In the thrilling age of the information boom, we are witnessing an unprecedented surge in data. This tsunami of information is exerting immense pressure on enterprise networks, prompting them to upgrade to 25G/10G networks. Imagine deploying a 25G/10G network with scalability at its heart – sounds exciting, doesn’t it?Enter the SONiC 25G/10G switch, the superstar of open network switches.
In this article, we will embark on a journey to uncover the unique advantages and diverse application scenarios of the SONiC 25G/10G switch.But that’s not all! We will also delve into how Asterfusion 25G/10G switches ingeniously bring data center design concepts to the campus, turbocharging your network performance and efficiency. Stay tuned for a thrilling exploration of the future of networking!
What is 25G/10G switch？
A 25G switch, or 25 Gigabit Ethernet switch, is a network switch that provides 25 Gbps (gigabits per second) connectivity. These switches are used in modern data centers and enterprise networks to offer high-speed data transfer and greater network bandwidth. They bridge the gap between the more common 10G and 40G switches, providing an efficient upgrade path for organizations looking to enhance their network performance without jumping directly to 40G or 100G speeds.
10G Ethernet is a high-speed Ethernet technology, an Ethernet standard under the 802.3ae specification, with transmission rates of up to 10 gigabits per second, which is ten times the speed of Gigabit Ethernet. Therefore, 10G Ethernet provides greater bandwidth and faster data transfer for situations that require high-performance network connectivity.
Application scenarios of 25G/10G open network switches
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, 25G/10G switches play a pivotal role across various network layers, enhancing connectivity and performance in diverse environments. Let’s explore how these powerful switches are utilized in different settings:
- Enterprise Networks: Within the bustling corridors of an enterprise, 25G/10G switches serve as the backbone of connectivity. Acting as access layer switches, they seamlessly connect employees’ computers, IP phones, and wireless access points, ensuring that everyone enjoys high-speed network access. In larger enterprises, these switches transition to the aggregation layer, efficiently consolidating traffic from different departments or floors and channeling it to the core layer. This dual functionality not only boosts performance but also simplifies network management.
- Home Networks: For tech-savvy families with a plethora of devices, 25G/10G switches are game-changers. They function as access layer devices, linking computers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles to create a supercharged home network. This enhanced connectivity translates to faster intranet transmission speeds, allowing for smooth streaming, gaming, and browsing experiences without the dreaded lag.
- Data Centers: In the heart of data centers, 25G/10G switches are indispensable. Positioned in the access layer, they provide lightning-fast network access and ensure stable data transmission between servers. Additionally, these switches can connect to storage devices, supporting the high bandwidth demands of data storage and retrieval. This capability is crucial for maintaining the efficiency and reliability that modern data centers require.
By understanding the diverse applications of 25G/10G switches, organizations and individuals alike can make informed decisions to enhance their network performance and meet the demands of an increasingly connected world.
Introduction of Asterfusion SONiC Enterprise 25G/10G layer3 leaf switches
The Asterfusion SONiC 10G/25G switches are designed to elevate the performance of enterprise campus networks, primarily operating in the access and aggregation layers. With a variety of models available, including the CX20P series and CX204Y series for 10G switches, as well as the CX202P-24Y-M-H and CX308P-48Y-N-V2 for 25G switches, these devices are engineered to meet diverse networking needs.
Asterfusion Open Networking Switches: SONiC Enterprise 10G Switch
CX20P Series: Feature-Rich, Cost-Effective Layer 3 Switches
The CX20P Series switches from Asterfusion are engineered for excellence, powered by Marvell Aldrin chips. These switches offer a versatile selection of configurations, featuring 16, 24, or 48 10G SFP+ downlink ports that are backwards compatible with 1G connections. Additionally, they come equipped with 2 or 6 100G QSFP28 uplink ports, which also support 40G connections. This flexibility ensures that organizations can scale their networks efficiently while maintaining high-speed connectivity.
