Unlock the Future: Four Trends for Campus Networks and How FS Solution Leads the Way

As the digital age advances, campus networks are evolving at an unprecedented pace. Institutions and enterprises alike are seeking to optimize their network infrastructure to meet growing demands for connectivity, speed, and security. This article explores four key trends shaping campus networks and how FS Large and Midsize Campus Network Solution addresses them comprehensively.

The Four Major Trends in Campus Networks

Wireless Service Systems

Wireless networks are crucial for enhancing productivity and efficiency in enterprises, making full wireless networks an inevitable trend. The wave of wireless transformation is already happening in enterprise offices, customer networks, and even enterprise production networks. This trend of going wireless is particularly significant with the commercial maturity of next-generation Wi-Fi technology, Wi-Fi 6. Campus networks now have stricter requirements for wireless transmission quality and reliability, which traditional Wi-Fi 5 cannot meet. Wi-Fi 6, however, offers 4 times the peak bandwidth and terminal access capacity, better interference resistance, and lower network latency.

In addition to Wi-Fi 6, short-range low-power protocols designed for the Internet of Things (IoT) such as BLE, RF, and ZigBee will also be widely applied in campus networks. Driven by the trend towards "all-wireless," future campus networks will integrate wired, wireless, and IoT services, ensuring comprehensive, always-on connectivity.

High Bandwidth and Low Latency for Critical Business Applications

Campus networks must support a wide range of critical business applications that require high bandwidth and low latency. The demand for real-time data processing and high-quality user experience has never been higher. Two types of applications will coexist on a single physical network, presenting challenges for campus networks.

• The first type involves human-to-human interaction. The boundary between the physical and digital worlds is increasingly blurred as enterprises strive for digital communication that closely mimics face-to-face interaction. Rich media applications like 8K video and cloud-based VR/AR demand higher network bandwidth and lower latency. These requirements are expected to become more stringent over time.

• The second type is the interaction between devices and applications, such as campus IoT applications. Depending on the scenario, these applications have varying quality requirements. Many IoT applications are highly sensitive to packet loss and latency rather than bandwidth. For example, for an unmanned warehouse using AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) carts, high packet loss during wireless roaming would cause the AGV to stop, triggering a chain reaction affecting other AGVs and disrupting operations.

When these two different types of applications run on the same campus network, resource competition can lead to conflicts. Therefore, a high-capacity, highly reliable, ultra-low latency infrastructure is required to prevent such issues.

Simplified and Flexible Campus Network Architecture

Under the immense pressure of traffic, network architecture will continually evolve towards simplicity and flexibility. This evolution is driven by ongoing network innovation, improved cost-performance ratios, and the inevitable pursuit of high-quality service. Complex systems are more prone to issues, whereas stable architectures are easier to maintain and manage.

For campus switches, the focus is shifting towards enhancing speed rather than increasing the number of ports. Currently, many enterprise wired networks use GE and 10GE links. With the proliferation of Wi-Fi 6, it is recommended that enterprises upgrade to higher-speed links such as Multi-GE (2.5G/5G/10G), 40GE, and 100GE.

Once simplified, campus networks must become more flexible to provide powerful service capabilities. Flexibility is reflected in ease of expansion and extension. Specifically, highly standardized network construction standards must meet business development expectations for the next 3 to 5 years.

Threat Defense Shifts from the Perimeter to the Entire Network

In recent years, internal network security threats have become increasingly severe, particularly with the escalating prevalence of ransomware and its numerous variants. The integration of IoT with campus networks also poses significant security challenges, as IoT devices are prone to impersonation, replacement, and infection.

Traditional perimeter security measures have become inefficient. Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) attacks and encrypted traffic infiltrations can quickly penetrate enterprise intranets, threatening endpoints and data security. Administrators often spend hours or even days addressing these attacks or intrusions.

In response, new security solutions must be introduced into campus networks. Firstly, a zero-trust security architecture is essential, where internal network elements like switches become the first line of defense, deeply integrating with security capabilities. Secondly, network elements, local security analyzers, network controllers, and cloud intelligence centers must collaborate to establish an omnipresent proactive security defense system.

FS Large and Midsize Campus Network Solution Leads the Way

In this dynamic landscape, FS offers a reliable Large and Midsize Campus Network Solution designed to stay ahead of these trends and ensure seamless, efficient, and secure network performance.

