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). Deciding between UniFi, EdgeMAX, UISP, or some other brand depends on your needs. The right solution varies with what kind of network you are trying to build, and what features you need to accomplish that. If you are comfortable with command line configuration and have complex needs, another vendor is probably a better option. This guide focuses on UniFi switches, but it’s worth noting some EdgeSwitch models are the same hardware as the first generation UniFi switches, with an EdgeOS CLI and UISP instead of the UniFi controller. The newer UISP switches are not as mature, but are worth considering if you want your switch to tie into the UISP NMS and UCRM software. 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 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. Please Note: This product does not come with PoE injectors included, however, you can select our PoE injector kits from the accessories menu. Ubiquiti UniFi USW Flex Mini 5-Port Layer 2 Gigabit Switch - EU Power Supply (USW-Flex-Mini)

You can find a step by step set of instructions on how to go about telling the controller that this switch is powered by an injector below.You can access any managed UniFi Switch through the UniFi Controller to configure a variety of features: Build and expand your network with the UniFi® Switch, part of the UniFi Enterprise System. The UniFi Switch, model USW-Flex, is a configurable Layer 2 Gigabit switch with auto-sensing 802.3af PoE. It offers 5 RJ45 Gigabit Ethernet ports, providing 1 PoE input and 4 PoE output links to your devices. PoE passthrough is when a PoE device can receive power and also pass PoE to another downstream device. A common example would be a 24 port PoE switch, feeding an In-Wall-HD access point, with a video camera connected to the In-Wall-HD. The key part is that all three devices are drawing their power from the 24-port PoE switch. In situations like that, you need to be especially careful about what PoE support your switch or voltage and amperage of your PoE injector.

One limitation of the regular second generation switches is their limited PoE budget. PoE budget refers to the total amount of power available for all PoE devices. Since the non-pro 2nd generation models are fanless, they also have smaller power supplies, and a smaller PoE budget. NOTE: For outdoor installations, please install the Port Cover prior to connecting your Ethernet cables. See Outdoor Installation. EdgeSwitches are more flexible and capable, and are a better fit for network operators, WISPs, managed service providers, and other more advanced networks. If you need features like link aggregation, TACACS+, RADIUS, 802.1X, MAC filtering, ACLs, or static routing, you’re better off with an EdgeSwitch than a UniFi switch. UniFi switches support many of these features, but are often less configurable, poorly documented, and less reliable. Have a small touchscreen on the left side of the device, like the UDM-Pro. This screen shows stats and info about the device, and the network it is on. They also integrate with the UniFi AR feature, which lets you use a phone to virtually see what is connected to each port. No 802.1X (Not a huge deal because I can enable multi-host on the upstream switch, which limits the danger-zone to just the other client ports on the switch.)

Ubiquiti UniFi USW Flex Mini 5-Port Layer 2 Gigabit Switch - EU Power Supply (USW-Flex-Mini)

The USW-FLEX will now allow for a 46W total power output rather than the 8W when using the default settings. Do not have a serial console port. All management has to be done over Ethernet in-band. (EdgeSwitches still have console ports!) Passive 24V and 48V PoE — Ubiquiti’s standard, mostly used on EdgeMAX, AirMAX, and older UniFi devices USW-Flex — When using PoE passthrough ( Note: this was upgraded to 802.3at PoE+ in a firmware update) Managed and configured by the UniFi Controller or UniFi Mobile app, the UniFi Switch Flex offers basic Layer 2 switching protocols and features. The UniFi Controller and mobile app allow admins to configure and monitor virtually all of the switch features using a graphical user interface from anywhere.

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 USW-Flex features five (5) Gigabit RJ45 ports to deliver robust performance and intelligent switching for your network. Port 1 provides PoE Input while ports 2-4 offer 802.3af PoE and provide up to 15W of power for your PoE devices. Products requiring 802.3af, such as G3 Flex cameras (see accessories tab), are also supported. Indoor/outdoor design 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-Flex can be installed horizontally or vertically making it ideal for desktop, magnetic wall-mount, and pole-mount installations. 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. The UniFi USW-Flex-Mini is a smart managed Gigabit switch. It offers 5 RJ45 Ethernet ports, providing 1 Gigabit links to your devices. Power up the USW-Flex-Mini with the included USB Type-C (european only) power adapter or with 802.3af PoE Ethernet in port 1.

Port managed PoE switch with (1) 802.3at/bt (PoE+/PoE++) input port and (4) 802.3af (PoE) Gigabit Ethernet ports The UniFi Switch Flex features a single PoE In port for power and four PoE ports that provide up to 15W PoE output to power a UniFi access point or other PoE devices. With 802.3bt rated PoE switches (USW-Pro-48-PoE, USW-Pro-24-PoE, US-XG-6POE, and USW-Industrial switches, sold separately) as power source, USW-Flex supports maximum 46W PoE output budget. It has weatherproof housing and offers versatile mounting options. 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: 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.

There’s a lot to cover when it comes to PoE, so I’ll try to keep it as simple as possible. There are 4 main types of PoE to know about: 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. At the time of writing, the first thing you will need to do is to set the UniFi controller to display the old user interface as the option to enable this option is currently absent from the new interface and so cannot be selected. Please refer to our Swapping Between New & Old User Interface On UniFi Controller blog post for instructions on how to swap between old and new if you are unsure on how to do this. Have lower fan noise — the non-pro models are fanless. The pros have fans, but are quieter than the 1st generation models. 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)