Networking

Difference between POE Switch and Injector List of Best POE Switches

List of Best POE Switches

In this article, we will be talking about some of the best PoE switches and injectors available out there on the market. These two are essential components in building or modifying your LAN network; especially for POE devices. They help you to use PoE functionality. Before we discuss the differences between POE switch and injector, let us first understand what PoE functionality is.

Power over Ethernet (PoE):

The term PoE is used to describe several networking standards and ad-hoc systems. Altogether, these standards allow passing electricity through the twisted pair (commonly used in most LAN networks) along with the data. It eliminates the requirement of additional power cord since a single twisted pair cable is enough for providing both data connection and required electricity. This technique is commonly used to power various networking devices such as Wireless Access Points (WAP), IP Camera, VoIP phones, etc.

PoE Switch v/s PoE Injector Difference:

What is PoE Switch:

PoE switch provides the same functionality any conventional network switch does. However, the only difference is that a PoE switch comes with build in Power over Ethernet (PoE) injection. Whenever you connect such PoE switch with other networking devices, it automatically checks if these devices are PoE compliant and power them up if they are. Thus, using a PoE switch is the handy way of adding PoE functionality to your network.

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What is PoE Injector:

PoE indicators are generally used for adding PoE capability to existing Non-PoE network links. Using PoE injector, we can activate both Poe injector and Non-PoE Ethernet devices. When deploying a network, injectors are the most versatile solution since they are handy when the number of required PoE ports are limited. PoE injectors are as well used for adding PoE to a specific device on the network.

What to choose?

You should remember following aspects while choosing a PoE Injector or Switch:

  • PoE switches do not offer additional ports and require a little modification to existing networks. On the other hand, PoE injectors do not expect much change on the net, and they can be easily mounted anywhere
  • If there are only a few devices you need to power up, you should go with the injector. However, if the requirement is high or you need to add PoE to the entire network, then we recommend PoE switches
  • If PoE switch goes down, all connected devices will go down. However, in case an injector goes down, only one device will be affected
  • Replacing a PoE injector is simple, however, replacing a PoE switch will cause production downtime on active network

This might be enough for understanding significant differences between PoE switches and PoE injectors. Now, let us have a look at some of the best PoE switches and PoE injectors available out there in the market. We have covered all the essential specs and details, which will help you to choose the right product according to your requirement:

List of Best POE Switches:

1. Linksys Business LGS528P:

List of Best POE Switches

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It is an integrated power over Ethernet Plus a.k.a (PoE+) switch with options for Layer-3 routing (static). The configuration software is secure and supports IP Telephony as well. Overall, it is a midrange, budget switch with additional features which you might or might not use. If you are familiar with the Linksys UI, then your setup experience would be a breeze.

If you have additional IP based security cameras or Access points, this switch is a good option.

General

Subtype Gigabit Ethernet
Ports 26 x 10/100/1000 (PoE+) + 2 x combo Gigabit SFP
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE+
PoE Budget 192
Performance Forwarding performance: 41.67 Mpps
Switching capacity: 56 Gbps
Jumbo Frame Support 9000 bytes
Authentication Method RADIUS
RAM 128 MB
MAC Address Table Size 16K entries
Authentication Method RADIUS
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE+
Status Indicators System, link/activity
Routing Protocol IGMPv2, IGMP, IGMPv3
umbo Frame Support 9000 bytes
PoE Budget 192 W
ManufacturerCisco

Power Device

Nominal Voltage AC 100/230 V
Frequency Required 50 – 60 Hz
Type internal power supply

Networking

MAC Address Table Size 16K entries
Subcategory network hubs and switches
Subtype Gigabit Ethernet
Form Factor Rack-mountable
Type Switch
 

 

 

