Unmanaged Switches

> Meetinghouse Technology > Meetinghouse Networking

Meetinghouse firewalls have a limited number of local area network (LAN) ports that devices can be connected to. The number of available network ports can be increased by using a network switch. In most cases, facilities management groups are responsible for purchasing and installing network switches.

Prior to the rollout of the Meraki managed network switches, many meetinghouses were equipped with unmanaged switches like the Cisco SG110 pictured above. For a time, these were used in conjunction with the Meraki switches. Due to the number of problems caused by unmanaged switches, we now install Meraki managed switches in all Church meetinghouses.

Current Installation Standards & Upgrade Path

Effective August 2025, our network infrastructure standards have evolved to address growing bandwidth demands and management requirements across all installations.

New Deployment Standard: Managed Switches

New installations now utilize managed switches with expanded port capacity:

• Current Standard: MS130-24P (24-port managed switch with PoE+)

• Replaces: MS120-8FP (8-port unmanaged switch)

This transition delivers three strategic advantages:

1. Scalability

24-port switches accommodate growth without requiring additional hardware investments. Organizations can expand their network footprint, adding access points, IP cameras, and IoT devices without hitting port limitations.

2. Proactive Network Management

Managed switches provide real-time visibility into network performance, enabling:

• Per-port traffic monitoring and analytics
• VLAN segmentation for enhanced security
• Remote troubleshooting and diagnostics
• Quality of Service (QoS) prioritization for critical applications

3. Enhanced Security Posture Managed infrastructure allows for:

• Isolated guest networks
• Port-level access controls
• Anomaly detection and alerting
• Centralized firmware updates

Recommendation for Existing Installations

We strongly recommend replacing all unmanaged switches with managed alternatives during your next network maintenance cycle.

While existing unmanaged switches remain functional and supported, upgrading provides measurable operational benefits:

If an additional switch is needed, order the Meraki MS130-8P-I, MS130-24P or MS130-48P switch. (For areas with extreme temperatures, the MS130R-8P is also available.)