Full Wireless Coverage

FS Large and Midsize Campus Network Solution provides extensive wireless coverage across the entire campus, leveraging wireless products such as Access Points (AP) and Access Controllers (AC). This full wireless coverage meets the demands of mobile users and IoT devices, providing a robust foundation for modern campus environments.

AP-N515, an 802.11ax-compliant enhanced wireless AC, is used to deliver high-speed connectivity, supporting Wi-Fi 6 and ensuring reliable performance in high-density environments. It supports 4x4 MU-MIMO, and can simultaneously deliver services on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, achieving a rate of up to 5375 Mbps. With built-in smart antennas, it enables signals to follow Stations (STAs), providing better coverage in large campus networks.

The high-capacity wireless controller AC-7072 offers services such as voice-over Wi-Fi, IP-based video, secure enterprise access, and tiered Wi-Fi services in large and medium-sized enterprises and schools. The ACs enable centralized management and seamless roaming, ensuring users experience uninterrupted connectivity as they move across the campus.

High Bandwidth Capacity: 100G Uplinks

FS Large and Midsize Campus Network Solution stands out with its 100G uplink capacity, which ensures that the network can handle high volumes of data traffic without bottlenecks. This is crucial for supporting bandwidth-intensive applications such as HD video streaming, large-scale virtual meetings, and real-time data analytics. The high-speed uplinks not only enhance data throughput but also reduce latency, ensuring that applications perform optimally and users experience minimal delays.

This solution uses the S5860-48SC switch at its core layer. The S5860-48SC features 48x 1G/10G downlinks and 8x 40G/100G QSFP28 uplinks that all support virtual stacking. It is equipped with a cutting-edge Broadcom chip and ARM A9 Quad-Core CPU, delivering a 2.56T switching capacity and 1,904 Mpps forwarding rate. With its redundant hot-swappable power supplies, 3+1 hot-swappable smart fans, and hardware-level dual-flash chip, this PicOS® enterprise switch ensures superior processing performance and network reliability.

Deploying a 100G core layer speed is also a strategic move that prepares the campus network for future growth and technological advancements. This high-speed core layer serves as a foundation for future expansions and upgrades, ensuring that the network can accommodate increasing data traffic and evolving application demands. By investing in a 100G core layer, organizations significantly extend the network's lifecycle, thereby reducing the need for frequent and costly upgrades and modifications.

Flexible & Scalable Layered Architecture

A key advantage of this campus network solution is its flexible and scalable three-layer architecture. This design allows for easy horizontal expansion and customization of the network infrastructure. New devices and services can be integrated seamlessly, enabling the campus network to grow in tandem with organizational needs. The simplified architecture also streamlines network management, reducing complexity and operational costs.

In addition, the solution leverages AmpCon™ management platform to enhance management efficiency. AmpCon™ automates Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), deployment, and lifecycle management for PicOS® switches, minimizing downtime and manual interventions. The platform simplifies the installation and configuration process with its Push-Button deployment feature, allowing non-technical employees to deploy hundreds or thousands of PicOS® switches using simple GUI-based commands through its Quick-Start Mode.

Whether upgrading existing systems or implementing new technologies, this flexible and simplified network architecture provides the flexibility and scalability required to meet future campus network demands.

Advanced Network Security

The solution offers comprehensive security features for both switches and wireless products to keep the campus network safe and secure.

Switch Security Features: FS PicOS® switches are equipped with a comprehensive suite of security features, including SSH, ACL, AAA, and NAC. These features provide robust protection against unauthorized access and potential threats.

AP Security Features: APs in this solution support WPA3, Wireless Intrusion Detection Systems (WIDS), RF interference tracking, and Pre-Shared Key (PPSK) authentication. These advanced security features work together to create a robust security barrier that protects against various types of attacks and enhances data encryption.

By integrating these measures, the campus solution ensures that sensitive data remains secure and network integrity is maintained, providing peace of mind for users and administrators alike.

Unlock Campus Network Future with FS Solution

As campus networks continue to evolve, staying ahead of the latest trends is essential for maintaining a competitive edge. FS Large and Midsize Campus Network Solution is designed to meet the demands of modern network environments, providing robust wireless coverage, high bandwidth capacity, flexible architecture, and comprehensive security. By leveraging these advanced features, organizations can ensure their networks are not only efficient and reliable but also future-proofed against emerging challenges. Unlock the future of campus networking with FS solutions, and stay ahead in the fast-paced digital world.