Vswitches can be divided into backbone switches and desktop switches based on different application scenarios. backbone switches are mainly used for enterprises to build backbone networks, while desktop switches are designed to directly connect to computers, there is a big difference between the two.
Backbone switch
Backbone switches are mainly used to build enterprise backbone networks. As we all know, the enterprise backbone network is also the core part of the enterprise network. As this core part needs to process and exchange the data of the entire network, the performance of the selected switch must be high. Therefore, high performance becomes a basic indicator for measuring backbone switches.
The performance of a vswitch is determined by the packet forwarding rate and backplane capacity. The value of the backbone switch must be large. However, this is not absolute, because enterprises can be divided into small enterprises, medium-sized enterprises and large enterprises by scale. The performance of the backbone networks of small enterprises is significantly different from that of large enterprises. Because the network size of small enterprises is small, the performance requirements of the backbone networks are not high, the selected backbone switch does not have to have a large packet forwarding rate and backplane capacity. Large enterprises have a large number of computer nodes and need to process a large amount of data, which requires a lot of performance requirements for backbone networks, the selected backbone switch requires a large packet forwarding rate and backplane capacity. The data packet forwarding rate of a backbone switch is usually dozens of Mpps or more, and the backboard capacity is dozens of Gbps or more.
The backbone switch has multi-layer switching capability. The multi-layer switch actually adds the three-layer switching capability. The common two-layer Gigabit Switch also has multi-layer switching capability, but it does not have three-layer switching capability, therefore, it cannot be placed in the backbone network to bear a large amount of data exchange, so it does not belong to the backbone switch.
Backbone switches provide a wide range of functions. Because backbone switches are used to build backbone networks, they must be considered in all aspects. The more features, the more stable the enterprise backbone network is to run, it can also make the enterprise network more widely used to achieve diversified business.
Theoretically, backbone switches require strong scalability to meet future expansion requirements of enterprises. However, due to insufficient funds, some switch manufacturers have also launched some backbone switches with poor scalability for these small enterprises.
In general, backbone switches must have high performance and rich functions, and have multi-layer switching capabilities. Such switches can be used to form backbone networks. Let's take a look at two backbone switch devices.
Small enterprise backbone switch branch 7801NS
The 7801NS is a fully Gigabit layer-3 switch. It has outstanding performance and is perfect for small enterprises to build backbone networks. The vswitch has 24 Gbps switching capacity, and the packet forwarding rate reaches the 10 Mbps: 14880 pps, 100 Mbps: 148810 pps, 1000 Mbps: 1488100 pps) of Fast Ethernet ), provides 12 Gigabit LAN ports, 4 expansion slots, and 4 k mac address tables. It has two to four layers of switching capabilities, provides two to seven layers of intelligent stream classification, a complete QoS service mechanism, and multicast management features. supports a complete routing protocol, IEEE 802.3x traffic control, and static link aggregation, supports MAC address filtering, MAC Address binding, and other functions, and uses a variety of management methods for management.
If this switch is used in a large enterprise, it cannot be used as a backbone switch, because its performance has not met the network requirements of large enterprises, however, it is easy to use as a backbone switch in small enterprises. We define this switch as a small enterprise backbone switch, mainly based on its performance.
Large enterprise backbone switch D-LINK Co., DES-7600.
DES-7600 is an enterprise's core Routing Switch with 448 Gbit/s board bandwidth, 90Mpps packet forwarding rate, Fast Ethernet ports and 4 Gigabit ports, 8 expansion module slots, IEEE 802.3x traffic control, IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation, built-in firewall, support for IP packet filtering, complete Qos service mechanism, support for VLAN and other functions, multiple management methods are used.
The performance of the vswitch can be described as "powerful". The Gbps backboard bandwidth and 90Mpps packet forwarding rate fully demonstrate this, its rich functions and multi-layer switching capabilities indicate that the switch is a backbone switch used by large enterprises.
From the above two products, they play a core role in their respective networks of different scales, and both switches have multi-layer switching capabilities including layer-3 switching, with strong performance and rich features, they all belong to backbone switches. Of course, we cannot define a vswitch that is only used by more than 20 computers as a backbone switch, because the concept of "backbone" cannot be put forward for such a network.
Desktop Switch
A desktop switch refers to a switch from a vswitch to a desktop, that is, a vswitch that connects directly to a computer. This vswitch is at the bottom of the network. Therefore, it is not eye-catching in terms of performance, and the price is relatively low.
We know that the performance indicator of the vswitch is the backboard capacity and packet forwarding rate. Because the performance of the desktop switch is not as strong as that of the backbone switch, the two values are relatively small, the backplane capacity generally ranges from several Gbps to more than 10 Gbps, and the packet forwarding rate generally ranges from several Mpps to more than 10 Mpps.
