If you want to enhance the bandwidth and performance of your network then gigabit switches can serve you in the best of your interests. Along with being budget friendly they also tend to solve a lot of other problems. There are numerous companies that claim to manufacture the best 16-port gigabit switch. Those switches are differentiated on the basis of their connectivity regarding various devices. If you are a first-time buyer or even if you are an experienced person regarding 16 port gigabit switches, this article is surely going to guide you well.
What benefits do you get from using a 16 port gigabit switch?
Although there are numerous benefits that you get from using a 16 port gigabit switch, but we present before some of the prominent benefits that you can avail from them. These include:-
It helps in boosting security
With the use of a gigabit switch, network security gets better. It also lets the users to get the port accesses controlled adequately.
Connectivity to multiple devices
In order to reduce complications and some complexities, 16 port gigabit switches provide you with the ability to get various devices connected at one time.
It helps in the reduction of network downtime
A 16 port gigabit switch helps in offering failover redundancy to the network. It aids in minimizing up the network downtime. With the effective use of a gigabit switch, downtime and data recovery can be efficiently reduced and avoided.
It offers compatibility
Talking about compatibility, 16 port gigabit switches exhibit compatibility with various hardware and software that are present in the network. It also helps to ensure that the network is not affected by downtime.
Best 16 Port Gigabit Switches Reviews
If you look out in the market, there are a plethora of brands that excel in manufacturing 16 port gigabit switches. You may face a lot of confusion when it comes to choosing the brand that you should go for. To solve this issue, we have made a list of the top five brands that excel in manufacturing top quality 16 port gigabit switches. Let’s have a look at them.
1. TP-LINK TL-SG1016PE 16-Port gigabit desktop switch
If you are looking out for a 16 port easy smart gigabit switch that is more of an upgradation as compared to an unmanaged switch, then the TP-LINK TL-SG1016PE 16-Port gigabit desktop switch will serve you pretty well. The TP-LINK TL-SG1016PE 16-Port gigabit desktop switch is primarily designed to be used efficiently in small and medium business networks, specifically those that have the requirements of a simple network management. This 16 port gigabit switch allows the network administrators to effectively and efficiently manage and monitor traffic.
The web-based user interface and management utility of this unit aids in providing you various useful features that include prioritization of network traffic, monitoring of network as well as enhanced QoS. There is a sufficient amount of VLAN functions that can help you in creating better management and higher security for your business network. To make sure that voice and video applications are clear and lag-free, administrators can easily prioritize traffic based on QoS.
This device delivers upto 2000 Mbps of non-blocking and dedicated bandwidth per port. It is compatible with IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q, IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u, IEEE 802.3ab, IEEE 802.1p. The TP-LINK TL-SG1016PE 16-Port gigabit desktop switch features a non-blocking switching architecture. It aids in forwarding and filtering packets at full-wire speed thereby producing maximum throughput. This switch is capable to work effectively with IP phones, surveillance cameras, wireless access points, PoE supported devices and that too without needing extra power cabling.
Pros
- Its unique architecture allows it to forward and filter packets at full wire-speed.
- This switch is easier to install and use.
- It is lighter in weight.
Cons
- You might be needed to get some command prompts and troubleshooting done before operating this device.
2. Netgear ProSafe plusGS116E gigabit ethernet unmanaged switch
The Netgear ProSafe GS116E gigabit ethernet unmanaged switch is a 16 port gigabit ethernet switch that comes up with a simple plug-and-play feature. It has got a compact desktop design. Its auto-sensing ports help in providing you with an easy and reliable connectivity to your home and small office networks along with being immensely affordable.
To facilitate convenient deployment for building a SOHO network, the Netgear GS116E gigabit ethernet unmanaged switch comes up with a rigged and sturdy enclosure, fanless design as well as a wall mount kit. This device provides the user with the basic network features that aid in optimizing the performance of business networks. This switch exhibits a great level of versatility too. It integrates 10, 100 and 1000 Mbps devices on the same network and it honors Layer 2 802.1p traffic priority tags. Each port present in this switch is capable to automatically sense the right speed as well as half/full-duplex mode. To facilitate ease in monitoring, LEDs are embedded in each of the 16 RJ-45 jacks.
Its other features include Link Aggregation, Igmp snooping, QoS, VLAN. This switch serves to be the best one to ensure a SOHO environment with its unique energy-efficient technology that ensures power savings. To facilitate silent operation, this unit has a fan-less design and is compatible with PCs, UNIX, Macintosh and even Linux operating systems. The Netgear ProSafe GS116E gigabit ethernet unmanaged switch is reliable in nature and provides you with high-quality performance.
