Unmanaged switch - A simple switch with no configuration required. Normally used on smaller networks.
Managed switch - A switch which can be configured (usually in software) to adjust its operating parameters. Normally only seen on large, complex networks.
Layer 2 switch - A switch. It connects different nodes together on the same network.
Layer 3 switch - A router. It connects different networks (often of different types) together.
> What is the difference between managed network switch and unmanaged network switch? <
A managed switch has an interface that allows you to play with VLANS, port configurations, security, traffic flow, remote monitoring, trunking and potentially hundreds of other things depending on the complexity of the switch.
> And Layer 2 and Layer 3 switch? <
Simply put, a Layer 3 switch is basically a router combined with a switch. Layer 3 switches are always managed. Say for example if you set up two VLANS, each with their own IP subnet, a layer 3 switch can route traffic between them. A layer 2 switch would require an external router to pass IP traffic across different networks.
Managed switch - Allows to configure the switch by the user through command line or web interface. Modify port speed, VLAN tags port mirroring, trunking, blocking, etc.,
Umanaged switch - It is preconfigured in EEPROM of switch and it has to be used as it is.
Switch works on the layer 2 - ethernet layer. It uses MAC. Layer 3 switch supports network based segregation supporting VLAN tagging, etc., to traffic from one network can be routed to other with out broadcasting to all ports of the switch.
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