Because the desktop switch is at the bottom layer of the network, there is no requirement for its multi-layer switching capability. If it has multi-layer switching capability, it indicates that the desktop switch has better performance. Generally, a desktop switch does not have a layer-3 switching capability. As the underlying device of the network, the number of desktop switches in an enterprise is relatively large. If a desktop switch has a layer-3 switching capability, the investment is very high.
Because the desktop switch is only used to connect to a computer, there are not many functional requirements for it, and some functions to be implemented have already been replaced by backbone switches, therefore, the desktop switch only needs some basic functions.
The scalability of the desktop switch is not very strong, because the desktop switch only needs to be used to connect to computer nodes. For network expansion, you only need to add more desktop switches.
The classification of desktop switches cannot be classified by the network size of small and large enterprises, because desktop switches can be the same for large and small enterprises. Desktop switches are generally classified by performance. They can be divided into MB desktop switches and GB desktop switches. GE desktop switches are mainly used by servers, workstations, and enterprise users who need high-performance networks.
In general, the performance, functions, and multi-layer switching and expansion capabilities of the desktop switch are average. You only need to meet the requirements of basic applications. Let's take a look at two desktop switch products.
M desktop switch TP-LINK TL-SF1024
TL-SF1024 is a basic desktop switch, which provides 24 10/100 Mbps adaptive Ethernet ports with 4.8Gpbs switching capacity and does not provide extended interfaces, the packet forwarding rate reaches 10 Mbps for Fast Ethernet: 14880pps, 100 Mbps: 148800pps), supports stacking, full-duplex IEEE 802.3x traffic control, and half-duplex Backpressure traffic control, 19-inch standard rack steel shell structure design.
The vswitch is mainly used to connect to a computer. It has a general performance and is not rich in functions. However, the vswitch does provide users with 24 ports, and the price of the vswitch is very low, fully compliant with the standards of the desktop switch.
Gigabit desktop switch American network component GS105
The GS105 is a desktop Gigabit Switch with outstanding performance and is suitable for users with high network bandwidth requirements, such as servers and workstations. The vswitch provides five Gigabit LAN ports with 10 Gbit/s switching capacity and Fast Ethernet line rate data packet forwarding rate. It supports VLAN and other functions.
The performance of the vswitch is strong, which meets the needs of some specific users. However, the vswitch is not very rich in functions. Therefore, it cannot be used as the core network of small enterprises, therefore, the vswitch is a high-performance gigabit desktop switch.
From the above two vswitches, they are mainly used to directly connect to the computer, which performs normally in terms of performance and functionality, and thus cannot be used as the core switch of the enterprise network.
Differences between backbone switches and desktop switches
Based on the above description and product introduction, I believe everyone has a certain understanding of backbone switches and desktop switches. What are the differences between them? In fact, we have already explained their differences.
The first is that the two vswitches are used in different scenarios. A backbone switch is a type of vswitch used to form an enterprise's core network. Generally, it is at the top of the network topology. The desktop switch is used to connect to a computer. It is at the bottom of the network topology. I believe you can better understand the following network topology.
Then there is a big difference in their performance. The performance of the backbone switch is very prominent, and its packet forwarding rate and backplane capacity are very large, because the backbone switch needs to bear high load data exchange. The two values of a desktop switch are generally relatively small. A desktop switch only needs to exchange the data transmitted by the computer it is connected to. Therefore, the performance requirement is not too high.
The multi-layer switch capability is also the difference between the backbone switch and the desktop switch. The desktop switch is at the bottom of the network, so it does not need layer-3 switching capability. The backbone switch is a core part of the network, the lack of multi-layer switching capability cannot meet the enterprise's networking needs.
Backbone switches have rich functions to meet enterprises' needs for different services. However, a desktop switch is only used to connect to a computer and does not require many functional users. Therefore, a desktop switch can meet basic requirements of enterprise users.
The expansion capability of backbone switches is stronger than that of desktop switches. backbone switches generally provide more than two extension modules; however, only a small part of the desktop switch provides multiple expansion slots.
Desktop switches are generally cheaper, and even high-performance desktop switches are cheaper. The price of a backbone switch is generally high because it is added to the layer-3 switch function. Currently, the lowest price of a layer-3 Switch on the market is nearly 10 thousand yuan.
Conclusion
I believe that you have gained a better understanding of backbone switches and desktop switches through the above description. Here we only compare some basic features of backbone switches and desktop switches, I have made a simple analysis. Therefore, there must be some shortcomings in some aspects. I hope the readers can give their opinions after reading them.