Pros
- This switch serves to be the best choice for small offices as well as home networks.
- It is extremely durable and sturdy.
- It comes up with a wall-mountable kit.
- It has LEDs for port speed/power as well as link and activity.
Cons
- Nothing as such.
3. Edimax GS-1016 16 port unmanaged gigabit switch
When it comes to medium or large network environments, the Edimax GS-1016 16 port gigabit switch serves to strengthen the network connection. The Edimax GS-1016 16 port gigabit switch comes up with rack-mount brackets which makes it easier for this 19-inch size switch to fit appropriately into your rack cabinet. This switch aids you in boosting your network with higher performance and efficiency.
It complies with IEEE 802.3, IEEE 802.3u as well as IEEE 802.3ab standards 16 Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 ports. It can easily support auto MDI/MDI-X crossover detecting as well as auto-correction. It is able to support full and half-duplex for 10/100Mbps along with full-duplex for 1000Mbps. With its store-and-forward architecture filtering of fragments and CRC error packets with this switch becomes easier. This device detects the connected ethernet cables’ length automatically. In accordance with it, this switch adjusts the power usage. The power consumption is directly proportional to the length of the cable which means the longer the length of the cable, the more power it will be consuming.
Pros
- Its ability to support IEEE802.3az energy efficient ethernet function makes it more resourceful.
- This switch comes up with a sufficient amount of wire-speed packet filtering as well as a forwarding rate.
- It has rack-mount brackets that easily get fitted into your rack cabinet.
Cons
- Nothing as such.
4. TRENDnet 16-port unmanaged gigabit switch
The TRENDnet 16-port unmanaged gigabit switch can serve you in the best of your interests if you prefer a gigabit switch for desktop. It has 16 ports that work without any operation. This switch not only saves a larger proportion of energy but at the same time reduces noise to a great level. To ensure that it becomes the most suitable choice for office work, it has a sturdy and compact desktop construction.
This switch does not require any kind of software installation owing to its plug-and-play working operation. This switch provides you with a reliable and satisfying connection. It also helps in empowering the system of record exchanging. It has got a great data capacity. Its power down idle ports recognizes the link status for every unit. It further reduces the force by up to 85%.
With its silent operation feature, no distractions are caused due to the use of this product. This switch provides high-speed network connections to your devices and with its 32 Gbps switching capacity, smooth flow of data traffic becomes easier and that too with the reduction of traffic bottlenecks.
Pros
- It comes up with dual mounting options for users’ convenience.
- It serves to be the best option for desktop installation.
- Its plug-and-play feature makes its installation easier.
- This device is extremely energy efficient.
Cons
- This unit has a lack of bandwidth controls.
- It does not have a MAC filtering option.
5. TP-Link 16 Port gigabit switch
The most unique feature of this switch is that each of its ports come up with MDI/MDIX negotiation. As a result, it provides adequate speed as well as it offers traffic flow for all types of ethernet cables including CAT 5, CAT 5e and CAT 6. With this switch, forwarding and filtering of packets can be easily done with its non-blocking switching architecture. Owing to this, the highest speeds can be achieved in order to get maximum throughput.
This switch serves as a viable option for home offices as well as small companies. When it comes to performing smart integration between different varieties of hardware, this switch does its job pretty well with its auto-negotiation port. File transfers further get improved with this 16 port gigabit switch.
This switch does not get overheated even when it is used for a long period of time. Overall these switches provide you with 16 gigabit shielded ports that aid in delivering more reliable speeds, block static interference and a high level of durability too.
Pros
- With its LED indicator, you can get information about the activity that is going on in each port.
- It does not require any configuration from the user.
- This unit is easy to install and use.
- It can be mounted on racks thereby making it more convenient.
Cons
- It does not have a PoE port.
- It lacks some basic management functions.
6. Linksys SE3016 gigabit switch
The Linksys gigabit switch SE3016 boosts up the switching capacity of the network. With this 16 port switch, you can easily connect various devices in the network. Using this switch, you can expand the wired connections owing to its QoS Traffic Management.
With its auto-sensing ports, the data flow rates can be easily maximized. It always presents a remarkable performance for various flow rates including 10, 100 and 1000 Mbps. This switch is having a non-head of line blocking architecture further boosts its performance. Its well-crafted ports enhance up the network speed.
All the ports of this switch support auto MDI/MDI-X cable detection. The auto-sensing ports of this switch automatically get adjusted in order to maximize data flow rates of 10/100/1000 Mbps. It provides you with 10 times faster connections as compared to a standard and basic 10/100 ethernet.
Pros
- This switch has got a durable and sturdy build.
- This switch is energy efficient as it detects unused ports and thereby saves power.
