Edgecore Networks provides AS9716-32X 400G data center switch design to Open Compute Project

Edgecore Networks, a wholly owned subsidiary of Accton Technology Corp., says it is contributing the specification and design package for its AS9716-32X open network switch to the Open Compute Project (OCP) Foundation. The company says the data center switch provides 32 x QSFP-DD ports, each capable of 400 Gigabit Ethernet (400GbE) operation, in a 1RU form factor.

Based on the Broadcom StrataXGS Tomahawk III switch and leveraging an Intel Xeon Processor D control plane processor, the 400GbE data center switch enables public and private network operators to increase infrastructure capacity. Edgecore says it will work with commercial software partners and open software communities to offer commercial and open source Network Operating System (NOS) options for the 400GbE data center switch.

"Hyperscale cloud service providers led the way for the adoption of OCP-certified equipment with telco and Tier 2 CSPs [communications services providers] now moving to scale deployments with top drivers such as customization, power efficiency, and cost reduction," said Cliff Grossner, senior research director and advisor of cloud and data center research practice for IHS Markit. "Production shipments of 400GbE [data center] Ethernet switch ports will commence in 2019, and we forecast revenue to reach approximately $1.6 billion by 2022, signaling a strong need for 400G Ethernet switching. Edgecore's contribution of their 400G switch design to OCP is one indication of the OCP community moving to address that need."

Edgecore says all of its open network switches, including the 400GbE switch, support OCP software standards, such as ONIE, Open Network Linux, the Open Optical Monitoring (OOM) API, and the Redfish hardware management API. The AS9716-32X data center switch is the first 400GbE open design in the industry, the company attests.

In addition to the AS9716-32X switch, Edgecore has contributed its ASXvOLT16, a disaggregated 10-GPON optical line terminal (OLT), to the OCP Foundation (see "Edgecore Networks offers ASXvOLT16 whitebox PON OLT design to Open Compute Project").

"We are pleased to see Edgecore release the 400G open networking switch and to share its design with the Open Compute Project community for mass market adoption," said Prashant Gandhi, Big Switch Networks chief product officer. "This clearly demonstrates the rapid pace of innovation in whitebox switch hardware, delivering best-in-class performance at commodity price points. We look forward to certifying this switch for Open Network Linux and to on-board it for our SDN fabrics products to support emerging 100G/400G use cases in cloud/SAAS networks, deep learning, and high-performance computing."

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