FAQs About FS Bare Metal Switches & Pica8

Posted on Mar 1, 2024 by

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As a leading provider of networking solutions, FS has garnered significant attention for its innovative products and services. To help address common queries and provide clarity to our customers, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) based on customer data. In this article, we will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about FS Bare Metal Switches and Pica8, covering topics such as licensing, services, software upgrades, and product suitability.

FS Bare Metal Switches at a Glance

The table below shows all the bare metal switches FS provides. Each one of them offers high performance, low latency, and a rich set of features.

Type	Product	Port	Switch Chip	CPU	Switching Capacity
N9550 Series	N9550-64D	64x 400G QSFP-DD	BCM56990 Tomahawk4	Intel® Xeon® processor D-1627 4-core 2.9GHz	51.2 Tbps full duplex
N9550 Series	N9550-32D	32x 400G QSFP-DD	BCM56980 Tomahawk3	Intel® Xeon® processor D-1518 4-Core	12.8 Tbps
N8550 Series	N8550-48B8C	48x 25G SFP28, 2x 10Gb SFP+, 8x 100G QSFP28	Broadcom BCM56873 Trident III	Intel Xeon D-1518 processor quad-core 2.2 GHz	4 Tbps full duplex
	N8550-32C	32x 100G QSFP28, 2x 10Gb SFP+	Broadcom BCM56870 Trident III	Intel Xeon D-1518 processor quad-core 2.2 GHz	6.4 Tbps full duplex
	N8550-24CD8D	24x 200G QSFP56, 8x 400G QSFP-DD	BCM56780 Trident4	Intel® Xeon® processor D-1627 4-core 2.9GHz	8.0 Tbps
	N8550-64C	64x 100G QSFP28	BCM56970 Tomahawk II	Intel Xeon D-1518 processor quad-core 2.2GHz	6.4 Tbps full duplex
N5850 Series	N5850-48S6C	48x 10G SFP+, 6x 100G QSFP28	BCM56771 Trident III	Intel® Atom® C3558 2.2GHz 4-Core x86 processor	1.08 Tbps
	N5850-48S6Q	48x 10G SFP+, 6x 40G QSFP+	Broadcom BCM56864 Trident II+	Intel Atom C2538 processor quad-core 2.4GHz	1.44 Tbps full duplex
	N5850-48X6C	48x 10G RJ-45, 6x 100G QSFP28	BCM56771 Trident III	Intel® Atom® C3558 2.2GHz 4-Core x86 processor	1.08 Tbps
	S5870-48T6S	48x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45, 6x 1G/10G SFP+	Broadcom BCM56277 Trident III	Intel Atom COMe Module with C3508 4-Core 1.6 GHz x86 processor	108 Gbps
S5870 Series	S5870-48T6BC	48x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45, 4x 25G SFP28, 2x 100G QSFP28	Broadcom BCM56371 Trident III	Intel Atom/Denverton C3558 4-Cores 2.2 GHz x86 processor	348 Gbps
	S5870-48MX6BC-U	36x 2.5G RJ45, 12x 2.5/5/10G RJ45, 4x 25G SFP28, 2x 100G QSFP28	BCM56370	Intel Atom/Denverton C3558 4-cores 2.2 GHz	510 Gbps
	S5870-48T6BC-U	48x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45, 4x 10G/25G SFP28, 2x 100G QSFP28	BCM56371	Intel Atom/Denverton C3558 4-cores 2.2 GHz	448 Gbps
	S5870-48T6S-U	48x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45, 6x 1G/10G SFP+	BCM56277	Intel Atom COMe module with C3508 4-Core 1.6 GHz	108 Gbps

Order & Pricing FAQs

Q1: How do you charge for PicOS®, and how long is the license valid for?

A1: Pica8 offers a single license model, which means that each device only needs one license to use all functions anywhere on the network. Once purchased, the license is permanently valid. For more details, you can check the FS official website https://www.fs.com/c/picos-license-4226 to learn more about PicOS® License.

Q2: How do you charge for AmpCon™ License?

