The faster your organization grows, the more devices you need to connect and the more crowded the network becomes. With the help of network switches, build extra redundancy into the network so you always stay connected.
The network is the supporting force of IT environments. If the network is not functioning, then neither can your business. However, the job of network administrators has not gotten any easier. With the explosion of smart devices, the average business network is very crowded.
“Today there are a lot more devices. You have laptops, smartphones, printers and more devices that all need to be connected to the network. The more processes you digitize, the more dependent you become on the network. The network of companies should always be ‘on,'” said Michael Müller, VP Wired & Wireless LAN at Lancom Systems.
A network switch helps accommodate that proliferation of connected devices. We delve into the what and why of network switches with Müller.
Redundancy
A network must grow with the needs of the organization. A network switch introduces a hierarchical structure to a network. This increases the network’s capacity to connect more devices, from a few to thousands, without too much impact on performance. In its simplest form, a network switch is nothing more than an additional set of LAN ports for a router.
Unlike a router, which handles traffic between networks, a switch handles data traffic between devices on the same network. More advanced switches also come with additional features for such things as data security, or setting up virtual networks on top of the physical network.
The keyword with which Müller summarizes the role of network switches is redundancy, a popular term in the IT industry. “By using redundancy protocols such as stacking or Virtual Port Channel (VPC), also known as Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation (MC-LAG), a LAN infrastructure can be achieved with optimal reliability. As a result, connectivity remains guaranteed at all times.”
The network of companies should always be “on.
Michael Müller, VP Wired & Wireless LAN bij Lancom Systems
Access and distribution
Müller is convinced that both large and small organizations benefit from a hierarchical network architecture. “Every organization needs high network coverage, including SMEs. Network switches build in the redundancy needed to keep the network up at all times. What does depend on the size of the organization is how many levels are needed on the network.”
The switch architecture is the basis for the efficiency and performance of the entire network. A two-tier network consists of one (or more) distribution switches, to which access switches are then attached. The access switches are at the bottom step in the hierarchy and pass data packets to connected end-point devices, such as through an access point to which the device is connecting.
The distribution switch is the distributor on the network, and is placed between the core and the access layer. The job of this type of switch is to ensure that the right data packets get to the right devices in the access layer. The distribution switches categorize the data traffic from the core and forward it to the access switches.
At the core
“In many situations, a two-layer network architecture is sufficient. But an organization that has multiple buildings on a campus or even multiple campuses, for example, needs an additional core switch that talks to the distribution and access switches. A three-layer architecture offers high performance and maximum reliability for larger networks says Müller.
In a three-layer architecture, the core switch assumes the role of central node. They are responsible for routing data from the core layer to the lower layers of the network. The performance of the entire network depends on how well the core switch performs its task.

To route large amounts of data, it is not unusual to also place multiple core switches in the network core. Among other things, this helps prevent crowded data packets from causing core layer failures. Thus, it is very important to place core switches with sufficient capacity in hierarchical Ethernet networks.
Lancom recently expanded its switch portfolio with the CS-8132F, the new flagship model from the networking specialist’s stable. This switch is designed to support multi-level campus networks. With powerful specifications, such as 32 100G QSFP28 ports and a switch capacity of 6.4 Tbit/s, the switch should help prepare networks for bandwidth-intensive use.
Multigigabit
This is also much needed, because the networking industry is not sitting still. “The development of Wi-Fi is influencing networking requirements along with it,” Müller notes. “Since Wifi 6, we have been talking about multigigabit Internet: 10 Gbit ports are a reality. POE+ (Power over Ethernet according to IEEE 802.3at) is no longer good enough because using the three frequency bands now available with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 consumes more energy. High Power PoE++ (according to IEEE 802.3bt) with up to 90 W capacity per port is becoming the new standard.”
“Switches must also become more powerful to support that evolution, in all layers of the network. Wifi 7, because of the high performance data volumes at the access level, requires up to 25G throughput for distribution switches and up to 100G in the core switch. That is more than double what is required today for Wifi 6E. You need powerful architecture to get your network ready for the arrival of Wifi 7,” concludes Müller.
Since Wifi 6, we have been talking about multigigabit Internet. Network architecture must be powerful enough to carry this.
Michael Müller, VP Wired & Wireless LAN bij Lancom Systems
This is an editorial in partnership with Lancom Systems. See more here for more information on their offerings of switch architectures for campus networks.