In network architecture, switch is an important device that is used to connect computers, servers and other network devices. With the needs of different areas, there are various types of switches. This article will detail the differences between data centre switches and campus switches, including their principles and usage scenarios.

What is a Data Centre Switch

Data centre switches are switches designed for large data centre environments. Data centres are used to store and manage large numbers of computers and servers, and to process massive amounts of data, providing high-performance computing and cloud services.

Principle

High performance and low latency: Data centre switches feature high-speed data transfer and low latency to meet data centre demands for high-performance computing and big data processing. They typically use high-speed Ethernet technologies such as Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) or 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE).

Large capacity and scalability: Data centre switches typically have a large number of ports and a highly scalable design to support the connection of large numbers of servers and network devices. They can be stacked or modularly expanded to accommodate growing data centre needs.

High reliability and redundancy: Data centre switches typically feature redundant power supplies, redundant fans and hot-swappable modules to provide high availability and fault recovery. This is because data centre continuity is critical for proper business operations.

Multi-layered network management: Data centre switches support advanced network management features such as virtual local area networks (VLANs), load balancing and flow control. These features enable better network segmentation and resource optimisation, improving data centre efficiency and manageability.

What is a Campus Switch

Campus switches are switches used in small network environments such as campuses or office buildings. They primarily connect office equipment such as computers, phones and printers.

Principle

Moderate performance and latency: Campus switches have relatively low performance and latency requirements because they are primarily used to connect office equipment and for general network communications. Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) technology is typically used.

Moderate capacity and scalability: Campus switches have a relatively small number of ports and are generally adapted to the size of a campus or office building. They can accommodate the need to connect office equipment and scale appropriately as needed.

Reliability and redundancy: Campus switches typically have basic reliability and redundancy features to ensure continuity of the office network. This includes some basic failure recovery mechanisms such as link aggregation and redundant links.

Simplified Network Management: Campus switches typically have simplified network management features to reduce maintenance and configuration complexity. They provide basic network management features such as port management, flow control and basic virtual local area network (VLAN) support.

Data Centre Switches VS. Campus Switches

Two common types—data centre switches and campus switches—are tailored for distinct operational environments. While they both serve to route and manage network traffic, their purposes, designs, and functionalities differ based on the specific needs of the environments in which they operate.

Primary Function and Use Cases

The main distinction between data centre switches and campus switches lies in their intended use cases and the nature of the network environments they serve.

Data Centre Switches are designed for high-performance environments where large volumes of data traffic need to be managed efficiently. These switches are typically found in data centres, which host servers, storage systems, and large-scale applications, often supporting cloud services, large databases, and virtualised environments. Their primary purpose is to ensure high-speed connectivity between servers and storage devices with minimal latency. They are designed to support east-west traffic—data moving between servers within the data centre.

However, Campus Switches are deployed in enterprise campus environments, such as universities, corporate offices, and hospitals. These switches handle a mix of data, voice, and video traffic, catering to end-user devices like PCs, laptops, phones, and wireless access points. Campus switches focus on north-south traffic, which involves data flow between end devices and a central data centre or cloud services.

Network Traffic Patterns

As mentioned earlier, the traffic patterns between data centres and campus networks vary significantly.

Data Centre Switches prioritise east-west traffic, where data moves laterally between servers and storage systems within the same network. This lateral traffic flow is critical in data centres, especially in environments that rely heavily on virtual machines and cloud infrastructure. To accommodate such traffic, data centre switches are built for high throughput, low latency, and massive bandwidth availability, ensuring minimal delays in data processing and communication.

Campus Switches, on the other hand, handle north-south traffic. This type of traffic moves between end-user devices and core data centres or external networks. The data flow in campus networks typically involves accessing cloud applications, web services, or shared resources, such as printers and file servers. As a result, campus switches are more focused on delivering reliable connectivity and broad coverage rather than ultra-low latency.

Port Density and Scalability

Port Density: the number of ports available on a switch—is may be another differentiating factor.

