Buying guides
Plain-language guides for IT buyers, office managers and anyone speccing a business network.
How many switch ports do you actually need?
Work out your port count today, add growth headroom and uplinks, then round to the nearest standard size.
Read guide → SwitchesManaged vs smart vs unmanaged switches
The difference between the three tiers, who needs each, and when the extra cost of management is justified.
Read guide → PoEPoE vs PoE+ vs PoE++: what your devices draw
Power draw for access points, IP cameras and desk phones, and how to make sure your switch budget covers it.
Read guide → PoESizing a PoE budget for cameras and access points
Step-by-step: add up device watts, apply a safety margin, and match to a switch with enough headroom.
Read guide → SwitchesRackmount vs desktop switches for a small office
Which form factor suits your install, and what you will need (or avoid) in each case.
Read guide → AccessoriesSFP, SFP+ and fibre uplinks explained
When copper ethernet is not enough: fibre runs, distances, module types and what to buy alongside the switch.
Read guide → WirelessChoosing a business wifi access point
What separates a business AP from a home router, and how to size for client count, throughput and PoE.
Read guide → ManagedSetting up VLANs on a smart switch
What VLANs do, which switch tier you need, and a plain-language walkthrough of the setup.
Read guide →