Features

802.1x authentication, ARP support, IPv6 support, Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), Multicast Storm Control, Quality of Service (QoS), Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) support, SNTP support, STP Root Guard, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) support, Syslog support, Unicast Storm Control, Access Control List (ACL) support, port mirroring, static routing, Broadcast Storm Control, Class of Service (CoS), DHCP client, DHCP relay, DHCP snooping, DHCP support, IGMP snooping
Compliant Standards IEEE 802.1D, IEEE 802.1Q, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.3z, IEEE 802.1w, IEEE 802.1x, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3ad (LACP), IEEE 802.3ae, IEEE 802.3at, IEEE 802.3az
Jumbo Frame Support 9000 bytes
Ports Qty28
Manageable Yes
Routing Protocol IGMP, IGMPv2, IGMPv3
PoE Budget 192
Remote Management Protocol HTTP, HTTPS, RMON, SNMP 1, SNMP 2c, TFTP, Telnet
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE+

Miscellaneous

Height (Rack Units) 1 m
Color Category black, blue

Interface Provided

Qty2, 26
Comments PoE+

RAM

Installed Size 128 MB

Environmental Parameters

Humidity Range Storage 10 – 90% (non-condensing)
Min Storage Temperature -4 °F
Max Storage Temperature 158 °F
Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
Max Operating Temperature 122 °F
Humidity Range Operating 10 – 90%

Header

Brand Linksys
Model LGS528P
Packaged Quantity 1
Compatibility PC

Dimensions & Weight

Width 17.3 in
Depth 7.9 in
Height 1.7 in
Weight 6.88 lbs

Ports

Type 10/100/1000 (PoE+)
Qty26

Performance

Type forwarding performance, switching capacity
Value 41.67 Mpps, 56 Gbps

Ports (2nd)

Type combo Gigabit SFP
Qty2

Capacity

Type QoS hardware entries, active VLANs
Value 1000, 4

Service & Support Details

Type limited warranty
Full Contract Period lifetime

2. NetGear GS724TP:

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Just like the Linksys router, the NetGear router also comes with managed POE+ capabilities. It has advanced smart networking features, such as access control, DiffServ & LACP. It also supports Link aggregation which is useful for higher logical bandwidth.

The L3 routing capability is excellent for VOIP and other network communications. The web interface can be quickly learned and easily accessible.

We recommend this device for non-technical users who are looking for a plug and play device.

General

Subtype Gigabit Ethernet
Ports 24 x 10/100/1000 (PoE) + 2 x shared SFP
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE
Authentication Method RADIUS, TACACS+
MAC Address Table Size 4K entries
Authentication Method RADIUS, TACACS+
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE
Status Indicators Port transmission speed, power, link OK, link/activity
ManufacturerNetgear

Power Device

Nominal Voltage AC 120/230 V
Frequency Required 50 – 60 Hz
Power Consumption Operational 225 Watt
Type internal power supply

Networking

Cabling Type Ethernet 1000Base-T, Ethernet 100Base-TX, Ethernet 10Base-T
MAC Address Table Size 4K entries
Subcategory network hubs and switches
Subtype Gigabit Ethernet
Form Factor rack-mountable, desktop
Type Switch
Connectivity Technology wired
 

 

Features

Access Control List (ACL) support, Broadcast Storm Control, auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X), firmware upgradable, flow control, port mirroring, store and forward, DHCP support, IGMP snooping, IP address filtering, MAC address filtering, Quality of Service (QoS), SNTP support, Syslog support, auto-negotiation
 

Compliant Standards

IEEE 802.1D, IEEE 802.1Q, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.3z, IEEE 802.1p, IEEE 802.1w, IEEE 802.1x, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3ad (LACP), IEEE 802.3af, IEEE 802.3u
Ports Qty24
Manageable Yes
Switching Protocol Ethernet
Remote Management Protocol HTTP, RMON 1, RMON 2, RMON 3, RMON 9, SNMP 1, SNMP 2c, SNMP 3
Communication Mode full-duplex, half-duplex
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE

Miscellaneous

Rack Mounting Kit included
MTBF 165589 sec
Height (Rack Units) 1 m

Interface Provided

Qty2, 24
Connector Type SFP (mini-GBIC)
Comments PoE

Environmental Parameters

Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
Max Operating Temperature 122 °F
Humidity Range Operating 0 – 90%

