Managed vs. Unmanaged vs. Single Pair Ethernet Switches: How to Choose the Right Industrial Network Switch

David Greenfield, editor in chief

Key Highlights

Managed vs. unmanaged switches: Unmanaged switches are cost-effective for small, isolated, non-critical networks, but managed switches become essential when networks require VLANs, redundancy protocols, traffic monitoring and cybersecurity controls — capabilities increasingly expected as industrial networks scale toward Industry 4.0.
Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) switches offer an alternative to traditional Ethernet for applications where distance, space and weight matter, supporting connections up to 1,000 meters (vs. 100 meters for standard Ethernet) and enabling power delivery to field devices like sensors and actuators.
Future-proofing should drive today's decisions: Switch selection should account for expected network growth, cybersecurity requirements and digital transformation goals — not just current size — since retrofitting managed infrastructure later is far more costly than building it in from the start.

Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered podcast

In this episode, we connect with Basma Ahmed, Industrial Ethernet product manager at Weidmuller, to understand how selecting the right Ethernet switch for your industrial network depends on several key factors, including application requirements, distance, performance, security, monitoring and overall cost. This choice often comes down to understanding when an unmanaged or managed Ethernet switch or Single Pair Ethernet switch is the right fit within your overall network architecture. This episode is sponsored by DigiKey, a global distributor of electronic components and automation products that features Weidmuller products.

About the Author

David Greenfield, editor in chief

Editor in Chief

David Greenfield joined Automation World in June 2011. Bringing a wealth of industry knowledge and media experience to his position, David’s contributions can be found in AW’s print and online editions and custom projects. Earlier in his career, David was Editorial Director of Design News at UBM Electronics, and prior to joining UBM, he was Editorial Director of Control Engineering at Reed Business Information, where he also worked on Manufacturing Business Technology as Publisher.