In today’s connected world, switches are at the heart of our networks, powering everything from home Wi-Fi to enterprise data centers. Whether it’s ensuring smooth browsing with a 1Gb switch or enabling high-speed, low-latency performance with a 10Gb switch for businesses, these enterprise network switches are key to efficient data transfer and network stability. Understanding their roles helps us make smarter choices for our network needs, boosting both productivity and everyday efficiency.

What is a network switch?

A network switch is a network device that connects multiple devices within a local area network. It receives data from one device, examines its destination by identifying the mac address of the receiver device, and forwards the data to the appropriate device receiving. For example, if you want to send pictures that you take today to your friends. After you click on the sent button, the data will first be transferred to the switch, then the switch will direct the data to your friend. Without a switch, data couldn’t be correctly forwarded to the destination, and the internet would be full of mess.

What is a Gigabit Ethernet Switch?

Easy to understand based on its name, a Gigabit Ethernet switch includes ports that support transmission speed up to a gigabit per second. The basic working principle of a Gigabit switch is similar to that of any other network switch. It connects multiple devices in the same local area network and uses a MAC address table to forward data packets efficiently. This process ensures that data reaches the correct destination without redundant broadcasting.

In addition, the Gigabit Ethernet switch also takes care of speed matching between different devices. When data packets are transferred between user devices, the Gigabit Ethernet Switch makes sure that the transmission rate in each user device is compatible with other user devices. If they don’t match initially, the Gigabit Ethernet Switch will adjust them accordingly. In such a way, the switch could efficiently minimize delays and prevent deadlock, resulting in clear and coherent communication throughout the Local Area Network.

What are the features of Gigabit Ethernet Switch?

Fast Data Transfer- Supporting a transmission speed of 1Gbps, a Gigabit Ethernet Switch offers fast data transfer capabilities that can handle typical office and home network traffic efficiently, outpacing other legacy Ethernet switches.

• Low latency- With a high transmission speed, the forward mechanism could efficiently reduce traffic, and furthermore, delays. Which are crucial to real-time operating applications such as online gaming.
• Cost-Effectiveness- As mentioned, Ethernet switches could nowadays support transmission speeds up to 100 Tbps. Compared the Ethernet switches of such kind, Gigabit Ethernet Switch is way cheaper. Its affordability also makes it the most popular choice for regular usage.

Therefore, a question arises, In what situation should we use Gigabit Ethernet Switch to manage networks?

Application scenarios of Gigabit switches:

• Small Business LANs- In small office Loca Area Networks, where data flow is moderate, a Gigabit switch provides enough transmission speed for file sharing, meanwhile coming with an affordable price.
• Home networks- For households, where the number of connected devices is only limited to the homeowners, the Gigabit switch serves the necessary transmission speed and ensures a stable and fast network connection.

What is a 10 Gigabit Ethernet Switch?

A 10 Gigabit switch, also easy to understand according to its name, includes ports that support transmission speeds up to 10 gigabits per second. Compared to a Gigabit Ethernet Switch, a 10 Gigabit Ethernet Switch provides 10 times faster transmission speed. Which would vitally promote network efficiency.

With a higher transmission speed, advantages also come along:

• Superior Data Transmission Speed- Operating at 10Gbps, these switches provide significantly faster data transfer, which is indispensable in high-demand environments.
• Larger Port Bandwidth- With increased port capacity, these switches can accommodate many simultaneous high-speed connections. This is critical in serving network environments which exist devices that require large port bandwidth such as servers and workstations.
• High-density Device Connectivity- They are built to support a large number of devices simultaneously, making them ideal for data centers and enterprise networks.

Application scenarios of 10 Gigabit switches:

Due to its strong capacity to manage local area networks, a 10 Gigabit Ethernet Switch is predominantly utilized in the following scenario:

• Medium to Large Enterprise- In medium to large organizations, rapid communication is often required. The 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch can perfectly handle communication between numerous servers and workstations.
• High-bandwidth Applications- Scenarios where high-performance computing and video editing could greatly benefit from the high transmission speed offered by a 10 Gigabit Ethernet switch.

Difference between Gigabit Switches (1G) and 10-Gigabit Switches (10G)

How to Choose between a Gigabit Ethernet Switch and a 10 Gigabit Ethernet Switch?

Enterprise Size and Network Requirements

• Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: If your business is small, with a handful of employees and the main focus is day-to-day tasks like web browsing, file sharing, and email, a 1G switch is more than enough. It’s budget-friendly, efficient, and meets the needs of most small and medium-sized businesses without any hassle.
• Larger Enterprises or High-Performance Demands: For businesses dealing with high-volume data transfers, frequent video conferencing, or large-scale file sharing, a 10G switch is the better fit. It’s designed to handle heavier traffic and ensure smooth, low-latency performance, even when multiple devices are connected at once.

