Ubiquiti UniFi Flex Mini 5-Port PoE Switch

Product Information

Our marquee UniFi Switch models bring more uplink and power versatility to high-speed, device-dense networks. The UniFi Switch Pro line is even more powerful with enhanced fiber connectivity, routing, and PoE options.

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. 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. 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 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.

If you want 10 Gbps ports for clients, or need a distribution switch to aggregate other switches, the XG series has a few options. Some are in the 1st generation, some are in the 2nd: 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.

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.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) Note: Please refer to model-specific datasheets found on the UI Store for more detailed information. PoE Availability and Power Requirements

Active PoE The voltage that the Powered Device (PD) needs is negotiated. Example output modes are IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at and 802.3bt.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.

The Enterprise 8 PoE doesn’t have a built-in web user interface, nor does it work with Ubquiti’s UniFi mobile app. However, like any Ubiquiti’s business hardware — similar to those in the UniFi family — it is designed to be managed via an UniFi-OS hardware controller. 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). USW-Flex — When using PoE passthrough ( Note: this was upgraded to 802.3at PoE+ in a firmware update)

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. Putting the L2/L3 differences aside, the 2nd generation pro models also have some other advantages over the non-pro UniFi switches. 2nd Gen Pro models add 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. The main point I’m trying to make here is that if you expect a UniFi switch to be your only layer 3 device, you’re going to be disappointed. Adding layer 3 at the switch level usually doesn’t make sense in small to medium sized networks, and I wouldn’t recommend relying on UniFi layer 3 switches in general. If you’re working on a large multi-building network with high requirements, UniFi may not be the best fit. I’ll cover this in more detail if I ever get around to finishing my USW-Enterprise-8-PoE review.