This guide applies to the Ubiquiti’s USW-Flex only, this does not apply to other products in the range ( USW-Flex-Mini and USW-Flex-XG). Please note: This product does not come with a PoE injector (sold separately, see accessories tab). The USW-Flex from Ubiquiti is a Gigabit managed Layer 2 switch with an 802.3bt PoE++ input port and 4 auto-sensing 802.3af PoE output ports. The USW-Flex is capable of a maximum PoE budget of 46W but requires a 50V 60W / 802.3bt input to fully utilise it.. Versatile Mounting The USW-Flex can be installed horizontally or vertically and is designed for indoor and outdoor use, making it ideal for desktop, wall, and pole-mount installations. With its weatherproof housing and versatile mounting options, the USW-Flex provides flexibility and durability in environments with extreme temperature variations. Management capabilities 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

The USW-Flex can be installed horizontally or vertically making it ideal for desktop, magnetic wall-mount, and pole-mount installations. Basic layer 3 features like static routing (supported as of firmware version 4.3.13.11253) and inter-VLAN routing.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. 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. I just finished an evaluation of the UniFi Switch Flex (PoE in & out) and Flex Mini (PoE in only). They're both great little 5-port switches for what they are, but there are a few feature limitations to be aware of. The first 2 limitations are non-negotiables in my use cases: Use the included mounting kit to mount the USW-Flex on a pole or mount, or attach the wall mount to the rear panel and hang the switch on a magnetic surface. The switch is IP55-rated and can be installed both indoors and outdoors. Power the UniFi Range

I’ll use the PoE, PoE+, PoE++ names as shorthand. It is important to consider the type of PoE you need for your devices, and to make sure that you have enough PoE budget on your switch to power all your devices. Otherwise, you will need to rely on separate power injectors. PoE Passthrough 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. 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.The USW-EnterpriseXG-24 is a 2nd gen model, with twenty-four 1/2.5/5/10 Gbps RJ45 and two 25 Gbps SFP28 interfaces. No PoE.

No UniFiOS CLI access or SCP file upload access. Can only get to BusyBox shell. (Not a huge problem, but sometimes it's handy to be able to rescue a switch at the CLI without having to do a full-on factory reset.) 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. 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: The UniFi Switch Flex Mini uses only a maximum of 2.5W. For your convenience, it can be powered by 802.3af/at PoE or a 5V,1A USB-C power adapter(european only)Port managed PoE switch with (1) 802.3at/bt (PoE+/PoE++) input port and (4) 802.3af (PoE) Gigabit Ethernet ports

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 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. 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. 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.