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WTF is up with switches? (lazysoci.al)

submitted 7 months ago by sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al to c/homelab@lemmy.ml

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cross-posted from: https://lazysoci.al/post/12597342

Okay, I've been watching lots of YouTube videos about switches and I've just made myself more confused. Managed versus unmanaged seems to be having a GUI versus not having a GUI, but why would anyone want a GUI on a switch? Shouldn't your router do that? Also, a switch is like a tube station for local traffic, essentially an extension lead, so why do some have fans?

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[–] Pohl@lemmy.world 10 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

Your question exposes a language problem.

A router cannot do that. A router connects two networks together and routs traffic between them. That is it.

A home “router” is a combination device that includes a router, a wireless access point, maybe a modem, a managed switch, a dhcp server, a firewall, and more.

If you need a managed switch with more than 4 ports… you buy a managed switch. It is simple.

[–] sabreW4K3@lazysoci.al -5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I feel like routers are overhyped.

[–] eleitl@lemmy.ml 9 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

An L3 switch is a router. Though most of them don’t have enough resources to take a full BGP routing table, at wire speed.