- It also features congestion detection features and broadcast rate control.
Cons
- This switch is on the pricier side.
7. NETGEAR GS116LP unmanaged PoE switch
The NETGEAR unmanaged PoE switch GS116LP comes up with features that include easy and flexible mounting capabilities. This switch has an in-built intuitive power selector too. When it comes to audio and video streaming at faster speeds, there is no match to this switch.
Your complete network will get boosted once you install this unit in your home or office. Its non-blocking architecture offers you a solid throughput and that too without any congestion with the devices that have been connected to it. To let you check the activity status in the network, the ports of this switch come up with LED activity indicators. This helps in providing you with power-saving features.
Its auto-negotiation feature ensures that the devices get connected in a fast manner. These switches aid in connecting all the network devices without needing any kind of complex configuration or management software. They help you in getting a network that is both secure and reliable.
Pros
- In cases of home offices or small cabinets, this switch boosts up the flexibility.
- It is equipped with various options for mounting.
- It helps in providing sufficient power to every mounting option.
Cons
- This switch is not compatible with Cisco phones.
- This switch is a bit costlier.
8. D-Link DGS-1016C 16 port gigabit unmanaged network internet hub
The D-Link DGS-1016C 16 port 10/100/1000 unmanaged switch is specifically designed to get your workgroup performance boosted along with providing a high level of flexibility. With this device, plugging up any port to either a 10Mbps or 100Mbps or even 1000Mbps network, in order to multiply bandwidths, becomes easier and simpler. It aids in upgrading your network to faster connectivity. It also helps in satisfying heavy load demands as well as enhancing up the response time. It features a secure store-and-forward switching scheme. It has a full/half-duplex for providing ethernet/fast ethernet speeds.
This switch prioritizes network traffic with its QoS feature which in turn delivers time-sensitive data efficiently. It ensures an optimal experience for streaming media and VoIP calls. This unit supports DGS-1016C that aids in supporting IEEE 802.3az energy efficient ethernet. It helps to save energy on one hand and reduce heat on the other. When a connected computer gets shut down, this switch automatically detects it and thereby reduces the power usage of that port. This switch also aids in optimizing power usage of each port that is dependent on the length of the cable that is connected to it.
The D-Link DGS-1016C 16 port gigabit unmanaged switch also supports QoS. This helps in delivering time sensitive data efficiently by prioritizing network traffic. When there is a situation of high-data traffic, this switch provides an optimal experience for the streaming of media and VoIP calls.
Pros
- This switch is easier to install and use.
- Its plug-and-play installation makes it more user friendly.
- Its fanless design ensures that there is no distraction in the work environment.
Cons
- It does not boost up the functionality of a switch due to its unmanaged nature.
9. Netgear JGS516PE 16 port gigabit ethernet smart managed PoE switch
In order to optimize the performance of a business network, the Netgear JGS516PE 16 port gigabit ethernet smart managed PoE switch aids to provide a fundamental network. The management software of this switch has an easy-to-use GUI interface that tends to provide capabilities that aid in the configuration, monitoring and security of your network. This unit also helps in optimizing your power usage by reducing the operation costs. It is compliant with IEEE802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet mode.
The whisper-quiet design of this switch helps in the reduction of fan noise and creates no distractions in your working environment. Its ports are able to deliver upto 2000 Mbps of non-blocking and dedicated bandwidth on each port. This switch further allows you to segment your network and then prioritize your traffic accordingly. It adds up to the intelligence of your network.
The Netgear 16 port gigabit switch is durable in nature and exhibits a great amount of reliability with high-quality performance. This switch comes up with a lifetime warranty as well as the next business day replacement. It also provides you with a lifetime 24/7 advanced tech support through chat.
Pros
- This switch comes up with an easier setup and configuration owing to its easy-to-use web-browser based interface.
- With its cable health and port statistics, you can easily monitor your network statistics.
- This switch is able to segment and prioritize your traffic accordingly with igmp snooping, QoS, vlan, rate limiting and traffic monitoring.
Cons
- Nothing as such.
10. NETGEAR GS116NA 16 port gigabit ethernet unmanaged switch
This unit comes up with 16 high-speed, auto-switching 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet connections. In this unit, you can get up to 2000 Mbps on each port. The ports of this unit are capable to automatically sense the right speed and full/half-duplex mode. Its auto uplink technology aids in adjusting for straight-through or crossover cables.
In order to ensure that your work environment gets no distractions, this switch features a fan-less design. This switch is an ideal option for noise-sensitive environments. It is appropriately designed to aid you in optimizing power usage which thereby lowers the operating costs. This switch is compliant with IEEE802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet mode.
