Biotech Company Builds 100G Backbone Campus with Ultra-High-Speed Wi-Fi 7 Network

The customer is a leading UK-listed biotechnology company specializing in T-cell receptor (TCR)-based immunotherapies for cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune conditions. With operations across the UK, Europe, Ireland and the US, the current network infrastructure supports over 2,000 employees. At the forefront of developing innovative therapies, the company leverages its advanced TCR technology platform to drive progress in the field.

As the customer expanded operations across the UK and the US, their existing Cisco network infrastructure struggled to meet the growing demands for advanced protocols like BGP and MLAG. They also required a scalable solution to implement a distributed EVPN-VXLAN architecture for future growth, alongside a reliable wireless network solution capable of delivering superior Wi-Fi 6/7 performance.

Given budget limitations, the customer was in search of a more cost-effective alternative to Cisco that would still deliver the required performance and scalability over the long term. Alongside network requirements, they placed significant importance on securing reliable technical support and an extended warranty, to ensure smooth, uninterrupted operations and safeguard against potential network downtime.

After several video meetings, FS and the customer collaborated to design a tailored network solution that directly addressed the existing operational challenges. The solution prioritised performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness, ensuring it would not only meet current needs but also support future expansion.

The core network is designed with N8550-64C switches as the backbone of the infrastructure. Using MLAG (Multi-Chassis Link Aggregation), the switches provide enhanced redundancy and seamless high-bandwidth connectivity. By supporting key protocols such as OSPF, BGP, and ECMP, the design establishes a robust and scalable underlay network that guarantees efficient and resilient data routing for optimised performance.

In the service network, the business server cluster runs on OpenStack with Neutron to establish a VXLAN-based network. The S5890-32C switches are deployed to enable this virtualized architecture, delivering high-performance, scalable connectivity. This configuration ensures efficient service communication and seamless network isolation within the cluster.

The S5870-48MX6BC-U switches serve as PoE leaf switches in the office network, providing network access for Wi-Fi 7 APs. Using VLAN and VXLAN, they create a fully interconnected network with enhanced security and manageability through network segmentation. Powered by Trident 3 chips, the S5870 series offers high-performance forwarding and low latency, meeting the needs of multi-tenant environments.

To ensure ongoing reliability, FS offered a standard warranty for hardware and software products with a fixed coverage period, along with extended warranty options to suit varying needs. Customers also benefited from comprehensive 5-year free technical support and optional services like remote assistance, providing long-term peace of mind and flexibility. Explore the FS PicOS® solution to learn how it can elevate network performance and meet customized requirements.

The customer gained a high-performance and efficient network through FS's custom-designed PicOS® campus solution. With Wi-Fi 6/7 optimisation, they created a stable large wireless network, enhancing both user experience and service quality. The scalable 100G backbone enables high-speed data transfer and can be upgraded to 200G or 400G links in the future.

The solution provided cost-effective benefits by leveraging automating network management. With unified PicOS® system and AmpCon-Campus SDN controller, the solution reduced complexity and operational overhead. The EVPN-VXLAN architecture ensured flexible, efficient data routing, supporting seamless scalability and simplified network operations.