Budget Considerations

• Cost-Effectiveness: 1G switches are much more affordable than their 10G counterparts. If you’re on a tight budget and don’t have an urgent need for massive bandwidth, a 1G switch is your go-to solution for a cost-effective and reliable network setup.
• Long-Term Investment: If you foresee your business growing rapidly in the next few years or anticipate a rise in data-heavy operations (like cloud services or big data), investing in a 10G switch could pay off in the long run. While the initial investment is higher, it saves you from constantly upgrading your network to keep up with increased demand.

Network Architecture and Scalability

• Access Layer vs. Core Layer: 1G switches typically serve in the access layer, connecting end-user devices to the network. 10G switches, on the other hand, are better suited for the core and aggregation layers, which handle large volumes of data and complex exchanges. If you’re building out the backbone of your network, a 10G switch will support those high-performance requirements.
• Planning for the Future: If your business is expected to grow—whether that means expanding office space, adding more devices, or handling more data—consider investing in a 10G switch now. It’s the smart choice to future-proof your network and scale seamlessly as your business evolves.

Summary

• For small businesses with moderate network needs and a tight budget, a 1G switch is a great choice, offering reliability and cost savings.
• For larger enterprises with high data demands and long-term growth plans, a 10G switch ensures top-notch performance, scalability, and future-proofing.

Asterfusion SONiC-Based Gigabit & 10 Gigabit Open Network Switches

Gigabit Ethernet Switch: Power, Flexibility & Next-Gen Features

The Asterfusion SONiC Open Network Gigabit Access Switch isn’t just another switch—it’s a game-changer for enterprises looking for scalability, performance, and cost-efficiency.

🔹 Versatile Hardware Choices: From compact 8-port 1G models to high-density 16, 24, and 48-port options, we’ve got your network covered.
🔹 Power to Match Your Needs: With POE budgets ranging from 370W to 1480W and the choice of fixed or pluggable power supplies and fans, it’s designed for ultimate flexibility.
🔹 Enterprise SONiC NOS—Beyond the Basics: Pre-installed with an enhanced enterprise SONiC NOS, our switch delivers faster updates, richer features, and superior performance compared to the standard community version.

But here’s where it truly stands out—unlike traditional Layer 2 switches, the Asterfusion Gigabit Switch brings advanced virtualization capabilities into the mix.

Next-Level Networking with Layer 3
Packed with powerful VXLAN and BGP EVPN support, it transforms how enterprises build and scale their networks—delivering the agility of modern data centers without the hefty price tag of legacy switches.

Whether you’re upgrading your access layer or designing a next-gen network, Asterfusion’s Gigabit Switch offers the perfect blend of performance, affordability, and future-proof technology.

Asterfusion 10 Gigabit Ethernet Switch: High-Performance, Scalable, and Future-Ready

The Asterfusion 10 Gigabit Ethernet Switch isn’t just built for speed—it’s engineered for next-level networking. Powered by Marvell Aldrin chips, these switches deliver unmatched performance and flexibility, making them the perfect solution for modern enterprises.

Powerful & Scalable Hardware
✔ Flexible Configurations: Choose from 16, 24, or 48 blazing-fast 10G SFP+ downlink ports, fully backward-compatible with 1G devices.
✔ High-Speed Uplinks: Equipped with 2 or 6 100G QSFP28 uplink ports, also supporting 40G connections for seamless scalability.

Enterprise SONiC NOS—Beyond Standard SONiC
Pre-installed with Asterfusion’s enhanced enterprise-grade SONiC NOS, our switches offer:
✅ Faster updates and richer features than the community version.
✅ Advanced virtualization capabilities like VXLAN and BGP EVPN—features rarely found in standard campus switches.

Designed for high-performance data centers, enterprises, and next-gen networks, the Asterfusion 10G Ethernet Switch delivers the speed, intelligence, and scalability your business needs—all without breaking the bank.

About Asterfusion

Asterfusion is a leading innovator in open-network solutions, offering cutting-edge products like 1G-800G SONiC-based open network switches, DPU NICs, and P4-programmable hardware. We provide fully integrated, ready-to-deploy solutions for data centers, enterprises, and cloud providers. With our flexible, decoupled hardware and our self-developed enterprise SONiC distribution, we empower customers to build transparent, easy-to-manage, and cost-efficient networks—designed to thrive in an AI-driven future.