Header

Brand NETGEAR
Product Line NETGEAR
Model GS724TP Smart PoE Switch
Packaged Quantity 1
Country Kits North America
Compatibility PC

Cable Details

Type network cable
Included Qty1
Form Factor external

Dimensions & Weight

Width 17.3 in
Depth 10.1 in
Height 1.7 in
Weight 8.16 lbs

Ports

Type 10/100/1000 (PoE)
Qty24

Ports (2nd)

Type shared SFP
Qty2

Service & Support

Type NETGEAR lifetime warranty

3. Netis PE6108:

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It is a Gigabit POE+ switch and complies with  IEEE 802.3at & af standards. It is a budget device with fewer ports and can easily support IP cameras and other POE devices.

If you are not too much into the big brands and would rather go with a device which gets the job done, then the Netis is one of the recommended POE switches that we recommend. Check out its specs below:

General

Subtype Gigabit Ethernet
Ports 8 x 10/100/1000 (PoE+)
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE+
PoE Budget 120
Performance Switching capacity: 16 Gbps
MAC Address Table Size 8K entries
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE+
Status Indicators Port status, power, PoE
PoE Budget 120 W
ManufacturerNetis Systems

Power Device

Nominal Voltage AC 120/230 V
Frequency Required 50 – 60 Hz
Type internal power supply

Networking

MAC Address Table Size 8K entries
Subcategory network hubs and switches
Subtype Gigabit Ethernet
Form Factor desktop
Type Switch
Features Back Pressure Support, auto-negotiation, flow control, full duplex mode, half duplex mode, store and forward
Compliant Standards IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3af, IEEE 802.3at, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3x
Ports Qty8
Manageable No
PoE Budget 120
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE+

Miscellaneous

Height (Rack Units) 1 m
Color Category black, gray

Interface Provided

Qty8
PoE Power 30
Comments PoE+

Environmental Parameters

Humidity Range Storage 5 – 90% (non-condensing)
Min Storage Temperature -40 °F
Max Storage Temperature 158 °F
Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
Humidity Range Operating 10 – 90% (non-condensing)

Header

Brand Netis
Product Line Netis
Model PE6108
Packaged Quantity 1
Compatibility PC

Dimensions & Weight

Width 6.8 in
Depth 11 in
Height 1.7 in

Ports

Type 10/100/1000 (PoE+)
Qty8

Performance

Type switching capacity
Value 16 Gbps

4. D-Link EasySmart Switch DGS-1100-08P:

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The DGS-1100 is an absolute winner in the eight-port affordable POE+ switch category. It comes equipped with L2 switching features such as VLAN & QoS, along with easy to use intuitive management interface. The switch immediately recognizes FE vs. gigabit-ethernet appliances plugged into it, and depending on the interface speed of the device, either the amber or the green LEDs on the switch ports light up respectively, giving you immediate visual verification of what the speed is.

DLink provides a lifetime warranty on the device and is also a fanless solution. Since the device is passively cooled, there will not be any noise from the device whatsoever. Whats more, the company also provides a lifetime warranty on the switch which is always helpful.

In case if you do decide to purchase it, ensure to flash the switch with the latest firmware. Check out its specifications below:

General

Subtype Gigabit Ethernet
Ports 8 x 10/100/1000 (PoE)
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE
MAC Address Table Size 8K entries
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE
Status Indicators Port transmission speed, power, link/activity
ManufacturerD-Link

Power Device

Nominal Voltage AC 120/230 V
Frequency Required 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption Operational 7.88 Watt
Type internal power supply

Networking

MAC Address Table Size 8K entries
Subcategory network hubs and switches
Subtype Gigabit Ethernet
Form Factor desktop
Type Switch
 

 

 

