Educational Institution Achieves Seamless Network Cutover with FS PicOS® Switch Solution

As ICT service demand grows in education, campus network challenges are becoming more apparent. Educational institutions often face a shortage of skilled IT professionals, complex system integration, and interoperability issues. FS's customer, a teacher education institution, aimed to replace equipment without disrupting operations and prepare for future network expansion.

To ensure stable connections and facilitate expansion, FS recommended PicOS® switches tailored to the customer's network architecture, using the AmpCon™ management platform for simplified network management. FS provided a comprehensive customized network cutover plan, along with PicOS® pre-sales training, 24/5 technical support, and on-site services.

The customer previously used expensive Cisco equipment that must be procured through channel dealers, making the process cumbersome. They needed to complete procurement within 3 months and sought faster delivery to shorten project timelines. Additionally, they lacked direct access to technical documents and support from major suppliers, relying on ISP (Internet Service Provider), which complicated cooperation.

The campus network's numerous devices and complex configurations may lead to technical challenges in configuration, management, and troubleshooting without professional guidance. To minimize disruptions and costs, the customer sought direct access to professional support and maintenance services, aiming to simplify network management and centralize tasks like upgrades and updates.

The solution was based on a traditional three-tier data center network architecture, enhancing network scalability and manageability. With advanced PicOS® software and the AmpCon™ management platform, the customer can achieve unified network configuration, monitoring, and maintenance, reducing costly downtime and minimizing manual tasks.

The core layer featured two N5850-48S6Q core switches that support MLAG, reducing single points of failure through redundant links and improving overall network reliability. Each switch included 48 10Gb SFP+ ports and 6 40Gb QSFP+ ports, providing high-density availability and uplink options.

The access layer was composed of three parts. FS deployed the S5810-48TS-P PoE+ switch to connect the customer’s wireless network devices, while the S5810-48TS access switch connected directly to end-user devices such as computers and printers. The S5860-20SQ distribution switch, situated between the access and core layers, aggregated traffic from access switches and forwards it to the core layer, also serving as the backbone switch for multiple servers and storage devices.

To lower the operational threshold for the PicOS® switches and ease the transition, FS provided professional pre-sales training, giving the customer familiarity and effective management of PicOS® and AmpCon™.

In terms of product delivery and technical support, FS leveraged its global localized warehousing and supply chain advantages to ensure rapid supply, significantly shortening project delivery cycles. FS also offered on-site surveys, installation, troubleshooting, and software update services, ensuring the reliability and stability of the architecture while helping customers save on installation costs.

This solution ensured the timely progress and operation of the customer's procurement project, with products configured precisely according to the customer's budget and application needs. It demonstrated the value of PicOS® switches as alternatives to major vendor equipment and highlighted the advantages of AmpCon™ in educational campus environments.

PicOS® switches offered flexibility and a wide range of protocols, including MLAG, EVPN-VXLAN, OpenFlow, NETCONF, sFlow, SSH, LLDP, and Voice VLAN. Powered by Broadcom chips, their performance rivaled that of traditional brands like Cisco and Juniper, ensuring reliable and efficient operation in real-world scenarios, facilitating seamless network cutover and future scalability.

AmpCon™ provided a streamlined approach to deploying and configuring enterprise switches. Its zero-touch provisioning (ZTP) and automated deployment features significantly reduced the complexity of large-scale deployments and minimized human errors, saving substantial time and operational costs. The powerful graphical user interface (GUI) enhanced user-friendliness, ensuring easy management and operation.

Throughout the process, FS worked closely with the customer, providing ongoing support from pre-sales training to post-sales maintenance to ensure smooth implementation. This collaboration highlights FS's commitment to customer success through tailored solutions and dedicated assistance.

FS established global and local warehouses with an intelligent warehousing system, ensuring over 90% of orders were shipped the same day. This significantly shortened project delivery times and reduced procurement challenges for customers.