Edgecore unveils high-performance 400G spine switch for data centers

Edgecore Networks is taking the wraps off its latest data center networking hardware, the 400G-optimized DCS511 spine switch.

The DCS511 is built around the Broadcom Tomahawk 4 chipset and provides a total switching capacity of 12.8 Terabits per second. The switch features 32 ports capable of 400G speeds, allowing for high-density 100/400 GbE spine-to-spine or spine-to-leaf interconnections.

This new hardware offering aims to address the increasing demands of modern computing infrastructures, particularly in the realms of cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

“The DCS511 switch is powered by Broadcom TH4 silicon and offers balanced features for spine use cases in hyperscale and enterprise data center architectures,” Gaurav Sharma, principal product manager at Edgecore, told Network World.

Sharma added that hyperscale architecture is typically based on Layer-3 features and BGP. With a scalable design, endpoints are terminated on a server NIC, commonly via the VLAN or VXLAN protocols. He noted that the approach enables DCS511 to be deployed as a leaf switch with Layer-3 scalable capabilities. The Edgecore AIS800G (64*800G) switch can be positioned on a top layer, in what Sharma called a “super spine” that connects with the DCS511 switch fabric in a Clos architecture.

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Advanced networking capabilities in the DCS511

The DCS511 incorporates several advanced networking features that set it apart from its predecessors at Edgecore, including:

VXLAN support: The switch offers enhanced capabilities for VXLAN routing and bridging compared to previous Tomahawk 3-based switches.
AI and ML optimizations: The DCS511 supports features such as cognitive routing, global load balancing, and path rebalancing.
Optical networking: Up to 16 ports on the DCS511 support 400G ZR or ZR+ coherent optics, each with a 24-watt power budget. This feature enables long-range, high-speed connections crucial for distributed data center architectures.

Open-source options for the DCS511

Edgecore has a particular focus on open networking and supports a variety of open-source efforts.

The DCS511 provides support for the Open Network Install Environment (ONIE), which was originally developed as part of Open Compute Project (OCP). This feature enables the installation of various network operating systems (NOS), including open-source options including SONiC. The flexibility in NOS selection allows for customization based on specific network requirements and preferences.

Edgecore is a contributor and active participant in the SONiC community, which has continued to expand in recent years to meet new networking requirements.

Sharma noted that SONiC has added enhancements in recent releases to support AI/ML workloads as well as GPU-based networking. To that end, he noted that the DCS511 supports new features in SONiC such as RoCEv2 for lossless communication. RoCE (RDMA over converged Ethernet) reduces network latency and enables higher network throughput.

Additionally, the DCS511 running SONiC will support dynamic load balancing that enhances AI traffic flow. Sharma said that SONiC now also has an enhanced PFC (priority flow control) watchdog deadlock restoration mechanism, which enables fabric for AI workloads including large language models.

“We see SONiC deployment picking up pace across different regions, as SONiC is the core of data center networking,” Sharma said. “SONiC offers all features which help to enable mission-critical traffic in data center for hyperscale and enterprise.”