Hikvision DS-3E1326P-EI 24 Port Fast Ethernet Smart POE Switch

Model: DS-3E1326P-EI

Who This Is For

For installers and IT coordinators who need a managed PoE switch that can run a full building's worth of IP cameras from a single unit without overloading the power budget. The Hikvision DS-3E1326P-EI delivers 24 Fast Ethernet PoE ports and a 370 W total power budget, which comfortably handles a mixed deployment of fixed and PTZ cameras across medium-to-large sites. The long-range PoE mode extends transmission up to 300 m - removing the need for additional switches or injectors at the far end of a car park, warehouse, or school perimeter. The built-in PoE watchdog automatically restarts unresponsive cameras without any manual intervention, reducing on-site callouts on live installations. With a metal chassis, 6 kV surge protection, and support for remote management via Hik-Central Pro and Hik-Partner Pro, this switch suits permanent rack installations in security control rooms, comms rooms, and plant areas where reliability and manageability matter.

What This Switch Actually Does

Who Buys This Model

• CCTV Installers: Specifying a single managed switch to power and network 16-24 IP cameras across a medium commercial site, where PoE watchdog removes the need for manual camera resets on return visits.
• School and Campus IT Teams: Deploying cameras across large grounds where cable runs regularly exceed 100 m - the 300 m long-range PoE mode means boundary cameras are reachable without additional field switches.
• Warehouse and Industrial Facility Managers: Running cameras through environments with electrical noise and surge risk, where the 6 kV surge protection and metal chassis justify specifying this over unmanaged alternatives.
• Multi-Tenant Property Managers: Using 802.1Q VLAN and port isolation to keep each tenancy's camera traffic separated on a shared network infrastructure without additional hardware.
• Security Integrators on Hikvision Systems: Using Hik-Central Pro or Hik-Partner Pro across their client base - the native management integration means switch diagnostics sit inside the same platform as camera management.

Honest Assessment

The DS-3E1326P-EI does a specific job well: it puts 24 managed PoE ports with a serious 370 W budget, long-range PoE capability, and automated device recovery into a 1U metal rack unit at a price point well below enterprise-grade managed switches. The PoE watchdog and Hik-Central Pro integration are genuine time-savers on live Hikvision installations. The 6 kV surge protection is not a checkbox spec - it matters for cameras on long outdoor runs in storm-prone Australian conditions. Where it has limits: the data ports run at Fast Ethernet (10/100M), not Gigabit, so high-bitrate 4K camera streams across multiple ports will approach bandwidth ceilings on loaded deployments. The 2 uplink combo ports are Gigabit, which helps at the aggregation layer, but anyone running 16+ high-resolution cameras at full bitrate should verify total throughput against the 14.8 Gbps switching capacity. It is also not rated for outdoor installation - it requires a weatherproof enclosure or indoor comms room. Available through Security Australia.

Before You Buy

Quick Fit Check

• Good match if: You are installing 16-24 standard IP cameras across a site where some cable runs exceed 100 m - the 300 m long-range PoE mode removes the need for field-mounted secondary switches or injectors.
• Good match if: Your client is running an existing Hik-Central Pro or Hik-Partner Pro platform and wants switch management, PoE port cycling, and fault alerts inside the same interface they already use for camera management.
• You may need a different model if: Your deployment includes a large number of 4K or multi-sensor cameras generating sustained high-bitrate streams - a full Gigabit managed switch would better suit that bandwidth demand. Browse the switching range at securityaustralia.com.au for Gigabit alternatives.

Key Features & Technical Specifications

Real-World Scenarios

How It Compares

• Choose this if: You need 24 managed PoE ports with a 370 W budget, PoE watchdog automation, and native Hik-Central Pro integration in a single rack unit - particularly where some cable runs exceed 100 m.
• You may need a different model if: Your deployment is primarily high-resolution 4K cameras generating sustained high-bitrate streams per port - a full Gigabit managed switch handles that data throughput more comfortably than Fast Ethernet ports.
• Pairs well with: A Hikvision NVR with matching channel count, Hikvision IP cameras using standard 802.3af PoE, and a rack-mount UPS for protected power during outages.

Common Questions

1. Will this switch work with non-Hikvision IP cameras?

   Yes. The DS-3E1326P-EI delivers standard 802.3af and 802.3at PoE on all 24 ports, which is compatible with any PoE-compliant IP camera regardless of brand. The PoE watchdog and Hik-Central Pro management features are optimised for Hikvision devices, but the underlying PoE switching function operates with any standards-compliant camera.

2. Does the 300 m long-range PoE mode work on all 24 ports simultaneously?

   Yes, but with a trade-off. Long-range mode can be enabled on individual ports as needed - it is not a global setting. When a port is switched to long-range mode, that port operates at 10 Mbps rather than 100 Mbps. For a standard single-stream IP camera this is generally sufficient, but it is not suitable for cameras streaming at high bitrates or multi-channel encoders. Plan your port allocation before installation to assign long-range mode only where the cable distance requires it.

3. How does the PoE watchdog actually work - does it need configuration?

   Yes, it requires initial configuration through the web interface. You set a ping target (typically the camera's IP address) and a polling interval for each port you want monitored. If the camera stops responding to pings for the defined period, the switch cuts PoE power to that port and restores it after a short delay, forcing the camera to reboot. This is a per-port setting, not a system-wide automatic feature, so it needs to be set up during commissioning.

4. Will 24 cameras actually fit within the 370 W power budget?

   It depends on the cameras. Standard fixed IP cameras typically draw 6-9 W each. At 8 W average across 24 ports, total draw would be 192 W - well within the 370 W budget. PTZ cameras drawing 25-30 W change the calculation significantly. Map out the maximum wattage of every device before finalising your camera selection and switch placement. The switch does not fail cleanly when the budget is exceeded - it begins shutting down lower-priority ports, which can be difficult to diagnose on a live system.

5. Does this switch need to be installed indoors?

   Yes. The DS-3E1326P-EI is a rack-mount unit rated for 0 °C to 45 °C operating temperature and is not weatherproofed for direct outdoor installation. It requires a protected indoor environment - a comms room, server rack, or weatherproof outdoor enclosure with adequate ventilation and temperature control. The 1U rack-mount form factor (440 x 44 mm) fits a standard 19-inch rack directly. Check the DS-3E1326P-EI datasheet, which is stocked by Security Australia, for full environmental ratings before finalising enclosure selection.

6. Can the cable fault detection feature help diagnose existing wiring problems?

   Yes. The built-in cable detection function identifies open-circuit and short-circuit faults in connected network cables. It reports the approximate distance to the fault, which narrows down the section of cable that needs inspection rather than requiring a full re-pull. This is most useful during commissioning when a port shows no link - the fault detection can tell you whether the cable has a break and roughly where, before you start tracing walls or ceiling voids.

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