What sets Asterfusion apart is its commitment to open networking through the integration of the SONiC NOS (Network Operating System). This software foundation not only enhances the functionality of the switches but also allows for greater flexibility and customization. Users can leverage advanced features such as VXLAN and BGP-EVPN, which are essential for modern data center operations and campus networking,as listed below:
Although we are feature-rich, Asterfusion is willing to provide the most cost-effective products as an emerging white-box vendor. As an example, for a Layer 3 switch with 48x10Gb SFP+ uplink interfaces and 6x100Gb QSFP28 downlink interfaces, Asterfusion’s CX206P-48S can retail for less than $2,800, making it a very cost-effective access switch, with prices for similar configurations ranging from around $4,700 for FS to $5,700 for Edgecore. Asterfusion’s CX206P-48S is a very cost-effective access switch.
CX204Y-48S：Best Value for Money on the Market: Incredibly Affordable Layer 3 Switch
The CX20P Series switches from Asterfusion are engineered for excellence, powered by Marvell Aldrin chips. These switches offer a versatile selection of configurations, featuring 16, 24, or 48 10G SFP+ downlink ports that are backwards compatible with 1G connections. Additionally, they come equipped with 2 or 6 100G QSFP28 uplink ports, which also support 40G connections. This flexibility ensures that organizations can scale their networks efficiently while maintaining high-speed connectivity.
What truly sets Asterfusion’s SONiC 10G switches apart is the enhanced enterprise-grade SONiC NOS pre-loaded on each device. This advanced operating system provides a wealth of features and faster updates compared to the community version, allowing users to benefit from the latest innovations in networking technology. Notably, the inclusion of advanced functionalities such as VxLAN and BGP enhances virtualization capabilities, security features, and overall monitoring and management. This makes the CX20P Series not just a switch, but a comprehensive solution for modern networking challenges.
| CX202P-16S-M-H | CX206P-24S-M-H | CX206P-48S-M-H | CX204Y-48S-M | |
| Downlinks | 16x10Gb/1Gb SFP+ | 24 x 10G SFP+ | 48x10Gb SFP+ | 48x10GE SFP+ |
| Uplinks | 2x100Gb/40Gb QSFP28 | 6 x 100G QSFP28 | 6x100Gb QSFP28 | 4x25GE SFP28 |
| Switch ASIC | Marvell Aldrin2 | |||
| Switching Capacity | 1.09Tbps | |||
Asterfusion Open Networking Switches: SONiC Enterprise 25G Switch
Asterfusion Enterprise SONiC 25G switches are categorized into two models, CX202P-24Y-M-H and CX308P-48Y-N-V2. Like 10G switches, they are pre-installed with enhanced enterprise SONiC NOS with rich and diverse interfaces, and Asterfusion provides different port choices for different users’ budgets. Due to the different chipset, there are some differences in the performance of these two 25G switches.
CX202P-24Y-M-H: More flexible, feature-rich 25G switches
The CX202P-24Y-M-H from Asterfusion is a robust 25G switch designed to cater to a variety of networking needs across different layers of a three-tiered campus network. With 24 x 25G SFP28 downlink ports (backward compatible with 10G) and 2 x 100G QSFP28 uplink ports (backward compatible with 40G), this switch is highly adaptable, serving effectively in the access, aggregation, and core layers, as well as functioning as a leaf switch in data center environments.
Equipped with the Enterprise SONiC Distribution, the CX202P-24Y-M-H offers a rich set of software features that enhance its functionality. The integration of the Marvell Aldrin3 chip elevates its performance significantly compared to its predecessor, the Aldrin2. Key advantages include:
- Enhanced Chip Programmability: The Aldrin3 chip provides greater programmability, allowing for more tailored configurations to meet specific network needs.
- Increased Message Cache Capacity: This ensures efficient handling of data packets, particularly during high or bursty traffic scenarios.
- Higher TCAM Capacity: A larger TCAM capacity supports more complex and flexible network configurations and security policies.
- Improved PCIe Interface: This facilitates better integration with other network devices and enhances overall performance.
As a result, when faced with high or bursty traffic, the CX202P-24Y-M-H demonstrates superior load balancing capabilities, ensuring reliability and stability in data transmission. It also supports more complex network configurations, adapting to a wider array of application scenarios and improving overall data processing speeds while reducing latency.
