Select the Right 25G Switch for Your Campus and Data Center

What is a 25G Switch?

A?25G switch, or?25 Gigabit Ethernet switch, is a network switch that provides connectivity at a speed of?25 Gbps (gigabits per second). These switches are increasingly utilized in modern data centers and enterprise networks to facilitate high-speed data transfer and enhance network bandwidth. They serve as a bridge between the more prevalent?10G?and?40G switches, offering an efficient upgrade path for organizations aiming to improve their network performance without making the leap directly to?40G?or?100G speeds.

Why Choose a 25G Switch:10G Switch Baton Relay

• Cost-Effectiveness and Efficiency：One of the standout advantages of 25G Ethernet is its?cost-effectiveness. While you can aggregate four 10G channels to achieve 40G, this approach tends to be?more expensive?and?power-hungry?compared to a straightforward 25G solution. In contrast, 25G offers a?balanced capital and operational expense?profile, making it a more attractive option for organizations looking to upgrade their infrastructure without breaking the bank?
• Enhanced Performance：When it comes to performance, 25G Ethernet shines with its?higher bandwidth?and?faster connections. It allows for the possibility of running two 25G channels for a total of 50G or four channels for 100G. This scalability means that as data demands grow, organizations can easily adapt their networks without needing a complete overhaul.Backward Compatibility
• Another significant benefit of 25G is its?backward compatibility?with 10G systems. This means that when new servers are added, they can seamlessly communicate with existing network equipment. This feature is crucial for businesses that want to upgrade gradually without disrupting their current operations.

Application Scenarios for 25G Network Switches

In today’s fast-paced digital environment,?25G switches?are crucial across various network layers, enhancing connectivity and performance in multiple settings:

1. Enterprise Networks: In corporate environments, 25G switches act as the backbone of connectivity. They function as access layer switches, connecting employees’ computers, IP phones, and wireless access points to ensure high-speed network access. In larger organizations, these switches also serve at the aggregation layer, efficiently consolidating traffic from various departments and directing it to the core layer, thereby improving performance and simplifying network management.
2. Data Centers: Within data centers, 25G switches are essential. Positioned in the leaf layer, they provide rapid network access and ensure stable data transmission between servers. These switches can also connect to storage devices, meeting the high bandwidth demands of data storage and retrieval, which is vital for maintaining the efficiency and reliability required in modern data centers.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a 25G Switch

When selecting a?25G switch, it is crucial to evaluate several key factors to ensure the device meets current needs and can scale for future demands:

• Performance: The performance of a 25G data center switch hinges on its chipset and CPU, which are critical for processing data, managing high-speed traffic, and handling large volumes without bottlenecks. Opt for switches equipped with advanced?ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits)?that deliver high throughput and low latency. Ensure the CPU can effectively manage control plane tasks, allowing the switch to handle both routine and complex operations in a dynamic data center environment.
• Hardware Design: The design of the hardware significantly impacts maintenance and reliability. Look for features such as hot-swappable components (e.g., power supplies and fans) to minimize downtime during maintenance. Additionally, robust heat dissipation capabilities are essential to manage high thermal loads. An effective fan system design ensures optimal airflow, reducing hotspots and maintaining appropriate temperatures. High port density switches also enhance scalability by supporting more connections, reducing the need for additional switches.
• Software: A powerful network operating system is vital for switches, particularly in data centers where they must manage complex workloads. The software should offer a comprehensive suite of features, including?Layer 2/3 functionalities, virtualization capabilities, and advanced security and management options. Consider advanced features such as?DMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE)?and?EVPN Mutihoming when deploying 25G switches in data center scenarios.
• Cost and Budget: Finally, assess both the initial purchase cost and ongoing operational expenses to make an informed decision.

Asterfusion 25G Switches Choices based on Enterprise SONiC

Asterfusion 25G switches are categorized into two models, CX202P-24Y-M-H and CX308P-48Y-N-V2. They are pre-installed with enhanced enterprise SONiC NOS with rich and diverse interfaces, and Asterfusion provides different port choices for different users’ budgets. The performance of these two 25G switches differs due to the differences in chips and installed software versions. Neither is better or worse, but they are more of a choice in different scenarios.

CX202P-24Y-M-H: Powerful 25G Switch for Campus Core/Aggregation

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. It also includes advanced virtualization capabilities, like VXLAN and BGP-EVPN for being use leaf switch in data center.

The integration of the?Marvell Aldrin3 chip?elevates its performance significantly compared to its predecessor.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.

Furthermore, the?CX202P-24Y-M-H?is priced competitively, which is under 3000 USD.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.

CX308P-48Y-N-V2: Powerful 25G Switch for Data Center Support ROCEv2 & EVPN Multihoming

Both the?CX308P-48Y-N-V2?and the?CX202P-24Y-M-H?switches come pre-installed with?Asterfusion’s enhanced enterprise SONiC NOS. However, the CX308P-48Y-N-V2 is uniquely optimized for?data center environments, making it stand out in performance and capabilities.

Performance Comparison

The?CX308P-48Y-N-V2?is powered by the?Falcon chip, which significantly outperforms the?Marvell Aldrin3?found in the CX202P-24Y-M-H. This superior processing power makes the CX308P ideal for deployment as a?top-of-rack (ToR)?switch, particularly for high-performance networking in data centers.This switch excels in advanced features such as:

• ROCEv2
• EVPN Multihoming
• VxLAN tunneling
• Enhanced?system management

These capabilities ensure that the CX308P-N delivers a richer network experience on data centre scenarios compared to the CX202P.

Port Configuration and Benefits

When it comes to ports, the?CX308P?boasts?48 x 25G downstream ports—double the number available on the?CX202P. Additionally, it features?eight 100G upstream ports, which significantly enhances:

• Bandwidth
• Reliability
• Scalability

Data Center Version SONiC NOS

In addition to virtualisation features such as ROCEv2 and EVPN Multihoming, there are other data centre features as shown in the table below. Note that this is only a partial list. Please refer to our datasheet for details, because as I said, this model is fully positioned in the data centre scenario.

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.)

Having discussed the performance advantages of the?CX308P-48Y-N-V2?and?CX202P-24Y-M-H?switches, it’s essential to turn our attention to another critical component that complements these switches:?25G optical modules. These modules are vital for enabling high-speed data transmission, extending network coverage, and enhancing overall network performance.

Asterfusion 25G Optical Module Choices

According to the encapsulation form and transmission medium, 25G optical modules are mainly divided into SFP28 optical modules, CWDM and DWDM optical modules, AOC (Active Optical Cable) and DAC (Directly Attached Copper Cable), Asterfusion has both SFP28 optical modules as well as AOCs and DACs, which can be selected by users according to their needs.

At Asterfusion, we understand that different scenarios and budgets require tailored solutions. From campus environments to expansive data centers, we offer a variety of?high-performance and cost-effective options.If you’re interested in selecting?Asterfusion 10G switches, check out our in-depth article for more insights!

Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or need more information!

Reference:

Asterfusion enterprise SONiC based 25G/10G open network switch overview

100G Data Center Switches: Driving the Future through Open Networking