Unmanaged switches: These switches do not have an IP address. They work transparently, forwarding data without any need for IP identification. They operate solely at the data link layer and do not. The short answer is yes, a network switch can have an IP address, but it's not always required for its basic function of forwarding network traffic. It deals with the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the data packets and transports it to a proper destination. You may also want to know: Can a Nintendo Switch Play DS.