Switches
LevelOne Switches: Reliable and Cost-Effective Network Distribution for Every Requirement
Network switches are the foundation of any wired IT infrastructure, ensuring fast, efficient, and stable data distribution between computers, servers, printers, IP cameras, access points, and other network devices. LevelOne offers a broad and practical portfolio of switches, ranging from simple Unmanaged Plug-and-Play models for home use and small offices to Smart Managed switches with advanced features for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). With a clear focus on excellent price-performance ratio, user-friendliness, and reliable performance, LevelOne enables the creation or expansion of stable and cost-effective networks. Discover the variety of LevelOne switches at etree and find the right solution for your specific connectivity needs and budget.
LevelOne aims to make solid network technology accessible to a wide range of users, emphasizing ease of use and essential functionalities.
Why LevelOne Switches? The Convincing Advantages in Detail:
- Excellent Price-Performance Ratio: LevelOne switches often offer solid performance and a good feature set at costs that are particularly attractive for price-sensitive projects and smaller budgets.
- Easy Installation and Operation: Unmanaged switches are pure plug-and-play devices. Smart Managed switches from LevelOne typically feature an intuitive, web-based user interface (Web GUI) for straightforward configuration.
- Broad Assortment for Diverse Requirements: The portfolio includes Unmanaged switches for simple network expansion, Smart Managed switches for more control and segmentation, and a wide selection of PoE switches for powering end devices. Speeds from Fast Ethernet to Gigabit Ethernet are common.
- Solid Performance for SOHO and SMB Applications: Designed for the typical requirements of home networks, small offices, and medium-sized business environments, they offer reliable data transmission.
- Comprehensive PoE/PoE+ Options: A strength of LevelOne is its wide range of Power over Ethernet switches, which significantly simplify the installation of IP cameras, VoIP phones, and WLAN access points as no separate power supplies are needed.
- Energy-Efficient Designs: Many models support standards like IEEE 802.3az (Energy Efficient Ethernet) to reduce power consumption and operating costs.
- Robust Construction and Reliability: LevelOne switches are often housed in sturdy metal enclosures (for rackmount and many desktop models) and are designed for long-lasting operation.
- Flexible Deployment Options: With various port counts (from 5 to 48 ports), form factors (desktop, rackmount), and optional SFP uplink ports for fiber optic connections.
The World of LevelOne Switches in Detail: From Unmanaged to Smart Managed
LevelOne categorizes its switches mainly by the degree of management capabilities and special features like PoE:
Unmanaged Switches – The Simple Plug-and-Play Solution
Ideal for users who want to expand their network quickly and without configuration effort. Simply plug in, connect devices, and the network runs.
- Features: No configuration required, Auto-MDI/MDIX (automatic cable type detection), store-and-forward switching method, various port counts (e.g., 5, 8, 16, 24 ports), available as Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) and Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) versions. Often in compact desktop housings, larger models also for rack mounting.
Smart Managed Switches (Web Smart / L2 Lite) – More Control for Growing Networks
These switches offer a good compromise between the simplicity of Unmanaged switches and the advanced features of Fully Managed switches. They are ideal for SMBs that need to segment their network, prioritize traffic, or enhance security.
- Features: Management via a user-friendly web-based interface (Web GUI). Typical functions include VLANs (IEEE 802.1Q) for network segmentation, Quality of Service (QoS per IEEE 802.1p) for traffic prioritization, Link Aggregation (LACP IEEE 802.3ad) for bandwidth bundling, Port Mirroring for network analysis, and basic security features like Port Security or Storm Control.
PoE Switches (Power over Ethernet – in both management categories) – Power and Data Over One Cable
A core competence of LevelOne. PoE switches power connected, PoE-enabled devices such as IP cameras, WLAN access points, or VoIP phones directly via the network cable.
- Features: Support for IEEE 802.3af (PoE, up to 15.4W per port) and IEEE 802.3at (PoE+, up to 30W per port). Important are the number of PoE ports and the total PoE budget of the switch (the maximum total power that can be delivered to all PoE devices). Available as Unmanaged and Smart Managed versions.
Switches with SFP Uplink Ports – Flexibility through Fiber Optics
Many LevelOne Smart Managed and some Unmanaged switches feature SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) slots. These allow the use of fiber optic or copper SFP modules for fast uplink connections to other switches or servers over longer distances or for connecting to a fiber optic backbone.
