How to Choose 10G Switch for Local Area Network？

As data traffic grows and the Local Area Network (LAN) technology advances, enterprises have an increasing demand for upgrading old LANs. At this point, the 10 Gigabit Ethernet network stands out from the competition due to its lower price and better performance. Businesses need to carefully select the network switch for their connectivity needs. Let's find out more about gigabit switches and upgrade your network.

What Is Local Area Network?

A Local Area Network (LAN) is a computer network that consists of cables, routers, network switches, etc. It enables devices, such as workstations and personal computers, to connect to web servers and internal servers within a single building, campus, or home network. Additionally, LANs can be connected to other LANs via Wide Area Networks (WAN) or Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN).

One of the key benefits of a LAN is the ability for devices on the network to share files and access each other over a single Internet connection. LANs can be either wired or wireless, with a wired LAN network requiring Ethernet cables to physically connect all computers to a switch.

A wireless LAN network (or WLAN) uses radio waves to communicate. Therefore, mobile users can connect to a Local Area Network through a wireless connection and move around in a confined area while they are still connected to the network.

On the other hand, a wired LAN network relies on Ethernet cables to physically connect all computers on the network to a switch. In a wired LAN, every device needs to be wired to the network switch, and specific switch port numbers may need to be assigned. The network switch serves multiple purposes in a wired LAN network. It connects to the router, facilitating communication between the connected devices, and also expands the number of available LAN ports on the network, allowing for the connection of additional devices.

The Advantages of 10 Gigabit Switches for Local Area Networks

Increased Network Speed

10 Gigabit switches offer higher transmission rates compared to traditional Gigabit switches. With 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) technology, data can be transferred at speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbps), providing faster network speed and better performance within the local area network.

Bandwidth Scalability

10 Gigabit switches provide ample bandwidth capacity, allowing for the seamless handling of large amounts of data. This is particularly beneficial in LAN environments where high volumes of data are transmitted, such as multimedia streaming, data backup, or virtualization. Taking FS S5860-48SC as an example, it has 2.56 Tbps switching capacity and 1,904 Mpps forwarding rate, offering better bandwidth capacity.

Enhanced Workstation Performance

When using a 10G switch, it provides higher network bandwidth and transmission speed, thereby improving the performance of the workstation, which means computers or terminal devices connected to the LAN. Workstations can access network resources faster, achieve faster file transfer, data access, and application running, providing faster response time and a more efficient work experience. This enables workstations to simultaneously handle more data traffic, improve overall performance, and enhance work efficiency.

Future-Proofing

As technology continues to advance and network demands grow, 10 Gigabit switches provide a level of future-proofing for LANs. They offer sufficient bandwidth headroom to accommodate increasing data requirements, ensuring that the network infrastructure can support evolving requirements without the need for costly upgrades.

How to Choose a 10G Switch for LAN?

The 10 gigabit switches come in a variety of types, each different from another in terms of performance, specs, and features. The following content will primarily guide you on how to select a 10G switch for a high-speed LAN.

Port Numbers

When selecting a switch, it's important to determine the required number of ports. Consider the devices that need to be connected to the Local Area Network, such as servers, printers, and other network peripherals. Ensure that the switch offers an adequate number of ports to accommodate all devices, enabling uninterrupted network connectivity. FS offers a wide range of choices of 12, 24, 32, and 48 ports 10G switches.

Port Types

It's also significant to consider the port types based on your specific requirements when choosing switches. Optical fiber ports (SFP/SFP+) are ideal for long-distance and high-speed data transmission, while copper ports (RJ45) are suitable for short-distance connections and regular data transmission.

A 10G SFP+ switch offers superior performance in terms of network latency and throughput, supporting speeds up to 10Gbps per SFP+ port. These switches are increasingly popular for latency-sensitive applications, and they can be connected using fiber optic cables or DAC/AOC cables. If your Local Area Network demands ultra-low latency and large bandwidth, a 10G SFP+ switch is a suitable choice.

On the other hand, the 10GBASE-T switch provides a cost-effective solution for addressing LAN bottleneck problems and creates great ROI and performance. It is also fully backward compatible with 100/1000BASE-T and works with existing structured cabling systems, providing IT technicians the most flexibility in server placement.

Unmanaged or Managed Switch

An unmanaged switch is a plug-and-play configuration. In this way, no customized control and management are supported by network operators. This type of switch is ideal for anyone who just wants to set up a network and doesn’t want to interfere in its management. If your application involves controlling network traffic, you will need the features of a managed switch.

Managed switches are suitable for heavy workload networks where custom management, security monitoring, and traffic control are required. They support the VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) division, and SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol), which is easy to operate even if you are not a professional.

FS offers multiple 10 gigabit managed switches, supporting Web, Telnet, CLI, etc. for easy configuring, monitoring, and troubleshooting of the device in real-time. They allow you to control access between departments within your LAN network and run many bandwidth-intensive applications simultaneously, which greatly saves valuable time and makes sure the resources get used for development.

Non-PoE or PoE Switch

Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches use existing network cables to power connected devices, such as VoIP phones, wireless access points, and surveillance cameras. If you require this capability and want to streamline power cabling, you can consider a 10G enterprise switch equipped with the PoE function. Moreover, make sure the power per port (in watts) and the total power budget of the PoE ports meet the needs of your electronic devices. If the power supply is not needed, you can use the non-PoE 10G switch, which is very suitable when there are a large number of non-powered network devices on the network.

Summary

Nowadays, the 10G Internet standard is becoming more and more popular in enterprise networks. As a crucial component of LAN networks, network switches play a vital role in delivering the necessary speed and efficiency to handle data traffic. For more information about 10G network switches, you can visit FS.com.