Features

ARP support, BOOTP support, VLAN support, Weighted Round Robin (WRR) queuing, auto-negotiation, auto-uplink (auto MDI/MDI-X), bandwidth control, fanless, flow control, full duplex mode, half duplex mode, layer 2 switching, Broadcast Storm Control, port mirroring, store and forward, trunking, Cable Diagnostics Function, D-Link Green Technology, DHCP client, IGMP snooping, Multicast Storm Control, Quality of Service (QoS), Unicast Storm Control
Compliant Standards IEEE 802.1Q, IEEE 802.1p, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3af, IEEE 802.3az, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3x
Ports Qty8
Manageable Yes
Remote Management Protocol HTTP
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE

Miscellaneous

MTBF 708219 sec

Interface Provided

Qty8
PoE Power 64
Comments PoE

Environmental Parameters

Humidity Range Storage 5 – 95% (non-condensing)
Min Storage Temperature 14 °F
Max Storage Temperature 158 °F
Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
Max Operating Temperature 122 °F
Humidity Range Operating 10 – 95% (non-condensing)

Header

Brand D-Link
Product Line D-Link EasySmart Switch
Model DGS-1100-08P
Packaged Quantity 1
Compatibility PC

Dimensions & Weight

Width 7.5 in
Depth 4.7 in
Height 1.1 in
Weight 25.04 oz

Ports

Type 10/100/1000 (PoE)
Qty8

Performance

Type forwarding performance, switching capacity
Value 11.9 Mpps, 16 Gbps

Service & Support

Type limited lifetime warranty

Service & Support Details

Type limited warranty
Full Contract Period lifetime

5. NETGEAR GS305P:

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It is an eight port device with an all metal construction target at SOHO users. It is a simple plug and play device and a completely fanless solution under the hood. So naturally, it will run cooler than the others listed above. The switch is ideal for home entertainment, where WiFi is unreliable or frequently fluctuates. Here are its detailed specifications below:

General

Subtype Gigabit Ethernet
Ports 5 x 10/100/1000 (4 PoE)
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE
PoE Budget 55.5
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE
Status Indicators Power, PoE, link/activity
PoE Budget 55.5 W
ManufacturerNetgear

Networking

Subcategory network hubs and switches
Subtype Gigabit Ethernet
Form Factor desktop, wall-mountable
Type Switch
Features fanless
Ports Qty5
Manageable No
PoE Budget 55.5
Power Over Ethernet (PoE) PoE

Miscellaneous

Color Category black

Interface Provided

Qty1, 4
Comments PoE

Header

Brand NETGEAR
Product Line NETGEAR
Model GS305P
Packaged Quantity 1
Compatibility PC

Ports

Type 10/100/1000 (4 PoE)
Qty5

Service & Support Details

Type limited warranty
Full Contract Period 3 years

Examples of the POE Injectors:

  • TP-Link TL-PoE150S: [amazon_link asins=’B001PS9E5I’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’foi04-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c322b9e1-7a08-11e8-840c-b7e06bae52f9′]
  • Brash Networks PE801F: [amazon_link asins=’B075CN5DRK’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’foi04-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’f1e4ca5b-7a08-11e8-a277-a99a55c1ed15′]
  • TREND-NET TPE 155GI: [amazon_link asins=’B00BK4W8TQ’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’foi04-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’20fc4cf5-7a09-11e8-a031-2fead70592fa’]
  • Ubiquiti Networks POE Injector: [amazon_link asins=’B00HXT8LPW’ template=’PriceLink’ store=’foi04-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’46ea88bc-7a09-11e8-a20e-4d5af5558eed’]
  • iCreatin Wall Plug POE Injector: [amazon_link asins=’B00NRGJCM6′ template=’PriceLink’ store=’foi04-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’747ddd11-7a09-11e8-bd43-615f6fc84b65′]

Conclusion:

That’s it for the difference between PoE Switches and injectors. These two components hold their own major importance in networking. We hope this post helps you to understand the major differences between these two different types of network components. Moreover, we hope the device list helps you to find the right product according to your requirements and scale of the network you are currently working on. If there is any doubt, question or suggestion, feel free to use the comment section below. Thank You!

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