Ubiquiti UniFi USW-16-POE 16-Port Switch: features, specs and who it suits

The Ubiquiti UniFi USW-16-POE is a managed Gigabit Ethernet switch for home offices, small businesses and compact network racks. It connects wired devices, and it can power some of them, such as access points and cameras, over the same cable. Here is what its specifications mean in practice.

Ports and PoE

Ubiquiti lists sixteen Gigabit Ethernet ports, eight of which are auto-sensing 802.3at PoE+ ports. PoE, or Power over Ethernet, sends electrical power down the network cable, so a device such as a ceiling access point needs only one cable and no nearby power outlet. PoE+ (802.3at) is the standard that allows more power per port than the original PoE. The other ports carry data only, which suits computers, printers and network storage.

The switch also has two SFP ports. These accept fibre or other SFP modules for uplinks, and the listing says it supports optical fibre for longer distances between network components.

A managed Layer 2 switch

"Layer 2" means the switch forwards traffic using device hardware addresses, without doing the routing that a router does. Ubiquiti lists features including IGMP snooping, port mirroring and spanning tree:

• IGMP snooping helps limit multicast traffic, such as some streaming, to the ports that need it.
• Port mirroring copies a port's traffic to another port for monitoring.
• Spanning tree prevents loops if cables are connected in a circle.

The operation mode can be set per port, with switching, mirroring or aggregate options.

Managing it with UniFi

The switch is configured with the UniFi Network Application, with mobile app support, so settings and monitoring happen through a graphical interface rather than a command line. This approach works best when the switch sits alongside other UniFi equipment, which share one dashboard, though the listing doesn't say more about specific setups. A 1.3-inch touch LCM screen on the front shows status information.

Design and installation

The case is rack-mountable and, at 7.9 inches deep, Ubiquiti says it fits small-office rack cabinets. It measures about 7.9 x 17.4 x 1.7 inches (20 x 44 x 4.3 cm) and weighs about 6.2 lb (2.8 kg). The design is fanless, which generally means silent operation, and the power supply is built in, so no external adapter is needed. Heat then has to be shed through the case, so leave air space around it.

Who it suits

It suits people building or expanding a wired network who want PoE for a handful of devices, and who are comfortable with a managed switch. A common setup is a few access points and cameras on the PoE ports, with computers and storage on the others. It is more than a simple desktop switch needs to be, and it is not a router.

What to check before you buy

• PoE power: confirm the total power the switch can supply to the PoE ports and compare it with your devices' needs.
• Device standards: check that your access points or cameras use 802.3at or compatible PoE.
• Speeds: all ports are Gigabit, so devices needing faster links need a different switch.
• SFP modules: modules are normally sold separately, and must match the cable and the device at the other end.
• Rack or shelf: check the space, mounting hardware and airflow.
• Controller: plan where the UniFi Network Application will run.

The short version

• A managed Gigabit Layer 2 switch with sixteen ports, eight of them 802.3at PoE+.
• Two SFP ports for fibre or other uplinks.
• Features include IGMP snooping, port mirroring and spanning tree.
• Fanless, with a built-in power supply and a 1.3-inch touch display.
• Rack-mountable and managed through the UniFi Network Application.

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