Dahua DH-PFS4226-24ET-360 24-Port PoE Switch

Model: DH-PFS4226-24ET-360

Who This Is For

Property managers specifying network infrastructure for medium to large IP camera deployments will find the Dahua PFS4226-24ET-360 a purpose-built solution. With 24 PoE ports, a 360W total power budget, and support for Hi-PoE on ports 1 and 2 at up to 90W each, this switch handles demanding devices - PTZ cameras, multi-sensor units, and access control panels - alongside standard IP cameras on the remaining 22 ports. The long-distance PoE transmission capability, up to 250 metres over Cat5e or Cat6, makes it particularly well suited to sprawling sites where cameras are positioned far from the comms room. Layer 2 managed functionality gives installers and IT teams VLAN segmentation, QoS prioritisation, and port-level security controls, which matter on sites where surveillance traffic must be isolated from general network use. This is a rack-mount switch built for camera-dense installations, not a general-purpose office switch.

What This Switch Actually Does

Who Buys This Model

• Security Installers on Commercial Sites: Deploying 16 to 24 IP cameras from a single switch location and needing the full 360W budget to support a mix of PoE, PoE+, and Hi-PoE devices without cascading switches.
• IT Managers Adding CCTV to an Existing Network: Using VLAN segmentation and 802.1x port authentication to isolate camera traffic from corporate infrastructure while keeping a single rack-mounted unit managing the surveillance ports.
• Installers on Large Footprint Sites: Warehouses, school campuses, and industrial facilities where cameras are mounted beyond 100 metres from the comms room - the 250-metre long-distance PoE mode avoids the cost and labour of installing additional switches or PoE extenders.
• Integrators Pairing with PTZ or Multi-Sensor Cameras: The 2 Hi-PoE ports at up to 90W each support high-power PTZ cameras or panoramic multi-sensor heads that exceed standard PoE+ limits, without requiring a separate injector.
• Facility Managers Specifying Rack Infrastructure: The 1U rack-mount form factor (440 x 300 x 44mm) fits standard 19-inch racks and the dual SFP uplink allows clean fibre integration into an existing core switch, making it straightforward to document and support long term.

Honest Assessment

The PFS4226-24ET-360 does several things well for surveillance-focused deployments. The 360W budget with mixed PoE standards on the same switch - including Hi-PoE at 90W on ports 1 and 2 - removes the need for separate injectors for high-draw devices. Long-distance PoE to 250 metres genuinely reduces infrastructure cost on large sites. Layer 2 management with VLAN, QoS, and port security gives this switch legs in environments where IT governance matters. Available through Security Australia, it suits installers who want a purpose-built surveillance switch rather than adapting a general networking product.

Where it has limits: the 24 PoE ports run at 100Mbps, not gigabit - this is adequate for IP camera streams but not ideal if high-throughput data devices will share these ports. The 8.8 Gbps switching capacity is non-blocking for video but would not suit mixed surveillance and high-bandwidth IT workloads. Sites needing more than 24 camera ports from a single switch, or requiring PoE+ on every port at full gigabit speed, should compare against higher-capacity managed switches in the range.

Before You Buy

Quick Fit Check

• Good match if: You are deploying 12 to 24 IP cameras from a single switch and need a mix of standard PoE, PoE+, and at least 1 to 2 Hi-PoE devices such as PTZ cameras - the tiered port power allocation covers this without external injectors.
• Good match if: Your site has cameras beyond 100 metres from the comms room and adding a secondary switch or PoE extender is impractical - the 250-metre long-distance PoE mode on all 24 ports addresses this directly using existing Cat5e or Cat6 runs.
• You may need a different model if: Your deployment exceeds 24 cameras from a single location, or you need full gigabit speeds on all PoE ports for high-throughput devices - a higher-port-count managed PoE switch with gigabit PoE ports across all ports would be more appropriate, and Security Australia stocks options in this category.

