Configuration options
* Unmanaged switches — These switches have no configuration interface or options. They are typically found in SOHO or home environments.
* Managed switches — These are ones which allow access to one or more interfaces for the purpose of configuration or management of features such as Spanning Tree Protocol, Port Speed, VLANs, etc. High-end or “enterprise” switches may provide a serial console and command-line access via telnet and ssh, as well as management via SNMP. More recent devices may also provide a web interface. Limited functions, such as a complete reset by pushing buttons on the switch are usually also provided. Managed switches are found in medium or large “enterprise” networks and though more expensive are of higher quality (e.g. with a backplane with higher transfer speeds). The task of managing usually requires understanding of Layer 2 networks (e.g. Ethernet).
o Smart (or intelligent) switches — These are managed switches with a limited set of features. Likewise “web-managed” switches are switches which fall in a market niche between unmanaged and managed. For a price much lower than a fully managed switch they provide a web interface (and usually no CLI access) and allow configuration of basic settings, such as VLANs, port-speed and duplex.
o Web-managed switches — Similar in functionality to a smart switch. A Web-managed switch is configured through a browser instead of via a desktop utility.