Data Center Switching Reviews and Ratings
What is Data Center Switching?
This market covers data center network switches and the requisite management and automation platforms for them. Data center switches are Ethernet switches installed in a data center environment intended to provide connectivity for endpoints, including servers, firewalls, and Layer 4 through Layer 7 appliances and mainframes.
Data center switches provide foundational connectivity mostly for compute resources in the data center. This is required to enable applications in support of business requirements. Emerging use cases that drive investments on data center networks include both AI and edge workloads.
Product Listings
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Cisco Nexus Switches are network switching software designed to deliver data center connectivity, supporting functions such as automated provisioning, real-time visibility, and integrated security. The software provides high-bandwidth switching, operational efficiency, and scalability for various network architectures. It enables multitenancy, virtualization support, and advanced traffic management, aiming to address challenges in network agility, resource utilization, and high availability. Cisco Nexus Switches software helps organizations manage workloads, unify networking protocols, and optimize performance across physical and virtual environments, contributing to the reliability and efficiency of data center infrastructure.
Huawei CloudEngine Switches is a software designed to provide high-performance data center and campus network switching solutions. It offers features such as high-density port configurations, low latency, and advanced virtualization capabilities to support efficient data traffic management. The software enables automation and intelligent operations through programmable interfaces and network management tools, supporting multiple networking protocols for compatibility across environments. It aims to address challenges in network scalability, reliability, and security by providing centralized control, traffic optimization, and security policy enforcement for enterprise and carrier networks. The software helps organizations manage growing network demands by delivering consistent connectivity and operational efficiency across complex IT infrastructures.
Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) is a software-driven solution designed for data center networking and automation. The software provides centralized policy-based management, automation of network services, and support for multi-cloud environments. Cisco ACI enables integration of physical and virtual network elements, facilitating application agility and scalability. It addresses business challenges related to network performance, security segmentation, and resource optimization by allowing organizations to streamline operations and maintain consistent policies across various infrastructure components. The software includes features for monitoring, troubleshooting, and advanced analytics to assist with efficient network provisioning and maintenance.
The 7000 Series Switches software is designed for high-performance network environments, providing scalable switching solutions for data centers and enterprise networks. The software supports a range of form factors and port densities, offering advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 features that enable efficient traffic management, automation, and monitoring. It includes support for virtualization, network segmentation, and programmability through industry-standard interfaces. The software addresses business needs for reliable connectivity, flexible configuration, and operational visibility, helping organizations optimize infrastructure for cloud, virtualization, and large-scale computing workloads.
HPE Aruba Networking CX Switches is a software designed to provide advanced network management and switching capabilities for modern enterprise environments. The software supports network automation, analytics, and monitoring by leveraging a cloud-native operating system. It facilitates centralized management for campus, branch, and data center networks, delivering visibility and control over network configuration and performance. Features include real-time network health monitoring, programmability through REST APIs, and automation for policy enforcement and troubleshooting. The software addresses business challenges related to network complexity, uptime, and scalability by streamlining operations and supporting integration with security and infrastructure tools. It is suited for organizations seeking to manage diverse network environments efficiently.
Arista CloudVision is a network automation and management software designed to provide centralized control and visibility for data center and cloud environments. The software offers features including configuration management, real-time telemetry, network-wide compliance, and automated provisioning. It facilitates the monitoring and analysis of network state across multiple devices and platforms, supporting integration with various third-party systems. CloudVision addresses operational requirements such as network scalability and consistency by enabling workflow automation, streaming analytics, and event-driven workflows, aiming to simplify complex network operations and reduce manual processes in enterprise environments.
Cisco Nexus Dashboard software provides centralized management and automation for hybrid cloud environments, enabling organizations to oversee data center infrastructure, monitor network health, and streamline operations. The software offers features such as lifecycle management, visibility across multi-site architectures, and integration with automation tools. It facilitates troubleshooting, compliance, and security assessment by collecting and analyzing telemetry data. Cisco Nexus Dashboard software is designed to address business challenges related to operational efficiency, network scalability, and consistent policy enforcement across distributed environments.
