Unleashing the Power of Open Network Switches with FS
Updated at Jan 26th 20241 min read
FS and Pica8 have joined forces to usher in a new era of open networking by offering a range of open network switches that enable businesses to harness the full potential of their networks. In this article, we will explore the concept of open networking, discuss the open network switches provided by FS, and the exciting prospects it offers for the networking market.
What Is Open Networking?
Open networking refers to the concept of disaggregating hardware and software components in a network infrastructure. It allows for greater flexibility, interoperability, and innovation. At the core of open networking lies the open network switch, which forms the building block of these next-generation networks. For more detailed information, please refer to
''Also Check- What Is Open Networking?
What Open Network Switches Are Provided by FS?
To accelerate the development of the enterprise data center and HPC markets, FS offers a portfolio of open network switches that are installed with PicOS®, ensuring seamless integration and interoperability. The following are the types of open network switches offered by FS.
HPC Switches
FS N9550 Series Data Center Switches are a series of high-performance 400G HPC switches, positioned for new generation data center core and aggregation networking, connect to downstream 100G access switches, and provide high bandwidth and large capacity server access.

N9550-32D | N9550-64D | |
Ports | 32x400G | 64x400G |
Switch Chip | Broadcom BCM56980 Tomahawk3 | Broadcom BCM56990 Tomahawk4 |
Switching Capacity | 12.8 Tbps | 25.6 Tbps |
Forwarding Rate | 5210 Mpps | 10300 Mpps |
Packet Buffer | 64MB | - |
Airflow | Front-to-Back | Front-to-Back |
Fan Number | 6 (5+1 Redundancy) | 6 (5+1 Redundancy) |
Power Supply | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) | 4 (3+1 Redundancy) |
Cloud Data Center Switches
FS N5850 and N8550 series cloud data center switches are a series of high-density switches that provide 10G/25G/40G/100G wire speed connectivity for high-density availability and uplink options, accommodating the demands of cloud-based applications and services.

N5850-48S6C | N5850-48X6C | N5850-48S6Q | N8550-48B8C | N8550-32C | N8550-64C | |
Ports | 48x10G, 6x100G | 48x10GBASE-T, 6x100G | 48x10G, 6x40G | 48x25G, 2x10Gb, 8x100G | 32x100G, 2x10Gb | 64x100G |
Switch Chip | Broadcom BCM56771 Trident III | Broadcom BCM56771 Trident III | Broadcom BCM56864 Trident II+ | Broadcom BCM56873 Trident III | Broadcom BCM56870 Trident III | Broadcom BCM56970 Tomahawk II |
Switching Capacity | 1.08 Tbps | 1.08 Tbps | 1.44 Tbps | 4 Tbps | 6.4 Tbps | 6.4 Tbps |
Forwarding Rate | 964.28 Mpps | 964.28 Mpps | 1000 Mpps | 2900 Mpps | 4700 Mpps | 4200 Mpps |
Packet Buffer | 32MB | 32MB | 16MB | 32MB | 32MB | 32MB |
Airflow | Front-to-Back | Front-to-Back | Back-to-Front | Back-to-Front | Back-to-Front | Front-to-Back |
Fan Number | 5 (4+1 Redundancy) | 5 (4+1 Redundancy) | 5 (4+1 Redundancy) | 6 (5+1 Redundancy) | 6 (5+1 Redundancy) | 4 (3+1 Redundancy) |
Power Supply | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) |
Enterprise Switches
FS S5870-48T6S and S5870-48T6BC are high-performance and strong-security 1G L3 enterprise switches, which can be used to manage data center racks and enterprise or campus access networks. They are ideal for education, government, medical, finance, hotels, warehouses, retail and other industries.

S5870-48T6S | S5870-48T6BC | |
Ports | 48x1000BASE-T, 6x10G | 48x1000BASE-T, 4x25G, 2x100G |
Switch Chip | Broadcom BCM56277 Trident III | Broadcom BCM56371 Trident III |
Switching Capacity | 108 Gbps | 348 Gbps |
Forwarding Rate | 61.6 Mpps | 744 Mpps |
Packet Buffer | 4MB | 8MB |
Airflow | Front-to-Back | Front-to-Back |
Fan Number | 3 Built-in Fans | 3 Hot-swappable Fans |
Power Supply | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) |
PoE+ Switches
FS S5870-48T6S-U, S5870-48T6BC-U, and S5870-48MX6BC-U are PoE network switches that can provide both data connectivity and electrical power to devices via Ethernet cables. Allowing devices such as IP cameras, IP phones, wireless access points, and certain IoT devices to receive power and data.

S5870-48T6S-U | S5870-48T6BC-U | S5870-48MX6BC-U | |
Ports | 48x1000BASE-T, 6x10G | 48x1000BASE-T, 4x25G, 2x100G | 36x2.5GBASE-T, 12x10GBASE-T, 4x25G, 2x100G |
Switch Chip | Broadcom BCM56277 Trident III | Broadcom BCM56371 Trident III | Broadcom BCM56370 Trident III |
Switching Capacity | 108 Gbps | 448 Gbps | 510 Gbps |
Forwarding Rate | 61.6 Mpps | 744 Mpps | 863.1 Mpps |
Packet Buffer | 4MB | 8MB | 8MB |
Airflow | Front-to-Back | Front-to-Back | Front-to-Back |
Fan Number | 3 Built-in Fans | 3 Built-in Fans | 4 Built-in Fans |
Power Supply | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) | 2 (1+1 Redundancy) |
Key Features of FS Open Network Switches
Preloaded with PicOS®, FS open network switches offer network professionals a range of scalable and feature-rich options for IDC, enterprise, and campus access networks. Here are some of the key features:
Unified Management: With AmpCon™, businesses can easily manage and monitor their network infrastructure from a single platform. This centralized tool simplifies network administration and enhances efficiency.
Free Trial: FS provides a free virtual NOS - PicOS-V, which helps customers get familiar with PicOS®, test L2, L3 and upgrade features without any risk. Allows pre-configuration in a virtualized scenario before PicOS® purchase and seamless migration of configurations post-purchase.
PicOS® Customization: FS open network switches offer the flexibility to customize PicOS® according to specific needs. This allows businesses to tailor the switch's capabilities to match their unique requirements.
Software Flexibility: FS open network switches are compatible with third-party software, such as Sonic, IP Infusion, etc. This enables businesses to flexibly choose software according to their needs.
Deploy Networking with Open Network Switches
The market prospects for open network switches are robust, driven by the growing demand for flexible, scalable networking solutions. FS's range of Open Network Switches empowers businesses to deploy flexible and scalable network infrastructure. With centralized management, customizable software, and a variety of advanced features, FS provides solutions to unlock the potential of open networking.