Mount
The form factor determines how the switch is installed.
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Desktop. Devices designed to be placed on a flat surface such as a countertop or shelf; some models also allow hanging on the wall. Significantly easier to install than rack or DIN rail equipment (see below), but most desktop switches are entry-level, maximum mid-range. This is because desktop placement is less secure than rack or rail mounting, making it less suitable for professional equipment.
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Rack mounted. Switches designed for installation in a telecommunications rack. To do this, the design provides for an appropriate set of fasteners, and the body is made in a standard size. This size is quite large, which allows for numerous network ports; and the rack mounting itself is reliable. Therefore, this option is used by most professional-level switches, although there are also relatively simple models with this installation method.
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Mounted on a DIN rail. Switches mounted on a standard DIN rail. Such rails are used as mounting fixtures, in particular, on electrical panels and in cabinets for special equipment, however, if desired, they can be fixed to any vertical surface, including a regular wall. Specifically, "switches" with a similar installation, as well as rack-mounted ones, are mainly of a professional level; however, rail-mounted models are much smaller, resulting
...in more modest functionality and fewer ports. Also note that they are usually executed in a vertical rather than a horizontal layout.
— Street (on the mast). Switches that can be installed outdoors. A characteristic feature of such equipment is the enhanced protection of the case, which protects the internal components from dust, moisture, high and low temperatures, etc. winter application (if you need a frost-resistant model, you can use the "Operating temperature" list below). However, if the equipment needs to be placed on the street (or in a room where the conditions are not very different from the street ones), then it is definitely worth choosing from this category.Control
Management methods and protocols supported by the switch.
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SSH. Abbreviation for Secure Shell, i.e. "Safe shell". The SSH protocol provides a fairly high degree of security, because. encrypts all transmitted data, including passwords. Suitable for managing almost all major network protocols, but requires a special utility on the host computer.
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Telnet. A network management protocol that provides configuration using a text-based command line. It does not use encryption and does not protect transmitted data, and is also devoid of a graphical interface, which is why in many areas it has been supplanted by more secure (SSH) or more convenient (web interface) options. However, it is still used in modern network equipment.
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Web interface. This function allows you to open the management interface of the switch in a common Internet browser. The main convenience of the web interface is that it does not require additional software — a browser is enough (and it is available in any "self-respecting" modern OS). Thus, knowing the device address, login and password, you can manage the settings from almost any computer on the network (unless, of course, otherwise specified in the access parameters).
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SNMP. Abbreviation for Simple Network Management Protocol, i.e. "simple network control protocol".
...It is a standard part of the common TCP/IP protocol on which both the Internet and many local networks are built. It uses two types of software — "managers" on control computers and "agents" on managed computers (in this case, on a router). The degree of security is relatively low, but SNMP can be used for simple management tasks.
Note that this list is not exhaustive — modern switches may provide other management options, for example, support for proprietary utilities and special technologies from the same manufacturer.Supply voltage
The amount of voltage required by the switch for uninterrupted operation. The power supply voltage of network equipment can vary from 5 V to 230 V, which allows you to power compatible devices from either a low-voltage USB socket on your computer or a standard household outlet. Values in the middle assume that the switch is powered by the appropriate power supply.