Nokia Switches software is designed for the configuration, management, and monitoring of network switches within enterprise and service provider environments. The software enables centralized control over Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching capabilities, supporting features such as VLAN segmentation, access control, and traffic management. It facilitates network scalability and security by providing tools for policy enforcement and efficient resource allocation. Through automation and integration with other network elements, the software addresses challenges related to network complexity and ensures reliable data transmission across connected devices. The software is utilized to optimize network performance, enhance operational efficiency, and streamline network maintenance tasks.
FortiSwitch is a software designed to deliver secure, scalable Ethernet switching solutions for enterprise networks. It integrates with security fabrics and enables centralized management to streamline network operations. The software supports features such as VLAN segmentation, Quality of Service, and layer 2 and layer 3 switching. It facilitates network visibility and control, helping organizations enforce security policies and maintain compliance requirements. FortiSwitch software is used to address business needs for secure connectivity and efficient management of distributed network environments within various organizational infrastructures.
FortiManager is a software designed for centralized network security management, enabling organizations to efficiently configure, deploy, and maintain security policies across multiple Fortinet devices. The software supports streamlined administration of security infrastructure, including firewall rules, device configurations, firmware updates, and policy management, all from a unified interface. FortiManager provides tools for change control, workflow automation, and the auditing of configuration changes to help meet compliance requirements. Its capabilities address the complexity of managing diverse and distributed security environments by enabling scalable provisioning and visibility, assisting businesses in maintaining consistent security postures and simplifying network operations.
iMaster NCE-Fabric is a software designed for automated management of data center networks, offering features such as network planning, deployment, monitoring, and optimization. The software facilitates unified management and orchestration of network resources, enabling policy-based operations to ensure network reliability and high performance. It supports network automation, allows for rapid service provisioning, and provides visualization tools for network topology, device status, and traffic analysis. iMaster NCE-Fabric is used to address the business challenge of managing complex data center networks by reducing manual configuration, improving operational efficiency, and supporting network scalability through centralized operations.
EX Switches is a software-based networking solution designed to support data center, campus, and branch environments. The software provides functionalities for high-density Ethernet switching, automation, and security. It enables connectivity and management of wired network devices and supports advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching protocols. EX Switches software is designed to address challenges related to scalability, flexibility, and simplified operations in enterprise networks. Features include network segmentation, integrated threat detection, centralized management, and support for virtualization technologies. The software helps organizations optimize network performance, streamline device provisioning, and maintain consistent security policies across multiple network locations.
Digital Age Networking is the Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (ALE) blueprint that enables businesses and organizations to enter the digital era and grow their digital businesses. The ALE digital transformation blueprint is based on three pillars:
An Autonomous Network that easily, automatically, and securely connects people, processes, applications, and objects.
Secure and efficient onboarding of IoT devices using segmentation techniques that minimize the risk of having the entire network being compromised.
Business Innovation through workflow automation simplifying the creation and roll-out of new automated digital business processes to enhance productivity and enable new revenue streams.
Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise is committed to developing networking technologies, solutions and services whether Fixed (LAN) or Wireless (WLAN) that help organizations realize their business potential through digital transformation.
Enterprise SONiC is a network operating system software developed for data centers and cloud environments. The software leverages a modular architecture based on open-source standards to deliver features such as routing, switching, telemetry, and scalability across network devices. It provides automation, programmability, and supports containers for enhanced flexibility in network management. Enterprise SONiC addresses business problems related to operational efficiency, network agility, and integration across multi-vendor hardware by offering standardized network protocols and tools designed for high performance and reliability in enterprise infrastructures. The software is equipped to streamline network deployment and facilitate centralized control for organizations seeking to optimize their networking resources.
HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer is a software that automates and orchestrates the provisioning, policy, and ongoing operations of network fabrics in data center environments. The software provides visibility and management for network infrastructure, supporting both physical and virtual environments. It helps streamline tasks such as switch configuration, network segmentation, and traffic policy enforcement. HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer integrates with various data center workloads and utilizes intent-based workflows to align network resources with applications. The software is designed to address the challenges of managing complex data center networks by improving efficiency, reducing manual processes, and assisting in operational consistency across the infrastructure.
ExtremeCloud IQ is a cloud-managed networking software designed to provide centralized management, monitoring, and control of wired and wireless network infrastructure. The software offers tools for automated device provisioning, configuration, and troubleshooting aimed at simplifying network operations. It supports features such as real-time analytics, network health monitoring, policy enforcement, and compliance reporting. The software is built to help organizations streamline network deployment and management while offering visibility into network performance and user activity. It addresses challenges related to network scalability, configuration consistency, and operational efficiency by enabling network administrators to manage multiple locations and devices from a single interface.
PowerSwitch Switches is a software designed to support network management and operations within enterprise and data center environments. The software offers capabilities for switching, routing, and network automation, enabling organizations to manage traffic flow, enhance network visibility, and maintain security across multiple devices. PowerSwitch Switches provides features such as unified management interfaces, support for virtualization, integration for automation with third-party tools, and scalability for expanding network infrastructure. It addresses the business need for efficient network performance, simplified administration, and adaptability to various deployment scenarios, assisting organizations in maintaining reliable connectivity and optimized resource utilization across distributed IT environments.
QFX Series Switches is a software developed for data center and campus network environments, providing features such as high throughput switching, advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 connectivity, network automation, and virtualization support. The software supports scalable network architectures, assists in managing traffic efficiently, and enables integration with network management tools and open networking standards. The purpose of QFX Series Switches is to address the business needs of secure, reliable, and agile data transmission, facilitating network segmentation, automated provisioning, and streamlined operations within complex IT infrastructures.
BISDN Linux is a network operating system designed for whitebox switches and routers. The software is built on a Debian GNU/Linux base and focuses on providing features such as OpenFlow support, high-availability mechanisms, and network programmability for data center and carrier environments. It utilizes modern Linux kernel capabilities, offering tools for automated provisioning, configuration, and monitoring of network devices. BISDN Linux addresses challenges associated with network management by enabling flexible integration with network management systems, supporting containerized network functions and streamlining deployment in software-defined networking setups. The software is tailored to organizations seeking to implement programmable and open-network infrastructure.
Cloud Data Center Switches is a software that provides networking solutions for data centers, focusing on scalable and efficient management of cloud-based workloads. The software supports a range of switching protocols and network architectures, enabling high throughput and low latency for large workloads in virtualized and cloud environments. It offers automation capabilities for network configuration, monitoring, and maintenance, helping to simplify operations for administrators managing complex data center networks. The software is designed to address the needs of modern data centers by supporting advanced features such as software defined networking integration and interoperability with various hardware platforms. Cloud Data Center Switches aims to optimize network performance, support service continuity, and enhance resource utilization for organizations operating cloud-driven infrastructure.
Features of Data Center Switching
Updated April 2025Mandatory Features:
Fabric management — software that enables multiple Ethernet switches to be managed as a single construct (a single logical entity) with a common API. Fabrics can be standards-based or proprietary in nature.
Centralized management — software that includes role-based access control (RBAC) to enable life cycle management of switches and NOS. This includes an administrative UI that enables provisioning, configuration management, troubleshooting, analytics and reporting. (Note: Centralized management can be embedded with fabric management.) This also includes turnkey integrations — those with commonly deployed data center or automation technologies.
Network operating system (NOS) software — operating system software meant for installation on a physical Ethernet switch that controls both hardware (i.e., LED, physical ports, fan power) and logical components (i.e., routing and switching).