A2: We currently do not charge for AmpCon™ License, and you can get AmpCon™ functions for free. You can check our FS official website AmpCon™ to learn more about this product, and you can also click on the Resource section to learn about the PicOS® & AmpCon™ Network Datasheet. FS reserves the right to explain whether AmpCon™ charges in the future.

Product Knowledge FAQs

Q1: Are bare metal switches suitable for small-scale projects?

A1: Yes, bare metal switches can benefit small-scale projects, especially if performance and security are essential.

Q2: How do bare metal switches compare to traditional dedicated servers?

A2: In optical communications, bare metal switches refer to a server architecture based on physical hardware, which has some differences compared to traditional dedicated servers.

Resource Allocation: A bare metal switch refers to physical servers dedicated to a single tenant and provides exclusive access to all the server resources. Whereas traditional dedicated servers may require sharing some resources with other users.
Performance: Due to the dedicated hardware resources, bare metal switches generally offer better performance compared to traditional dedicated servers.
Flexibility: Bare metal switches allow users to configure and customize hardware and software environments according to their specific application requirements. Traditional dedicated servers typically provide fewer configuration options, and users have less control over the hardware.

Q3: What are the key security advantages of bare metal switches?

A3: Bare metal switches provide enhanced security through isolation, reducing the risk of data breaches or security vulnerabilities.

Q4: Are there any specific industries that benefit most from bare metal switches?

A4: Industries like finance, healthcare, and gaming often benefit the most from bare metal switches due to their high-performance requirements.

Q5: Does your Pica8 support customization functions?

A5: Yes, FS has established strategic cooperation with Pica8. Pica8 can provide software development and customization services to our customers to meet their network customization and future upgrade needs. PicOS® is based on an open source network architecture, and its functions are modular. Pica8 can provide customized services including hardware OEM model adaptation, software product OEM customization, and can also customize and develop related functions according to your specific needs.

Product & Tech Services FAQs

Q1: I have purchased a white-box switch (bare metal switch), can I purchase PicOS® license and services at FS? Can you confirm if your PicOS® can run on my switch?

A1: Yes, the hardware that PicOS® is compatible with includes Dell, Delta and Edgecore. Of course, you can also tell us your switch model, and our technical team will further confirm it for you. For our license and support services, you can refer to the following link:

PicOS® License: https://www.fs.com/c/picos-license-4226

Software Support Services: https://www.fs.com/c/software-support-services-4228

Q2: Can you provide technical support and maintenance services?

A2: Of course, we can provide technical support and maintenance services, which you can purchase on demand through the FS website. Our professional engineering team can provide timely technical support and maintenance services. You can contact us at any time if you need it.

Q3: Do you have a regular upgrade plan for PicOS®?

A3: Yes, we usually release version updates every 3 months or 6 months. The updates include bug fixes and adding new features.

Q4: Do you support product demonstrations or trials so that I can better understand the actual operation and effect of PicOS® software?

A4: We can provide free PicOS-V virtual machines without additional hardware investment, making it easier for you to understand the software function and experience its operation in advance. If you want to know more about PicOS-V, you can check out the FS official website and click Start Trial to start the trial. If you have any questions during the trial process, you can contact our local customer service in time. Contact the team or your dedicated account manager.

Q5: I previously purchased an N5850-48S6Q (or N8550-48B8C, N8550-32C) from FS. If I want to adapt to the PicOS® license, do I need to place a new license order?

A5: Yes, the N5850-48S6Q is a 10G switch, you can purchase a 10G switch PicOS® permanent license at 10G License. If you have two pcs of N5850-48S6Q that require a license, then you need to purchase two licenses. After receiving your order, our technical team will help you with license adaptation and related operation guidance.

Q6: If the switch purchased from FS is broken, can the license of this switch be transferred to another device?

A6: FS can transfer the license of your switch (for which you have purchased a FS license) to a switch of the same model, and use the replacement license key generated by FS for you to install and use the software on the replacement device. If you want to move to another model of switch, you may need to purchase a new license to adapt to this model separately. Please consult your account manager for the specific adaptation license.

If you have any questions about FS Bare Metal Switches & PicOS®, you can always Contact Us for assistance.