Network Switches
Network Switches from Dahua Technology, NeoLink Networking & CSL
A network switch connects devices within a network (often a local area network, or LAN*) and forwards data packets to and from those devices. Unlike a router, a switch only sends data to the single device it is intended for (which may be another switch, a router, or a user’s computer), not to networks of multiple devices.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) is an access layer technology that combines data signals and electrical power into a single Ethernet cable connection to enable remote powered device. PoE switches provide PoE power and network connectivity over twisted-pair wire to access points, surveillance cameras, and other IoT devices.
Network switches can operate at either OSI layer 2 (the data link layer) or layer 3 (the network layer). Layer 2 switches forward data based on the destination MAC address (see below for definition), while layer 3 switches forward data based on the destination IP address. Some switches can do both.
Most switches, however, are layer 2 switches. Layer 2 switches most often connect to the devices in their networks using Ethernet cables. Ethernet cables are physical cables that plug into devices via Ethernet ports.
