Ubiquiti UniFi Flex Mini 5-Port PoE Switch

Product Information

The Ubiquiti UniFi USW-16-PoE Switch is a configurable Gigabit Layer 2 switch with 16 Gigabit Ethernet ports including eight auto-sensing 802.3at PoE+ ports, and two SFP ports. 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.

On the one hand, its 2.5Gbps ports are straightforward. On the other, I don’t have enough SFP+ devices to use the two ports simultaneously. Have lower fan noise — the non-pro models are fanless. The pros have fans, but are quieter than the 1st generation models.

PoE Adapters

It’s also worth pointing out that PoE devices don’t always consume their maximum rated power draw. The spec sheet will specify the maximum amount the device can use, but during normal operation they won’t use that much. For example, the U6-Pro requires 802.at PoE+ or 48V passive, and maxes out at 13W. During normal use it usually consumes around 5 to 7 watts of power. On Ubiquiti equipment, 802.3afPoE is often reffered to as 'PoE', whereas 802.3at and 802.3bt are referred to as 'PoE+' and 'PoE++'.

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. While physically different, BASE-T and SFP/+ are parts of the Ethernet family, sharing the same networking principles and Ethernetnaming convention — Gigabit Ethernet (1Gbps) or 10 Gigabit Ethernet (a.k.a 10GE,10GbE, or10 GigE). Active PoE The voltage that the Powered Device (PD) needs is negotiated. Example output modes are IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at and 802.3bt. 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 SwitchesThe 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. 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) 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 UniFi switches help you power, connect, and process traffic across all of your devices. Since each deployment’s size and layout are unique, we offer several distinct switch categories meticulously designed to optimize any network in any environment. We’d like to explore these categories further to help you identify the model(s) that will deliver the most value for you.

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 have an optional web interface overlay called UISP, which is similar to the UniFi controller. UISP is limited when it comes to EdgeSwitch configuration, and it doesn’t have every option that the device’s individual web GUI or CLI has. Think of UISP as an easy way to monitor all of your AirMAX, LTU and EdgeMAX devices, rather than a single interface for configuring everything like the UniFi controller. 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. BASE-T Multi-Gig vs SFP+: The two are generally available as separate ports, such as in the Asus RT-AX89X‘s case (left) but can also be part of a combo port in some hardware, such as the TP-Link Archer AXE300. One thing to note: for the best and most reliable performance, you should use one of the SFP+ ports for the uplink connection. An SFP+ to RJ45 converter is necessary if your existing network doesn’t have an available SFP+ port. 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.

Note: Please refer to model-specific datasheets found on the UI Store for more detailed information. PoE Adapters 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.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. EdgeSwitches are more flexible and capable, and are a better fit for network operators, WISPs, managed service providers, and other more advanced networks. If you need features like link aggregation, TACACS+, RADIUS, 802.1X, MAC filtering, ACLs, or static routing, you’re better off with an EdgeSwitch than a UniFi switch. UniFi switches support many of these features, but are often less configurable, poorly documented, and less reliable.