In the era of Cloud computing, with the rise of virtualization and software-defined service, one might think that some kinds of physical network equipment, like network switches and routers, are becoming obsolete. But the reality is the opposite. “Cloud” means nothing without routers and switches making the remote connection for data packet transmission. It is just a new name for the development of an existing service instead of a new thing of the times. In this article, let’s explore why the network switch and router are critical in the age of the Cloud.
Brief Description of the Switch and Router
What is Router
The router is a kind of network device for data packet transfer over the Internet. As data packets have several kinds of information, such as type, size, and endpoint IP, the router will read and classify the data and then direct the packet to the best path to the destination based on the routing table.
What is Network Switch
The network switch is a network equipment that allows two or more IT devices, such as servers, computers, and wireless access points, to connect for data packet transmission from a computer network to one or multiple endpoint devices based on the MAC addresses. Users, applications, and network hardware connect to share resources by the network switch, and the switch may be connected to other switches, routers, and firewalls to connect additional devices and then group a large safety LAN for the communication of interconnected devices instead of the establishment of an exclusive physical network.
Network switches are mainly composed of managed switches and unmanaged switches. How do you choose managed or unmanaged switches? The main differences between the two lie in their level of control, configuration, and features and businesses choose between two based on different scenarios they are in.
The Function of Switch and Router in the Cloud Computing
Physical Connectivity
The Cloud connects a vast network of remote servers around the globe to provide services through the virtualization of resources. In that case, routers and network switches remain essential to build reliable and efficient physical connectivity. Whether on campus, data centers, especially the cloud network that connects some remote locations, routers, and switches can serve as the backbone of network infrastructure to provide the necessary data packet transmission.
Network Segmentation and Traffic Control
Routers and switches can segment the local area network (LAN) into several manageable subnets to ensure optimal performance and enhance security to reduce attacks. Moreover, the router works as a dispatcher to guide the packet to the right route to ensure efficient communication. With the requirement of faster data movement and more safety network connectivity, these capabilities are fundamental for modern network communication even in the Cloud environment.
Quality of Service (QoS)
In each IT environment, of course, including the Cloud, The bandwidth is limited. Routers and network switches can ensure the QoS by controlling the traffic to guarantee that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth based on the predefined policies.
Integration with Cloud Services
Though the virtualization of the Cloud seems to obscure the physical network infrastructure, routers and switches are indispensable and make seamless communication with the Cloud whether uploading packets from the LAN to the Cloud platform or establishing a VPN (Virtual Private Network) tunnel to interview the Cloud data. Additionally, some cloud service providers offer networking services by using traditional routing and switching equipment to improve connectivity.
Redundancy and High Availability
With the growing demand for cloud service, reliability become vital. When hardware faults and network interruptions occur, Businesses using cloud services will suffer heavy losses. Routers and switches can avoid these situations and maintain network connectivity with redundancy and high availability features, such as link aggregation, hot backup, and failover mechanisms.
Security
Protecting the cloud database is the top priority for service providers. Routers and switches provide advanced security features like firewalls, authentication, communication encryption, access control lists (ACLs), and network address translation (NAT).
The Router and Switch are Important for the Future Cloud Era
Routers and switches remain indispensable components to provide the foundation of connectivity, security, and network management within the Cloud. As more and more businesses continue to embrace the cloud service, the role of routers and network switches will keep evolving to adapt the new challenges. VSOL provides a comprehensive set of optical access solutions. The product line includes a wide range of routers and switches, which can fully meet the needs of different scenarios.
Our routers are uniquely designed in both barrel and traditional styles, with a variety of speed options to match various network needs accurately. At the same time, VSOL network switches meet carrier-grade requirements and the stringent standards of data center switches. We provide L2/L3, managed/unmanaged, and PoE technical support to ensure that users can flexibly configure as needed.
