Introduction

Teltonika Networks has long been known for providing rugged, reliable, and innovative networking hardware for industrial and enterprise environments. From their popular cellular routers and gateways to their growing line of industrial switches, Teltonika continues to build solutions that meet the demands of modern connectivity.

With the launch of the SWM28-series managed switches—including the SWM280, SWM281, and SWM282—Teltonika has taken another leap forward. These switches are designed to bring flexibility, performance, and robust security to enterprises, manufacturers, and industrial automation systems. They combine compact hardware with advanced features normally reserved for large-scale enterprise-grade gear, making them an ideal choice for organizations that want reliability and control without excessive complexity or cost.

In this blog post, we’ll explore what makes the SWM28 series stand out, dive into the technical features, and discuss how businesses and integrators can benefit from this new line of managed switches.

Compact Design, Enterprise Power

At first glance, the SWM28-series switches appear simple: a 1U rack-mountable form factor that fits neatly into server rooms, cabinets, or industrial racks. But within this small footprint lies a robust hardware package designed for performance and uptime.

• 1U Rack Mount Design: Perfect for organizations where space is at a premium, these switches integrate easily into standard racks without requiring special mounting gear.
• Active Cooling & Internal Power Supply: Industrial environments are notorious for heat and power challenges. The SWM28 switches use active cooling and built-in power supplies to maintain stable operation, even under heavy workloads.
• Durability: Teltonika hardware is known for rugged reliability, and this series continues that tradition, ensuring long-term stability in both enterprise and industrial deployments.

This compact-yet-powerful design makes the SWM28 series ideal for environments ranging from corporate data centers to factory automation systems.

Layer 2 + Layer 3 Networking for Flexibility

One of the most impressive aspects of the SWM28-series is its ability to support both Layer 2 (L2) and Layer 3 (L3)functions.

• Layer 2 Capabilities: These include VLAN support, port mirroring, isolation, and loop protection. With these features, IT teams can segment networks, prevent data storms, and ensure efficient traffic flows.
• Layer 3 Capabilities: Beyond basic switching, the SWM28-series supports static IPv4/IPv6 routing and dynamic routing via advanced protocols such as OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) and BGP (Border Gateway Protocol).

For businesses, this means they can use these switches not only to connect devices but also to intelligently route traffic across multiple subnets, campuses, or branches. For example:

• A manufacturer might use VLANs to separate office IT systems from factory-floor machines.
• An enterprise could deploy OSPF for internal routing efficiency while leveraging BGP for redundancy with multiple internet providers.

This flexibility is a major advantage, giving organizations scalability and resilience without needing separate, more expensive routing equipment.

Industrial Protocol Support for Automation and IIoT

Unlike many managed switches that target only office networks, the SWM28-series was also built for industrial automation. Teltonika included support for widely adopted industrial Ethernet protocols:

• PROFINET: Allows real-time monitoring and diagnostics, giving automation engineers visibility into device health and communication performance.
• EtherNet/IP: A high-throughput, low-latency protocol widely used in industrial control systems. Its inclusion makes these switches compatible with a large ecosystem of PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers) and automation devices.
• MRP (Media Redundancy Protocol): Ensures fault-tolerant communication. By creating ring topologies, networks can maintain uptime even if a link or device fails—crucial in production environments where downtime can cost thousands of dollars per minute.

This protocol support is particularly valuable in Industrial IoT (IIoT) deployments, where uptime, visibility, and deterministic communication are non-negotiable.

TswOS: Simplified Yet Powerful Switch Management

At the heart of these switches lies TswOS, Teltonika’s custom-built operating system for switch management. Unlike generic firmware, TswOS is designed specifically for intuitive, straightforward control while still offering enterprise-level functionality.

Some of the most useful features include:

• Port Speed & Duplex Control: Administrators can fine-tune each port for maximum performance and compatibility.
• VLAN Setup: Segment traffic by department, function, or security level without needing complex CLI configurations.
• Port Mirroring: Duplicate traffic from one port to another for troubleshooting or monitoring purposes.
• Port Isolation: Prevent communication between specific ports to enhance network security.
• PoE+ Management: Deliver Power over Ethernet to supported devices like IP cameras, access points, or VoIP phones. Administrators can control which ports provide power and even reset devices remotely.
• Remote Rebooting: A practical tool for troubleshooting. If a powered device stops responding, administrators can remotely power-cycle it without physically being onsite.

This makes TswOS an excellent middle ground—simple enough for IT generalists, but powerful enough for seasoned network engineers.

Built-In Security: TPM 2.0 Hardware Protection

Security is a growing concern in every industry. Teltonika addressed this by equipping the SWM28-series with TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module) support.

TPM 2.0 provides:

• Secure Boot: Ensures that the switch boots only with trusted, signed firmware, protecting against tampering or malware.
• Cryptographic Capabilities: Adds hardware-level encryption support for keys and credentials.
• Enhanced Trust: Hardware-based security makes it harder for attackers to compromise devices compared to software-only defenses.

For enterprises and industrial environments handling sensitive data or critical operations, this hardware-based protection offers peace of mind and compliance with best practices.

Practical Applications of the SWM28-Series

The features of the SWM28-series make it versatile across a wide range of use cases. Let’s look at a few examples:

1. Enterprise Offices & Campuses
   • Segment traffic with VLANs to keep departments separate.
   • Use PoE+ to power wireless access points and IP phones.
   • Apply OSPF for efficient internal routing across multiple buildings.
2. Factories & Automation Systems
   • Integrate PLCs and controllers with PROFINET and EtherNet/IP.
   • Build ring topologies with MRP to keep assembly lines running even if a connection fails.
   • Remotely reboot cameras, sensors, or gateways powered via PoE+.
3. IoT and Smart City Deployments
   • Create isolated VLANs for different IoT sensor groups.
   • Use BGP for resilient communication with cloud platforms.
   • Protect critical infrastructure with TPM 2.0 hardware security.

These examples illustrate how the SWM28-series can serve as the backbone for networks that require performance, resilience, and flexibility.

Why the SWM28-Series Matters for Businesses

Organizations today face increasing pressure to modernize their networks without overspending or overcomplicating management. The SWM28-series strikes a balance between enterprise-grade power and user-friendly simplicity. Also, 2 years of Remote Management is included!

Key benefits include:

For IT managers, system integrators, and automation engineers, these switches reduce complexity while delivering essential features for today’s hybrid enterprise-industrial networks.

Conclusion

With the launch of the SWM280, SWM281, and SWM282, Teltonika Networks has expanded beyond traditional industrial networking into the enterprise switch market. By blending compact design, advanced L2/L3 features, industrial protocol support, intuitive management, and hardware-level security, the SWM28-series offers a comprehensive solution for modern networks.

Whether you’re running a corporate campus, an IoT deployment, or a high-stakes factory automation system, these new switches deliver the control, flexibility, and resilience you need—backed by Teltonika’s reputation for quality and innovation. Contact 5Gstore for more information or if you are looking for a Teltonika Distributor.