Consider what you need most and choose accordingly.
Consider what you need most and choose accordingly.
I've reached the limit of Ethernet ports on my router. I'm thinking about getting a network switch. I looked on Amazon and found some budget options and more advanced models. I'm confused about what to choose. Right now I use one desktop, an old laptop for Minecraft, a cable for my laptop, a NAS, and a Raspberry Pi for Home Assistant. I can connect everything via Ethernet if I can get my phone to work that way. I'm really interested in home automation and IoT, but I only need gigabytes. I'd like to manage everything from my existing router (static IPs included). PoE would be useful for the Raspberry Pi and IoT devices, though it's quite pricey. I'm considering the TP-Link TL-SG108E, which is popular on Amazon for around $35. I'm new to networking gear and don't know much about it. What advice would you give?
For a home network, unmanaged is sufficient. Opt for managed only if you require features like VLANs or similar capabilities.