Which of the following is a characteristic of a managed switch?

A managed switch is specifically designed with capabilities that allow for extensive port configuration and monitoring. This means that network administrators can control settings such as VLANs, Quality of Service (QoS), and port speed, and they can monitor traffic and performance metrics to ensure optimal network operation. This level of management is essential for maintaining sophisticated networks that require efficiency and security.

In contrast, options that suggest automatic functions or simple connectivity may not account for the complexity that a managed switch can address. While some switches may allocate bandwidth automatically, this feature is not exclusive to managed switches and can also be present in unmanaged models. The assertion that a managed switch requires no configuration is inaccurate, as the key advantage of managed switches is the requirement for and ability to configure settings as needed. Furthermore, managed switches can often connect devices across different networks, which goes against the idea that they only connect devices on the same network; this feature supports scenarios like inter-VLAN routing or connecting to different subnets.