Key Features & Technical Specifications

Real-World Scenarios

How It Compares

• Choose this if: You need 24 PoE ports with mixed power standards on a single managed switch - particularly if 1 to 2 high-draw devices like PTZ cameras need 60W to 90W each, and the rest of the deployment uses standard PoE or PoE+ cameras.
• You may need a different model if: All 24 PoE ports need to operate at full gigabit data speeds - the PFS4226-24ET-360's PoE ports are 100Mbps, so a managed PoE switch with gigabit speeds across all ports would be more appropriate for high-throughput mixed use.
• Pairs well with: A Dahua or compatible 16-channel or 32-channel NVR connected via the gigabit uplink, along with Hi-PoE PTZ cameras on ports 1 and 2 and standard PoE+ fixed cameras filling the remaining ports.

Common Questions

1. Will this switch power a PTZ camera that requires more than 30W?

   Yes. Ports 1 and 2 support Hi-PoE and IEEE 802.3bt at up to 90W each, making them suitable for high-power PTZ cameras, multi-sensor panoramic heads, or other devices that exceed the 30W PoE+ limit. The remaining 22 ports (3 to 24) deliver up to 30W per port under IEEE 802.3at, which covers the majority of fixed IP cameras available today.

2. Does the 250-metre long-distance mode work on all 24 PoE ports?

   Yes. The extended 250-metre PoE range is available across all 24 PoE ports, not just a dedicated subset. However, beyond 100 metres the port data rate drops to 10Mbps. This is adequate for a single-stream standard-resolution IP camera but may not suit high-bitrate cameras running multiple streams simultaneously. Cable quality matters - Cat5e or Cat6 with DC resistance under 10 ohms per 100 metres is required to achieve the full power delivery at distance.

3. What happens if the total connected PoE load exceeds 360W?

   The switch activates power-down protection on a per-port basis when the total budget is exceeded. Ports are prioritised and lower-priority ports are powered down to protect the overall system. The PoE management interface allows you to configure per-port priority and monitor live power consumption so you can plan the load before it becomes an issue. Always calculate your total device draw at commissioning - not just average consumption but worst-case startup draw.

4. Can I segment camera traffic away from the main office network using this switch?

   Yes. The PFS4226-24ET-360 supports IEEE 802.1q Standard VLAN, which lets you assign camera ports to a dedicated VLAN isolated from general network traffic. Combined with port-level IP and MAC binding and IEEE 802.1x authentication, this switch gives IT administrators the tools to enforce network separation and prevent unauthorised devices from connecting to the surveillance VLAN.

5. Can I manage this switch remotely without being on-site?

   Yes. Web-based management allows remote access to the switch interface for port monitoring, power cycling, VLAN configuration, and PoE statistics. Dahua's ConfigTool also supports switch discovery and firmware upgrades on the local network. For off-site access, the switch would need to be behind a router or firewall with remote access configured - the switch itself does not include built-in cloud management or VPN.

6. How does the PoE power delivery change at longer cable distances?

   Power delivery decreases as cable length increases due to cable resistance losses. At 100 metres under IEEE 802.3bt (90W port), the device receives approximately 71.3W. At 250 metres, this drops to around 40W. Under Hi-PoE (60W port), delivery at 100 metres is approximately 53W, dropping to 37W at 250 metres. Under IEEE 802.3at (30W), delivery remains at approximately 25.5W across all distances from 100m to 250m. These figures are based on the switch's 53V supply voltage and assume cable resistance within spec - substandard cable will reduce these figures further.

7. Will this switch work with non-Dahua IP cameras and NVRs?

   Yes. The switch operates on standard IEEE PoE protocols and standard Ethernet - it is not locked to Dahua devices. Any IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at, Hi-PoE, or 802.3bt compliant camera or device from any manufacturer will work on the appropriate port. The ConfigTool is a Dahua management utility but web management is accessible for any brand integration. This switch is part of the Security Australia range and is commonly deployed alongside NVRs and cameras from multiple manufacturers in mixed-brand installations.

Downloads & Resources

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