Ubiquiti UniFi Flex Mini 5-Port PoE Switch

Product Information

EdgeMAX products are managed with a per-device web interface, or via SSH. These web interfaces are not as polished or pretty as UniFi, but they expose more advanced features than UniFi does. EdgeSwitches also have the full EdgeOS CLI for configuration. If you’re familiar with JunOS or IOS, you’ll be able to figure out your way around. See Ubiquiti’s CLI Command Reference user guide for more details. In the event of a UniFi switch power supply failure, the USP-RPS automatically supplies redundant power to the failed device. One UniFi SmartPower device can support up to 6 devices until the failed device is replaced. Like the case of the U6 Enterprise, the Ubiquiti Switch Enterprise 8 PoE seems to have no internal fan — I didn’t open it up to confirm — and ran quite warm in my testing. It wasn’t hot enough to cause concern but warmer than other switches. So, it’s best to place it somewhere airy or cool.

I used the Ubiquiti Switch Enterprise 8 PoE for over a week and was generally happy with the experience. When working with an UniFi controller, the Ubiquiti Switch Enterprise 8 PoE has useful port and bandwidth managing features applicable to savvy or business users. The Ubiquiti Switch Enterprise 8 PoE’s two SFP+ ports can be turned into Multi-Gig ports via adapters — necessary when your existing network doesn’t have an SFP+ port. Shown in the pic are two TP-Link TL-SM5310-T (not included) used for the testing. The Enterprise 8 PoE is not a PoE++ switch, so if you have PoE++ devices requiring higher power draws, you’ll need a different switch, like the Zyxel XS1930-12HP. Or you can get a separate injector. Ubiquiti Switch Enterprise 8 PoE’s real-world sustained throughputs. Its SFP+ ports were tested with Base-T 10Gbps adapters. Ubiquiti calls them “Gen2” but I am going to call them 2nd generation. Whatever you call them, Ubiquiti’s newer UniFi switches split things into a few tiers. There are models which replace the 1st generation switches, and the higher pro and enterprise tiers.

PoE Availability and Power Requirements

On Ubiquiti equipment, 802.3afPoE is often reffered to as 'PoE', whereas 802.3at and 802.3bt are referred to as 'PoE+' and 'PoE++'.

If you are planning on using PoE passthrough on switches like the USW-Flex, or access points like the In-Wall-HD, you should supply them with the higher-wattage PoE+ or PoE++. Devices with PoE passthrough will usually function when fed with standard 15W PoE, but will not reliably power downstream devices unless they receive their maximum rated power input. For example, the USW-Flex can provide 8W with PoE in, 20W with PoE+ in, and 46W with PoE++ in. Flex and Lite switches are designed to be more stylish than traditional switches so you can easily place them anywhere without disrupting your décor. These switches offer a wide range of bandwidth, uplink speed, and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) capability. Plus, they look great mounted to a wall or sitting on your desk! The screen includes four sections that show various settings and conditions of the switch accessible via vertical and horizontal swiping. It also has animations for the boot process, firmware upgrades, screensavers, etc. EdgeSwitches are older, more traditional managed switches, with command line (CLI) and individual web interfaces for configuration. EdgeSwitches also have optional integration with the UISP software controller. The newer UISP-branded switches are tied closely to the UISP software, have no web interface, but still offer a CLI for manual configuration. I cover EdgeSwitch and UISP hardware briefly below, but I cover them in more detail in my UISP Switch review. The US-XG-6-PoE has four 1/2.5/5/10 Gbps RJ45 Ethernet ports with PoE++. It also has two 10 Gbps SFP+ interfaces.After that, if you want to view the switch’s status or change some simple settings, you can use its little touchscreen, which is fun and helpful. This article will cover the basics of Power over Ethernet (PoE).PoE streamlines the process of powering and providing data to a connected device by sending electric power over the Ethernet cable. There are different PoE types, standards modes available. This article will focus on the differences between some of the PoE types and standards that are relevant to Ubiquiti equipment. Table of Contents Overall, the Enterprise 8 PoE proved to be a fast 2.5Gbps Mulit-Gig switch. Its performance was on par, if not better, than others of similar specs I’ve tried. Runs hot and requires long boot times

For data communication, an SFP+ port has speed grades of either 1Gbps or 10Gbps. The older version, SFP, can only do 1Gbps, though it shares the same port type as SFP+. This type of port standard is more strict in compatibility and more reliable in performance. PoE+ devices like the U6-Pro will usually operate with 802.3af input, but they will be unreliable. It’s never a good idea to push past your budget, feed a PoE+ or PoE++ device with a lower tier of PoE, or supply the wrong voltage. Always follow the recommended input power, and never provide less the required power or a different voltage. Ubiquiti UniFi Gen2 Switches offer a variety of features, including 10G SFP+ ports, PoE+ or PoE++ support, and Layer 3* switching capabilities. (*Layer 3 switching will be available in a future software release)

USW-Flex — When using PoE passthrough ( Note: this was upgraded to 802.3at PoE+ in a firmware update) Also worth noting — if serial console out-of-band management port is something you need, the first generation switches have it, and the second generation models do not. XG UniFi Switches Deciding between UniFi, EdgeMAX, UISP, or some other brand depends on your needs. The right solution varies with what kind of network you are trying to build, and what features you need to accomplish that. If you are comfortable with command line configuration and have complex needs, another vendor is probably a better option. This guide focuses on UniFi switches, but it’s worth noting some EdgeSwitch models are the same hardware as the first generation UniFi switches, with an EdgeOS CLI and UISP instead of the UniFi controller. The newer UISP switches are not as mature, but are worth considering if you want your switch to tie into the UISP NMS and UCRM software. The USW-Flex-XG is a 2nd gen model, with one 1 Gbps and four 1/2.5/5/10 Gbps RJ45 Ethernet ports. No PoE. Most UniFi switches operate at layer 2, meaning they can handle VLANs but cannot act as a router. The 2nd generation pro and enterprise UniFi switches have some layer 3 features such as static inter-VLAN routing and DHCP, but they require a separate router or firewall for everything else. UniFi L3 switches can’t compete with a true enterprise product from a vendor like Cisco or Juniper. UniFi switches are a fraction of the price and don’t require licensing, so they compete in different markets. As with all network design and purchasing decisions, what matters most is your budget and your use case.

All the Ubiquiti Switch Enterprise 8 PoE’s ports are on its front. Here they are when out of the box and when the switch is working. Note the two SFP+ ports and the touchscreen. Have a small touchscreen on the left side of the device, like the UDM-Pro. This screen shows stats and info about the device, and the network it is on. They also integrate with the UniFi AR feature, which lets you use a phone to virtually see what is connected to each port.Generally, you can get an adapter to connect a BASE-T device to an SFP or SFP+ port. Still, in this case, compatibility can be an issue — a particular adapter might only work (well) with the SFP/+ port of certain hardware vendors.