This unit is compatible with PC, UNIX, Macintosh or Linux operating systems. It is characterized by having a simple and effective plug-and-play installation and a greater amount of reliability in its performance. It also exhibits versatility in mounting options by supporting both wall-mount placement as well as desktop placement. The Netgear 16 port gigabit ethernet smart managed PoE switch provides you with reliable and high-quality performance all the time.
Pros
- For facilitating ease in monitoring, this unit has LEDs embedded in each of the RJ-45 jacks.
- This unit is a cost-effective option for the expansion of your existing network.
- Its fanless design construction eliminates any kind of distraction in the work environment.
Cons
- Customer service is not too good.
How to choose the best 16 port gigabit switch? Buying guide
Under this sub-heading, we are going to provide you with the factors that are needed to be considered when you choose to buy a good quality 16 port gigabit switch. Although the personal preferences of different individuals may vary as per their choice, but at the same time there are certain factors that may influence your buying decisions in all cases. Let’s have a look at those factors.
The managed switch or unmanaged switch
On a broader level, 16 port gigabit switches that are available in the market generally fall under two categories namely managed switches and unmanaged switches. When it comes to a managed 16 port Gigabit switch, it aids to boost the functionality of an existing network. Along with boosting up the functionality, a managed switch also helps in getting the network speed adjusted and monitors the network’s traffic. Talking specifically about an unmanaged switch, it offers the network with the basic connectivity without involving any kind of user configuration. If you choose to go with a 16 port gigabit switch that serves you well in the long run, then a managed switch will undoubtedly be a viable option for you.
PoE switch or non-PoE switch
These terms may sound to be unfamiliar to some of our readers; so let’s understand what exactly do they mean. PoE refers to the ability of the switch which enables the deliverance of power over a present ethernet cable. Owing to this, the cabling process gets simplified on one hand and on the other hand, the network costs also get reduced. Non-PoE switches, on the contrary, do not exhibit such features. Whether you should go with a PoE switch or a non-PoE switch is largely dependent on the networking needs that cater to your office or home.
The stackable switch or standalone switch
The managing and configuration of stackable switches are done individually. In cases when there is a requirement of more switches to be connected, an improvement in the network is needed. On the contrary, when it comes to stackable switches, they tend to provide a greater degree of scalability, simplicity as well as the flexibility to the network of your office. Your individual preferences determine which one of the two you choose to go for.
Budget
Last but definitely not the least, your budget influences your decision in buying the right kind of 16 port gigabit switch. You need to make sure that the switch which you intend to buy falls in your budget. You should never choose to go for a switch that exceeds your budget. To further simplify this, we have made a list of top quality 16 port gigabit switches that can surely cater to your requirements without being too heavy on your pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What exactly does QoS refer to?
QoS is an acronym for Quality of Service. It aids in setting up priority and attention when it comes to specific services, devices or applications that are present through the router within the network. It thereby results in maximizing the amount of available throughput and speed that can be put into use for facilitating better streaming of audio and video.
2. What should be done if the 16 port gigabit switch experiences data collisions excessively?
If your 16 port gigabit switch is experiencing excessive data collisions, you should make sure that the cabling of your network is crimped in a secure manner. You should also make sure that the switch is installed in a proper way.
3. Can connect the computer to the switch provide it with internet access?
If you switch is being connected to a router, then the computers that are connected to the switch will tend to have Internet access. However, it must be kept in mind that routers or modems that have DHCP capabilities will only allow the sharing of internet connection between computers.
4. What should be done in cases when the computer fails to get connected to the internet while getting connected to the switch?
In such a case, you should follow the below-mentioned steps:-
- You should make sure that the respective LEDs are lit on the screen properly.
- Then you should power down your switch and your computer.
- Then you should restart your switch.
- And finally, you should restart your computer.
It should be noted that only routers and modems that feature DHCP capabilities allow the sharing of internet connection between computers.
5. What advantages does a switch offer when it comes to data transfer?
A switch aids in the regeneration of data signals as they pass through the switch. This further results in safeguarding to deter data loss and at the same time make sure that the transmission arrives at their destination in a secure manner. A switch also aids to filter data which is based on source and destination.
Conclusion
That’s it!!! We are sure that this article would have clarified up your queries and doubts about 16 port gigabit switches. Installing a 16 port gigabit Ethernet switch is undoubtedly a budget-friendly method that you can take to fulfill the needs of a network. You can get an idea about the factors that you need to consider before buying a switch from our buying guide and you can select the product which fulfills your requirements from our product reviews. If you have any other queries, do let us know about them. Don’t forget to leave your feedback on this article in the comments section. We value it immensely. Thanks for reading.
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