LANCOM Switches FAQ

What is the difference between a managed, an unmanaged, and a web-smart switch?

The main difference between these types of switches are the range of feature sets and the ways that they can be configured. Managed and web-smart switches can be controlled via a user interface which, for example, allows the configuration of authentications, port prioritization, VLAN setup, or even the monitoring and blocking of ports. These functions are often essential in professional environments as they can increase security levels, contribute to effective networking, and thus they can save costs. While web-smart switches are configured with the aid of a web interface, managed switches offer the additional option of console-based configuration. LANCOM managed switches additionally feature a serial interface, they support virtual stacking, and they also support a larger number of VLANs than the web-smart switches. Unmanaged switches cannot be configured and are simply low-cost distributors in situations where the functions mentioned above are not necessary.

How do LANCOM switches contribute to virtual networking?

VLAN-capable LANCOM switches can be integrated into LANCOM Advanced Routing and Forwarding. This function creates an infrastructure of different independent subnets (VLANs) which are only accessible to authorized users. With a single infrastructure, different network participants (employees, customers) have access to different subnets and are unable to access information from the other networks. These switches provide a clean-cut separation of WLAN subnets (VLAN) for forwarding into the wireline network. Because switches can recognize VLANs and VPNs, they form the link between WLANs and wireline networks and serve as a basis for professional network virtualization. And professional networking has numerous benefits: Shared infrastructure helps to improve efficiency when using existing hardware, so saving considerable costs by avoiding new acquisitions. Find out more about professional network virtualization in our white paper on the subject of Network virtualization (PDF).

What advantages do LANCOM switches offer?

Like all LANCOM products, our switches are of high quality and reliability. An example of this is the extremely quiet type of fan integrated into the ES‑2126+, the ES-2126P, and the GS‑2124. This LANCOM quality allows us to exceed the legal warranty requirements provided by resellers to customers—we offer a five-year warranty on all components, including the fans. LANCOM gives you another advantage: The GS-1224, the GS-2124, the ES-2126+, and the ES-2126P can be configured with the clearly structured WEBconfig and they support our free LANCOM management tools. The GS-1224 offers a special advantage: The new web-smart switch makes do with a power consumption of just 20 W, about one-third less than other conventional switches on the market.

What types of networks are ideal for LANCOM switches?

The LANCOM line of switches offers future-proof switch solutions at a fair price for sophisticated edge networks in small and medium-sized enterprises. Companies that use network virtualization to save costs and optimize their capacities profit from intelligent managed switches because they support up to 256 active VLANs and feature port prioritization compliant with 802.1p or TOS/DiffServ. The inexpensive web-smart switch is the ideal alternative for companies which also want to operate virtual networks, but do not require the full range of features provided by managed switches (e.g. configuration via console) and, instead, are particularly interested in lower power consumption. All of our switches are ideal for environments outside of IT rooms due to their extremely quiet fans or fanless design.

How secure are LANCOM switches?

LANCOM attaches great importance to the security of its networks. This is the reason why our managed and web-smart switches are designed with configurable ports for 802.11x-compliant access control. This requires every terminal device to be authorized before it can access the network. In order to protect switches from attacks such as MAC flooding, the MAC address learning limit can be set individually.

What is MAC flooding? How are LANCOM switches protected from this?

MAC flooding occurs when a massive number of data packets with different MAC addresses is sent to the switch. Conventional switches store every one of these MAC addresses until the internal memory overflows. At this moment, what was an intelligent switch starts operating like a hub, i.e. instead of defining the recipient, it simply transmits all of the data packets to every terminal in the network. This potentially gives an attacker access to all of the network traffic. To avoid attacks of this type, managed switches from LANCOM can be set with a MAC address learning limit. This prevents the switch from becoming a central bottle-neck.

Do the switches have redundancy mechanisms to increase operational reliability?

Yes. Managed switches from LANCOM support the rapid spanning tree protocol as defined in the IEEE802.1w standard. This protocol initially prioritizes the fastest route in the network by deactivating slower redundant paths. If the prioritized route should fail the redundant paths are reactivated, providing data traffic with alternative routes and compensating seamlessly for the failure.

What is "virtual stacking" and what advantages does it offer?

Virtual stacking refers to the bundling of multiple devices under a single IP address, which is then used to manage all of the devices. Single-IP management of this type simplifies administration as multiple switches can be configured from a single login. The LANCOM virtual stacking management integrated into our managed switches supports up to 16 switches.

Can PoE devices from other vendors be connected to LANCOM switches?

LANCOM switches support all devices compliant with the IEEE 802.3af standard.

You have more questions about the LANCOM line of switches which we have not answered here? Write to us as sales@lancom.eu. We will be happy to deal with your questions and answering them as quickly as possible.