Key Technologies and Features of LevelOne Switches:
Ethernet Standards for Reliable Connectivity
Support for Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) for simple applications and Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Mbps) as the standard for modern networks with higher bandwidth requirements. Auto-Negotiation for speed and duplex mode, as well as Auto-MDI/MDI-X for automatic cable type detection, are standard.
Power over Ethernet (PoE/PoE+) Explained
IEEE 802.3af (PoE) delivers up to 15.4 Watts per port, while IEEE 802.3at (PoE+) can provide up to 30 Watts per port. This is important for powering devices with different energy needs. LevelOne PoE switches clearly indicate their total budget and maximum power per port.
VLANs (IEEE 802.1Q) for Logical Network Segmentation
Virtual Local Area Networks allow a physical network to be divided into multiple logically separate networks. This increases security (e.g., separating guest and corporate networks) and improves network organization and performance. Available on Smart Managed switches.
Quality of Service (QoS – IEEE 802.1p) for Traffic Prioritization
With QoS, certain types of data traffic (e.g., VoIP telephony, video conferencing) can be prioritized to ensure consistently high transmission quality even under high network load. Available on Smart Managed switches.
Link Aggregation (LACP – IEEE 802.3ad) for Bandwidth Bundling
Allows multiple physical ports to be combined into a single logical connection with higher total bandwidth and increased redundancy. Useful for connecting servers, NAS systems, or other switches.
Energy Efficient Ethernet (IEEE 802.3az)
Many LevelOne switches support EEE, which automatically reduces power consumption during low network utilization or on inactive ports, saving energy and protecting the environment.
Which LevelOne Switch for Which Use? – Application Examples:
- Expanding the home network for additional computers, game consoles, smart TVs (e.g., LevelOne Unmanaged Gigabit Switch with 5 or 8 ports).
- Setting up a small office network (SOHO) for sharing internet access, printers, and files (e.g., LevelOne Unmanaged or Smart Managed Gigabit Switch).
- Network segmentation in small businesses to separate departments or a guest WLAN using VLANs (LevelOne Smart Managed Switch).
- Powering IP surveillance cameras, VoIP phones, and WLAN access points in offices, shops, or private homes (LevelOne PoE/PoE+ switches with appropriate port count and budget).
- Connecting servers or NAS systems with higher bandwidth by using Link Aggregation on a Smart Managed switch.
- Connecting to other network segments or a backbone switch over longer distances using SFP ports and fiber optic modules.
What to Look for When Buying a LevelOne Switch? A Checklist:
- Management Type: Is a simple Unmanaged Switch (Plug-and-Play) sufficient, or are the configuration options of a Smart Managed Switch (VLAN, QoS, LACP) needed?
- Port Count and Speed: How many devices need to be connected? Is Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps) enough, or is Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps) required for all ports?
- PoE Requirements (Power over Ethernet): Are PoE ports needed to power end devices? If so, how many ports? Which PoE standard (IEEE 802.3af for PoE, IEEE 802.3at for PoE+)? What total PoE budget does the switch need to supply all connected devices?
- Uplink Requirements: Are dedicated uplink ports needed? Should these be standard RJ45 ports, or are SFP slots for fiber optic or DAC connections (for longer distances or higher bandwidths) required?
- Required Management Features (for Smart Managed Switches): Which specific functions like VLANs (number?), Quality of Service, Link Aggregation, Port Mirroring, or basic security features (Port Security, Storm Control) are necessary?
- Form Factor and Housing: Is a compact desktop switch (often with a plastic housing, fanless) or a more robust rackmount switch (19-inch, often with a metal housing and possibly fans) needed?
- Switching Capacity (Backplane) and Forwarding Rate: Are these values sufficient for the expected maximum network load and the number of connected devices?
- Energy Efficiency: Is support for IEEE 802.3az (Energy Efficient Ethernet) a criterion?
- Budget: LevelOne switches are known for their attractive pricing and cover a wide range from very inexpensive to mid-priced solutions.
At etree, you will find a careful selection of LevelOne switches. Use our product filters and detailed descriptions to identify the switch that optimally and cost-effectively meets your network requirements.