Network Switch Selection Guide
How to choose the right network switch for your enterprise or data center. Covers port density, speed, PoE, management type, and key specifications for S5860, S5810, and N8500 series.
Introduction
Selecting the right network switch requires understanding your bandwidth needs, port requirements, and management preferences. This guide walks through the key decision factors with specific recommendations for common deployment scenarios.
Switch Classification
By Deployment Location
| Location | Recommended Switch | Typical Ports |
|---|---|---|
| Server rack (TOR) | S5860-48S6Q | 48x10G + 6x100G |
| Aggregation | N8550-48V6Q | 48x25G + 6x400G |
| Spine | N8560-32CQ | 32x400G |
| Branch office | S5810-28FS | 24x1G + 4x10G |
| Industrial | S5860-24XB-U | 24x1G PoE + 4x10G |
By Management Type
| Type | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Unmanaged | Plug-and-play | Simple networks |
| Smart Managed (L2) | Basic L2 features | Small offices |
| Fully Managed (L3) | Full routing, ACLs, QoS | Enterprise/core |
| Programmable (OVS) | OpenFlow, VXLAN, EVPN | Data centers |
Key Specifications Explained
Forwarding Rate
| Switch | Layer 2 Forwarding | Layer 3 Forwarding |
|---|---|---|
| S5810-28FS | 95 Mbps | 95 Mpps |
| S5860-48S6Q | 252 Mbps | 252 Mpps |
| N8560-32CQ | 3200 Mpps | 3200 Mpps |
Rule of thumb: Choose switch with forwarding rate > 2x your expected traffic to handle bursts.
Switching Capacity
| Switch | Switching Capacity | Practical Limit |
|---|---|---|
| S5810-28FS | 128 Gbps | 64 Gbps |
| S5860-48S6Q | 512 Gbps | 256 Gbps |
| N8550-48V6Q | 1920 Gbps | 960 Gbps |
| N8560-32CQ | 6400 Gbps | 3200 Gbps |
Decision Framework
Step 1: Determine Port Count
Count your devices and plan for growth:
Current servers: 24
Expected growth (2 years): +50%
Recommended ports: 24 x 1.5 = 36 --> 48-port switch
Step 2: Determine Port Speed
| Server Type | Recommended Uplink |
|---|---|
| 1G NIC | S5810-28FS (1G ports) |
| 10G NIC | S5860-48S6Q (10G ports) |
| 25G NIC | N8550-48V6Q (25G ports) |
| 100G NIC | N8560-32CQ (100G ports) |
Step 3: Determine Uplink Speed
Calculate uplink bandwidth requirement:
48 servers x 10G NIC = 480 Gbps
Per-server average: 2 Gbps
Expected uplink utilization: 40%
Required uplink: 48 x 2G x 1.4 = 134.4 Gbps --> 2x 100G or 1x 400G
Step 4: PoE Requirements
| PoE Standard | Max Power/Port | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|
| PoE (802.3af) | 15.4W | IP phones, basic APs |
| PoE+ (802.3at) | 30W | Dual-band APs, cameras |
| PoE++ (802.3bt) | 60W/90W | PTZ cameras, workstations |
Step 5: Management Features
| Need | Recommended Type |
|---|---|
| Simple L2 switching | Smart Managed |
| Inter-VLAN routing | Fully Managed (L3) |
| VXLAN/EVPN overlay | PicOS (OVS-based) |
| Full routing protocols | Fully Managed (BGP/OSPF) |
Deployment Scenario Recommendations
Small Office (10-25 devices)
Recommended: S5810-28FS
- 24x 1G RJ45 + 4x 10G SFP+
- Layer 2 managed
- Fanless (silent)
- Budget: ~$1,500
Mid-Size Office (25-100 devices)
Recommended: S5860-48S6Q
- 48x 10G + 6x 100G QSFP28
- Layer 3 managed (OSPF/BGP)
- PoE+ option (S5860-48MP)
- Budget: ~$5,000
Data Center (Top-of-Rack)
Recommended: S5860-48S6Q (leaf) + N8560-32CQ (spine)
- Leaf: 48x 10G servers, 4x 100G uplinks
- Spine: 32x 400G for massive scale
- VXLAN/EVPN support
- Budget: ~$50,000 (leaf+spine)
Industrial / Harsh Environment
Recommended: S5860-24XB-U
- 24x 1G PoE (90W per port)
- Industrial temp range (-40C to 75C)
- DIN-rail or rack mount
- Budget: ~$3,500
Specification Comparison Table
| Specification | S5810-28FS | S5860-48S6Q | N8550-48V6Q | N8560-32CQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1G RJ45 Ports | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10G SFP+ Ports | 4 | 48 | 0 | 0 |
| 25G SFP28 Ports | 0 | 0 | 48 | 0 |
| 100G QSFP28 Ports | 0 | 6 | 6 | 32 |
| 400G QSFP-DD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| PoE | No | Optional | No | No |
| Layer 3 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| VXLAN | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Switching Capacity | 128G | 512G | 1920G | 6400G |
| Management | CLI/Web | CLI/Web/OVS | CLI/Web/OVS | CLI/Web/OVS |