Scalable 10G Network Solution for Expanding Aerospace Tech Firm

Highlights

• Implemented a cost-effective 10 Gbps network upgrade using Huawei CloudEngine S5732-H48UM2CC switches (48 × 10 M/100 M/1 G/2.5 G/5 G/10 GBase-T ports + 6 fixed uplinks: 4 × 25 G SFP28 & 2 × 40/100 G QSFP28), eliminating the need for expensive SFP+ transceivers.
• Leveraged 40 G QSFP+ DACs and 10 G SFP+ DACs for aggregation and access links, ensuring high throughput and reliability.
• Linked two buildings with dual lanes of 10 G OM3 bend-insensitive fiber, boosting network stability and scalability.

Key Stats

• Backbone upgraded to 10 Gbps to meet rising business demands.
• Two buildings connected over a sub-500 ft span via reliable 10 G fiber.
• Scalable, stackable switch architecture supporting up to six units in a single logical chassis.

Overview

Our client, a fast-growing aerospace technology firm in Germany, required an optimized, high-capacity network spanning two buildings to support rapid expansion and deliver enhanced service to its customers.

Challenges

• One data room housed ~256 active ports; the second had ~100.
• Planned deployment of 3–4 PoE access switches and eight stackable access switches as edge devices.
• Both sites needed a cost-effective 10 Gbps core switch for high-speed backbone traffic, with room for future growth.

Solutions

1. Top-of-Rack (ToR) LayerDeployed two CloudEngine S5732-H48UM2CC switches in each building as ToR devices. Each offers 48 × 10 GBase-T server ports over Cat6a, removing the dependency on SFP+ optics.
2. Aggregation/Core LayerInstalled a CE6820-48S6CQ-B switch in the main data center, providing 48 × 10 G SFP+ ports plus 6 × 100 G QSFP28 ports (backwards compatible with 40 G QSFP+), serving as the aggregation backbone.
3. Access/PoE LayerRolled out two S1720-52GWR-4P PoE switches (48 × 1 G RJ45 + 4 × 1 G SFP) to power wireless APs and IP cameras.
4. Stackable Access LayerStacked four S5720S-52X-LI-AC switches (48 × 1 G RJ45 + 4 × 10 G SFP+) via Huawei iStack technology into one logical chassis; expandable up to six switches.
5. Inter-Building LinkConnected the two buildings with dual runs of 10 G OM3 bend-insensitive fiber, using Huawei 10 G SFP+ SR transceivers for low-latency, high-reliability links.

Results

• Enhanced Capacity: A 10 Gbps backbone now comfortably supports current and projected traffic loads.
• Significant Cost Savings: Adoption of 10 GBase-T ports and DAC cabling cut module expenses by approximately 30%.
• High Availability: Redundant core and resilient stacking configurations guarantee continuous uptime.
• Future Scalability: Modular, stackable architecture allows seamless expansion of both port count and bandwidth.
• Improved Performance: Overall network stability and reliability have risen, enabling more consistent service delivery.

Conclusion

By leveraging Huawei’s robust CloudEngine and S-Series switching platforms, the client achieved a seamless, high-capacity 10 Gbps backbone across both buildings at a fraction of the traditional optics cost.

The combination of 10 GBase-T ToR switches, DAC cabling, and modular core/aggregation devices not only delivered immediate performance gains and redundancy but also laid the groundwork for effortless expansion.

Overall, this tailored solution boosts network reliability, simplifies management, and maximizes ROI—empowering the aerospace firm to scale confidently as its business accelerates.