Best 48 Port Switches for Small Business

When you want to set up your small or medium sized business network, you will definitely need a few different pieces of hardware. One of these equipment is either going to be an Ethernet switch, a hub or a router. An Ethernet switch can be an inexpensive and simple way to expand your network in your home or small business. In addition, a 48 port switch with higher port density has been wildly popular for small network environment where space and power are at a premium. In this article we will recommend 4 ways to get the most suitable 48 port switch and then recommend two 48 port switches for small business.

4 Ways to Choose 48 Port Switch

Not every 48 port switch is created equal. To choose the most suitable 48 port switch, here provides 4 ways to help you get it.

• Capacity

For a 48 port switch, the data throughput capacity can vary dramatically. The least expensive switch is made to work with the number of ports it has, while upscale one can provide additional expandability which allows to grow with a small business. If a switch has an uplink port that permits two switches to be connected together, or it is hot-swappable that modules can be added, removed and replaced without powering down or restarting the switch, it will be more ideal for the demanding network environment.

• Speed

On the one hand, modern networks generally run at 100Mbps, 1Gbps or 10Gbps, and a 48 port switch should support the fastest speed in use on a given network. On the other hand, a 48 port switch should not only support Gigabit Ethernet speed but also keep up with the number of different connections coming in and out of it. Besides, a full-duplex switch which sends a full speed signal can operate up to twice as quickly as a half-duplex switch.

• Intelligence

As an intelligent switch, they need at least to be able to inspect a packet to see where it should be sent. Layer 3 switches make further progress and delve into a packet's IP envelope to provide routing capabilities which benefit more efficient network utilization in exchange for higher cost.

• Power over Ethernet

A 48 port PoE switch directly provides both data transmission and power supply for IP phones, wireless access points and other PoE-enabled devices that creates more flexibility for networking and simplifies the installation. Therefore, it saves small businesses from running separate power cables to those devices.

Best PoE 48 Port Switch: FS S1600-48T4S

As a PoE managed switch, FS S1600-48T4S comes with 48 10/100/1000Base-T RJ45 Ethernet ports, 1 console port and 4 10G SFP+ slots, which ensure high speed and precise transmission without delay. This 48 port switch can automatically identify the compatibility with IEEE 802.3af or IEEE 802.3at standards of connected devices and and then supply power for those devices. It also simplifies the network deployment in remote areas without power outlets and makes it easy to use APs, IP cameras, VoIP phones and other PoE-enabled network equipment with PoE technology. In addition, this 48 port gigabit switch can be mounted in a rack, on a wall, or on desktop, which can meet different install requirements.

Best Non-PoE 48 Port Switch: FS S3800-48T4S

FS S3800-48T4S managed 48 port switch has 48 10/100/1000Base-T ports with 4 10G SFP+ uplinks that is designed for small or medium businesses, labs and schools. It supports multiple configuration modes to make it easy for network management. In other words, this 48 port switch comes with two separate supplies: single power and dual power versions that can be used as alternatives and selected in accordance with different demands. FS S3800-48T4S 48 port switch adopts high performance and low power processor to provide full speed forwarding and line-dormant capacity.

Conclusion

It is not easy to choose the best 48 port switches for your small business from the abundance of available Ethernet switches on the market. This article provides a guide for 48 port switch selection and recommends 48 port switches for different requirements: PoE and non-PoE managed switch. Each kind of 48 port switch has its own characteristics and functions when applied to relevant situations and environments. For 48 port switch, FS could always be a good choice.