5 port switch vs 5 port gigabit switch

 A 5-port switch simply tells you how many devices you can connect, while a 5-port Gigabit switch tells you both the number of ports and that each port supports speeds of up to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps).

Think of it like a parking lot. '5-port' tells you there are five parking spaces. '5-port Gigabit' tells you there are five parking spaces and a wide road leading to each one.

A switch labelled only as "5-port switch" could support:

• • • • 10 Mbps
      • 100 Mbps
      • 10/100 Mbps
      • 10/100/1000 Mbps (Gigabit)

You need to check the specifications to know its speed.

For example:

• • • • A 5-port Fast Ethernet switch supports up to 100 Mbps per port.

      • A 5-port Gigabit switch supports up to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) per port.

One common misunderstanding is that "5-port" refers to speed. It doesn't. It only refers to the number of Ethernet ports available on the switch. The speed is determined by whether the switch supports Fast Ethernet (100 Mbps), Gigabit Ethernet (1000 Mbps), or faster standards.