D-Link is expanding its range of Smart Switches for businesses looking to integrate Power over Ethernet (PoE) into their network. This supports businesses that need more flexibility both in terms of costs and the number of PoE ports to power devices such as IP Phones, Network Cameras and Wireless Access Points. Enabling these business-critical devices to be powered over the network connection simplifies network and power topology, thereby reducing costs.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches are a highly practical and convenient way to connect and power different network devices. Their deployment has so far been restricted by limited Power Budgets (the maximum power capacity of the switch), which caps the number of devices that can draw power from the switch itself. D-Link has increased the ‘Power Budget’ of its new Smart Switches to a market-leading level. This makes its portfolio of switches applicable in a wider range of environments, allowing more devices to be powered through Ethernet cables instead of traditional power sockets. Not only does this make the network more functional, but it also gives businesses options to reduce operating costs. 

Kevin Wen, President of D-Link Europe, said: “Power over Ethernet is just one of many features that makes technology simpler to install, especially for smaller businesses. Our switches make it easy to connect and manage a network without an IT department, or indeed much technical know-how at all. PoE means that companies don’t need a team of electricians or IT experts before they can set up the devices they need in their offices. The result is simplified networking and a real transformation of day-to-day business. Our new Smart Switches draw on D-Link’s years of networking experience to help smaller businesses connect to more.”

With the introduction of these new switches, D-Link’s combined portfolio is now able to cater for the needs of all businesses, not just those requiring more power but also those that have tight budget constraints.

D-Link is launching the 24-Port Gigabit PoE Smart Switch with 4 SFP Ports (DGS-1210-24P), which gives companies even more choice in picking the port-count and power budget that suits them. Other launches in the Smart Switch family include the 8-Port Gigabit PoE Smart Switch with 2 SFP Ports (DGS-1210-08P) and the 48-Port Gigabit Smart Switch including 4 Combo Ports (DGS-1210-48).

The Smart Switch family also differentiates itself by its high port-count density. Businesses can set up the 48-port switch, for example, in a rack as an aggregator of a bigger network and save large amounts of space. The port configuration means that high capacity can be delivered in a minute form factor.

D-Link’s Smart Switch range also helps keep company information secure, as more devices connected to the network can increase the risk of vulnerabilities. Management and security functions in the D-Link range of switches, including IP-MAC Port binding, help guard against intrusions. This means, the IP and MAC addresses need to match before a device can connect to the network.

The full Smart Switch range now includes 8, 10, 16, 20, 24, 28, 48 and 52 port Fast Ethernet and Gigabit switches with PoE and PoE+ options.