Data Centre Switches typically feature higher port density. In a data centre environment, numerous servers, storage devices, and networking components must be interconnected. To manage this, data centre switches are equipped with a high number of 10G, 25G, 40G, and even 100G ports. This allows for the aggregation of multiple high-speed connections in a compact and scalable form factor. Additionally, data centre switches are designed to support seamless scaling, allowing network administrators to add more switches and expand their network infrastructure as needed without disrupting service.

Campus Switches, conversely, tend to have fewer high-speed ports but often support a mix of 1G and 10G connections, as these speeds are more suited for end-user devices. While campus networks can scale, the focus is more on broad coverage rather than massive throughput per port. The scalability of campus switches lies in their ability to handle large numbers of devices across multiple locations, such as multiple buildings on a university campus or a corporate campus with several office blocks.

Latency Requirements

Data Centre Switches are engineered for performance, prioritising low latency and high throughput. In a data centre, applications such as big data processing, and virtualisation demand near-instantaneous communication between servers. Even a small delay can have a significant impact on performance and user experience.

But campus switches are more focused on maintaining stable and reliable performance across a large number of devices. While low latency is still important, the performance requirements in a campus environment are less stringent compared to a data centre.

Redundancy and Reliability

Both data centre and campus networks require high levels of reliability, but the approaches differ slightly.

Data Centre Switches often come with advanced redundancy features, such as hot-swappable components, dual power supplies, and multiple fan trays. These features ensure that if one part of the system fails, the switch can continue to operate without affecting overall network performance. Given the critical nature of data center operations, any downtime can result in significant financial losses, making redundancy a key priority.

In contrast, Campus Switches are built with reliability in mind, but the focus is often on ensuring uptime across a wide area, rather than redundancy within a single device. Campus switches may have failover features, but they are less likely to include the same level of component redundancy found in data centre switches. Instead, redundancy in campus networks is often achieved through network design, with backup paths and alternate routes available in case of a failure.

Future Development Trends of Switches

Along with the emergence of SDN and NFV technologies, cloud computing, cloud native and other cloud technologies are developing rapidly, and the network is beginning to converge with the cloud to provide faster iteration rates, more open control capabilities, and more flexible service deployment capabilities. White box switch breaks through the integration design of traditional switch hardware and software, adopts open device architecture, decouples the underlying network hardware and the upper layer network functions or protocols, supports rapid iteration of demand, and provides more flexible, programmable and high-performance network solutions for enterprises and data centres.

Many large enterprises and cloud service providers, including Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, are increasingly adopting white box switches in their large-scale data centres. These organizations require high-performance, programmable, and customizable network devices to support complex architectures and evolving business needs. The openness and flexibility of white box switches make them well-suited for these requirements.

PicOS® is an open network operating system developed by Pic8, compatible with a wide range of open network switches. FS and Pic8 have partnered to offer a line of switches that work seamlessly with PicOS®, encompassing both enterprise and data centre switches. These switches excel in various applications, including high-performance computing (HPC), data centres, enterprise networks, and telecom networks.

The switches feature a diverse array of ports—1/10/25/40/100/400GbE—and support advanced networking functionalities such as voice VLANs, MLAG, OpenFlow, and NETCONF, ensuring exceptional performance and versatility. Together with PicOS® and the compatible AmpCon™, FS PicOS® switches enable more resilient, programmable, and scalable networks with lower total cost of ownership (TCO), making them ideal for industries like ISPs, sports/media, retail, and more.

Conclusion

In summary, while both data centre switches and campus switches play crucial roles in network infrastructure, their designs and functionalities cater to distinct environments. Data centre switches prioritise high performance, low latency, and scalability, making them essential for environments with demanding workloads. Campus switches, on the other hand, focus on broad coverage, reliability, and ease of management, ensuring that users can access the resources they need across large enterprise networks. Understanding these differences is key to selecting the right switch for your specific networking needs.

FS carefully crafts standardised products and solutions to meet changing market needs. In addition, FS offers comprehensive testing services including software, hardware, performance and proof-of-concept (POC) testing, proving the reliability of FS products and solutions. Visit the FS website today for customised solutions.