Factors to Consider in Choosing a Switch
Although there are many factors that must be considered when selecting a switch, the next topic will explore two: cost and interface characteristics.
Cost
The cost of a switch is determined by its capacity and features. The switch capacity includes the number and types of ports available and the switching speed. Other factors that impact the cost are its network management capabilities, embedded security technologies, and optional advanced switching technologies.
Using a simple "cost per port" calculation, it may appear initially that the best option is to deploy one large switch at a central location. However, this apparent cost savings may be offset by the expense from the longer cable lengths required to connect every device on the LAN to one switch. This option should be compared with the cost of deploying a number of smaller switches connected by a few long cables to a central switch.
Another cost consideration is how much to invest in redundancy. The operation of the entire physical network is affected if there are problems with a single central switch.
Redundancy can be provided in a number of ways. We can provide a secondary central switch to operate concurrently with the primary central switch. We can also provide additional cabling to provide multiple interconnections between the switches. The goal of redundant systems is to allow the physical network to continue its operation even if one device fails.