Edgecore Networks is launching a new lineup of OpenLAN switches (OLS), with 20 new models across six product lines.

Edgecore's OLS portfolio embraces open standards established through the Telecom Infra Project's (TIP) OpenLAN Switching initiative. The OLS switches incorporate critical features like Power over Ethernet (PoE) delivery, unified switching and Wi-Fi management, with ultra-low latency and high bandwidth to satisfy modern local area network (LAN) demands as well as emerging technologies including Wi-Fi 7.

“This integration allows customers to benefit from a unified management system that encompasses both OpenWiFi access points (APs) and OpenLAN switches,” Teng Tai Hsu, VP of Edgecore Networks, told SDxCentral. “This unified approach not only simplifies network management for customers, but also enhances the overall efficiency and functionality of their network infrastructure.”

The new OLS portfolio includes the ECS1100, ECS2100, ECS4100, ECS4125, ECS4150 and ECS4650 series, each designed and equipped for specific networking environments.

The ECS1100 models provide an entry-level LAN switching solution for small and medium businesses with 5–28 ports. For more robust networks, the mid-range ECS2100 series offers 8–48 ports with enhanced PoE power for supporting high-density Wi-Fi 6 deployments.

Meanwhile, the ECS4100 line delivers high performance with scaling capabilities that make it suitable for large enterprise and education sector customers. For high-throughput users, the 10 GbE ECS4125 and 25 GbE ECS4150 series bring top-tier switching capacities in compact form factors.

At the enterprise level, the ECS4650 series provides full layer 3 routing functionality combined with high port density, stacking, extensive PoE power, and switching capacity for data centers and mixed business environments.

As the name implies, OpenLAN is about being open.

Hsu said that OpenLAN is an enterprise-level open-source switch platform. He noted that Edgecore to date has had a range of enterprise APs and switches, all managed through the Edgecore Cloud Controller with proprietary code.

Beyond that, he emphasized that Edgecore has been a strong advocate of open networking architecture for many years and is a leading contributor to the open-source SONiC community. In his view, OpenLAN-based switches complement Edgecore's existing portfolio by enabling integrated management of both APs and switches.

The open protocols used for management are a foundational element of OpenLAN.

Hsu explained that the Edgecore OLS series supports uCentral protocol, and the non-OLS Edgecore switches support the company's own management protocol.

“The OLS series can work with other vendor devices,” he said. “On the management part, TIP OpenLAN provides a unified protocol called uCentral to manage the device; both the OLS switch and OpenWiFi AP support the same protocol.”

For the devices that are not OpenLAN devices, there are several options to work with OpenLAN. He explained that the management protocol is open source, so it is easy for the controller to integrate the uCentral protocol into their system and make their system able to manage OpenLAN devices.

Though OLS as a specification is driven by TIP, Hsu stressed that Edgecore's OLS portfolio is not just for telcos.

“Edgecore provides multiple types of the switches supporting OpenLAN, including core switches and enterprise-level switches,” he said. “So, all different types of users can get the benefit.”