cross-posted from: https://lazysoci.al/post/12597342
Okay, I’ve been watching lots of YouTube videos about switches and I’ve just made myself more confused. Managed versus unmanaged seems to be having a GUI versus not having a GUI, but why would anyone want a GUI on a switch? Shouldn’t your router do that? Also, a switch is like a tube station for local traffic, essentially an extension lead, so why do some have fans?
Your question exposes a language problem.
A router cannot do that. A router connects two networks together and routs traffic between them. That is it.
A home “router” is a combination device that includes a router, a wireless access point, maybe a modem, a managed switch, a dhcp server, a firewall, and more.
If you need a managed switch with more than 4 ports… you buy a managed switch. It is simple.
I feel like routers are overhyped.
An L3 switch is a router. Though most of them don’t have enough resources to take a full BGP routing table, at wire speed.