (UNAS-Pro)
Ubiquiti Networks - (UNAS-Pro)
TRENDnet 5-Port Hardened Industrial Gigabit PoE+ DIN-Rail Unmanaged Switch, TI-PG541
TRENDnet 5-Port Hardened Industrial Gigabit PoE+ DIN-Rail Unmanaged Switch, TI-PG541
  • Brand: TRENDnet
  • Model: TI-PG541
  • Part Number: TI-PG541
  • Format: DIN Rail Mount
  • Model #: TI-PG541
  • Item #: 9SIV61JJM55139
  • Return Policy: View Return Policy
Netgear AV Line M4250-9G1F-PoE+ 8x1G PoE+ 110W 1x1G and 1xSFP Managed Switch, GSM4210PD-100NAS
Netgear Inc.
Netgear AV Line M4250-9G1F-PoE+ 8x1G PoE+ 110W 1x1G and 1xSFP Managed Switch, GSM4210PD-100NAS
  • Brand: NETGEAR
  • Series: AV Line M4250
  • Part Number: GSM4210PD-100NAS
  • Format: Desktop
  • Model #: GSM4210PD-100NAS
  • Item #: 9B-0XP-001M-00GV9
  • Return Policy: 15-Day Return Policy
  •  
  • $659.99 
Netgear GS308 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch, GS308-300PAS
Netgear GS308 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Unmanaged Switch, GS308-300PAS
  • Brand: NETGEAR
  • Part Number: GS308-300PAS
  • Format: Desktop or wallmountable
  • Standards: IEEE 802.3ab 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet IEEE 802.3u 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet IEEE 802.3i 10BASE-T Ethernet IEEE 802.3x Flow Control IEEE 802.1p Priority QoS (all models) IEEE 802.1p Priority QoS and DSCP (except GS308P, GS316) IEEE 802.3 CSMA / CD 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet
  • Model #: GS308-300PAS
  • Item #: 9B-33-222-029
  • Return Policy: 15-Day Return Policy
  • $27.99
  •  
  • $20.99 
  • Save: 25%
Cisco Catalyst C1200-8FP-2G Ethernet Switch, 10 Ports - Manageable - Gigabit Ethernet - 1000Base-X, 10/100/1000Base-T - 2 Layer Supported
Cisco Catalyst C1200-8FP-2G Ethernet Switch, 10 Ports - Manageable - Gigabit Ethernet - 1000Base-X, 10/100/1000Base-T - 2 Layer Supported
  • Brand: Cisco Systems, Inc
  • Series: Catalyst
  • Part Number: C1200-8FP-2G
  • Standards: Layer Supported: 2 Networking Standards: IEEE 802.1x IEEE 802.3az IEEE 802.3ad IEEE 802.3 IEEE 802.3u IEEE 802.3ab IEEE 802.3z IEEE 802.3x IEEE 802.1D IEEE 802.1w IEEE 802.1s IEEE 802.3af IEEE 802.3at IEEE 802.1p IEEE 802.11ac IEEE 802.1Q IEEE 802.1ab
  • Model #: C1200-8FP-2G
  • Item #: 9B-0XP-04WP-007N2
  • Return Policy: 15-Day Return Policy
TRENDnet 10-Port Industrial Gigabit PoE+ Wall-Mounted Front Access Switch, TI-PG102F, 8x Gigabit PoE+ Ports, 2 x Gigabit SFP Slots, 240W PoE Budget, DIN-Rail & Wall Mount Brackets Included, IP30 Rated
  • $294.49 - $309.99
Cisco Catalyst C1200-8T-E-2G Ethernet Switch, 10 Ports - Manageable - Gigabit Ethernet - 1000Base-X, 10/100/1000Base-T - 3 Layer Supported
Cisco Catalyst C1200-8T-E-2G Ethernet Switch, 10 Ports - Manageable - Gigabit Ethernet - 1000Base-X, 10/100/1000Base-T - 3 Layer Supported
  • Part Number: C1200-8T-E-2G
  • Standards: Layer Supported: 3 Networking Standards: IEEE 802.1x IEEE 802.3az IEEE 802.3ad IEEE 802.3 IEEE 802.3u IEEE 802.3ab IEEE 802.3z IEEE 802.3x IEEE 802.1D IEEE 802.1w IEEE 802.1s IEEE 802.3af IEEE 802.3at IEEE 802.1p IEEE 802.11ac IEEE 802.1Q IEEE 802.1ab
  • Network Media: Media Type Supported: Optical Fiber Twisted Pair Ethernet Technology: Gigabit Ethernet Network Technology: 1000Base-X 10/100/ 1000Base-T
  • Uplink Interface: Total Number of Expansion Slots: 2.0 Expansion Slot Type: SFP (mini-GBIC) Shared SFP Slot: Yes Number of SFP Slots: 2
  • Model #: C1200-8T-E-2G
  • Item #: 9B-0XP-003P-031V1
  • Return Policy: 15-Day Return Policy
Ubiquiti Standard 24 PoE, 24-Port Layer 2 PoE Switch (USW-24-PoE (95W))
Ubiquiti Standard 24 PoE, 24-Port Layer 2 PoE Switch (USW-24-PoE (95W))
  • Brand: Ubiquiti Networks
  • Part Number: USW-24-POE
  • Format: Rackmount
  • Network Management Type: Managed
  • Model #: USW-24-POE
  • Item #: 9B-0XP-000A-00337
  • Return Policy: 15-Day Return Policy

What are Ethernet Switches and Hubs?

Introduction

An Ethernet switch and hub are two very important parts of a network that can determine how many computers the network can support and how it routes data. Before purchasing a switch or a hub, it is crucial to understand how they differ from each other. The following information will detail how hubs and switches route network traffic, as well as common types of switches.

Hubs

Ethernet hubs can be used to create a network and expand the number of connections a network can support, but hubs are basic units that repeat incoming data to all ports and cannot route network traffic. So when one computer sends data to another through a hub, that data is sent to all connected computers. The computers then read the address information of incoming data to know whether or not it is intended for them.

Ethernet Switches

Network switches can also create and expand networks but do so more intelligently than hubs. Whereas a hub is a repeater that sends data received to all connected computers, a switch inspects the data for address information and routes it to the intended computer. A network switch does not create as much unnecessary traffic and can support more simultaneous data transfers between computers.

Modular Switches

For large organizations, an Ethernet switch is slightly more complex than the average desktop network switch. Enterprise-grade networks use modular switches that are installed into network switch chassis. One chassis can hold many switch modules, and each module can have several Ethernet ports. Modular network switches have several benefits, including scalability, configurability, and easy expansion.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) Switches

Some switches, known as PoE switches, are able to deliver both data and power over Ethernet cables. It is similar to how a USB hubcan be used to power devices connected to it. A PoE network setup can reduce the need for power cables and is easy to expand. For example, adding wireless functionality to a PoE network only requires a PoE compatible wireless access point (WAP) to be connected to a PoE switch via network cable.

An added benefit of PoE is that it can allow you to install network equipment at lower cost. For instance, if you need to install a wireless access point at a location with no electrical outlets, you would normally need to have a certified electrician install power outlets in addition to network cables. With a PoE system, you will just need to run network cables to the location. Other than being able to supply power through network cables, a PoE switch functions like any standard Ethernet switch.