As the network from the earlier MB/gigabit to now 10G/40G, suggests that users of the data center of bandwidth and the requirement of increasing the transmission rate, released in 2018, about 5G industry can be seen in the report, future data center will be toward a higher rate of 100G / 400G, so the expansion and upgrade of data center is very important in the future. In recent years, many well-known enterprises in the industry are advocating open network switches. Can open network switches replace traditional switches and occupy the dominant position in the industry in the future 100G/400G data center?

Open network switch network (SDN) defined by the software to switch hardware and software, through the network control plane and forwarding plane separation, avoid supplier bundled software and hardware, the switch can replace hardware, switches, operating system, can choose to have high flexibility, stability, security, efficiency and advancement, at the same time, effectively reduce the cost to achieve maximum benefit.

Will open network switches be popular in future 100G/400G data centers? The answer must be yes. Why?

1. Future network development trend needs

Operators, manufacturers and other users have been hoping to make the transition to ubiquitous hardware, network neutrality, open systems and software compatibility by maximizing the programmability of hardware and software, so as to build low-cost, high-performance data centers. In recent years, the industry has a standard data abstraction layer protocol -- the OpenFlow, users can use the controller based on centralized software to configure the network architecture, at the same time, to focus with the software configuration open SDN platform through programmability and automation network agility, such as performance, reduce network operating costs, such as equipment, space, and personnel. In addition, open network also has the following advantages:

（1）OCP based hardware design;

（2）No supplier binding, with flexibility and freedom;

（3）Automate and accelerate the configuration of network services;

（4）Innovative in adapting to changing data center needs.

As a result, open networks based on the OpenFlow protocol will permeate the industry over time. Open network switches are based on open standards and can be addressed through the OpenFlow protocol to access freely selected and used data layer devices of any type and brand, while at the same time, the open network operating system can be selected independently, avoiding the bundling of traditional hardware manufacturers.

2. Open network switch operating system selection diversity

With the launch of open source switch by famous enterprises at home and abroad in recent years, users‘ demand for open source network operating system is becoming more and more intense. The operating system of open network switch is flexible compared with the operating system of traditional switch. Users can choose the appropriate operating system according to their own needs, such as Unix, Linux, Window, Cumulus Linux, etc.

3. The freedom of the open network switch business model

As we all know, the business model of traditional switches is to bundle software and hardware, and users have no choice in software selection. At the same time, the system of traditional switches carries many redundant functions in order to consider the needs of various industries, so its stability cannot be well guaranteed, and network failures may be caused at the same time. And open network switch business model is a software and hardware, relatively independent, the user can choose according to actual demand network operating systems, such as Cumulus Linux operating system, it is a portable open source operating system based on Linux, is equipped with a hardware abstraction layer, can be run on a variety of hardware, at the same time, it used automation tools to implement automation network switch configuration and network infrastructure management, establish a lightweight, efficient, fast, stable and secure network.

100G/400G in the future in data center, with the emergence of open network system, open network switches will be using the Unix, Linux, Windows, such as network operating system, make enterprise IT personnel are better able to "play" enterprise network, at the same time, an open network switch vendor provides professional technical support services, allows users to build enterprise data center has no trouble back at home.