Despite these upgrades, the CX202P-24Y-M-H is priced competitively, matching the cost of the CX20P series switches. This makes it an incredibly cost-effective option for organizations looking to enhance their network infrastructure without exceeding their budgets. Users benefit from advanced capabilities while enjoying significant savings.
| Switching Chip Specifications | Marvell Aldrin2 | Marvell Aldrin3 | Marvell Falcon |
| Chip Switching Capacity | 1.09Tbps | 800Gbps | 2.0Tbps |
| Chip Programmability | Non-programmable | Programmable header parsing and programmable header changes | Programmable header changes |
| Message Cache Capacity (MB) | 6MB | 8MB | 24MB |
| Total TCAM Capacity (Mb) | 9K x 10B | 24K x 20B | 36K x 10B |
| PCIe Interface | PCIe Gen2 x 1 | PCIe Gen3 x 1 | PCIe Gen3 x 2 |
CX308P-48Y-N-V2: Data center grade 25G campus switch
Both the CX308P-48Y-N-V2 and the CX202P-24Y-M-H switches come pre-installed with Asterfusion’s enhanced enterprise-grade SONiC NOS. However,the CX308P-48Y-N-V2 is equipped with the NOS specifically optimized for data center environments.
Unlike the other switches mentioned above, the CX308P-48Y-N-V2 uses the Falcon chip, which is far more powerful than the Marvell Aldrin2 and Marvell Aldrin3 in every statistic,this makes it suitable for deployment as a top-of-rack (ToR) switch, focusing on high-performance networking within data centers,which makes it perform better in advanced features such as virtualization, VxLAN tunneling, and system management than CX202P-24Y-M-H.
In terms of port count, the CX308P has 48 25G downstream ports, which is twice the number of ports of the CX202P, and eight 100G upstream ports, which greatly improves the bandwidth, reliability, and scalability of the network, thus providing users with a better network experience and management convenience.
(The yellow markings in the figure are the functions that can be realized by CX308P-48Y-N-V2, and the unmarked ones are the functions that can be realized by both CX308P-48Y-N-V2 and CX202P-24Y-M-H.)
| CX202P-24Y-M-H | CX308P-48Y-N-V2 | |
| Downlinks | 24x25G SFP28/10G SFP+ | 48x25Gb SFP28 |
| Uplinks | 2x100G QSFP28/40G QSFP+ | 8x100Gb QSFP28 |
| Switch ASIC | Marvell Aldrin 3 | Falcon |
| Switching Capacity | 800Gbps | 2Tbps |
| Packet forwarding rate (measured value) | 403.6Mpps | 1332.9Mpps |
| Application Scenarios | Core and Leaf Switch for Enterprise and Data Center | Data center top-of-rack (ToR) switch, enterprise and cloud service providers network deployments |
Build Data Center Grade Campus Network with Asterfusion Open Network Switches
With Asterfusion’s Data Center-grade Controller, Software, and Hardware, you can establish an automated operation that ensures stability for fast recovery and a scalable network. This integrated approach allows organizations to efficiently manage their network infrastructure while adapting to evolving demands.
Utilizing 10G and 25G Switches in Enterprise Campus Networks
In an enterprise campus network, deploying a 10G or 25G switch as a spine switch is an effective strategy for handling large data processing requirements. These switches provide the necessary bandwidth and performance to support high-speed data transmission across the network, ensuring that applications run smoothly and efficiently.
By leveraging Asterfusion’s advanced networking solutions, organizations can create a robust and flexible network architecture that meets the needs of modern enterprise environments. This setup not only enhances data processing capabilities but also improves overall network performance, making it easier to manage and scale as business requirements grow.In summary, Asterfusion’s offerings empower enterprises to build automated, stable, and scalable networks, with the flexibility to utilize high-performance 10G and 25G switches tailored to their specific operational needs.
For more:Asterfusion Enterprise SONiC Based 25G/10G Open Network Switch Overview (cloudswit.ch)