With the continuous advancement of communication technology, various Internet of Things (IoT) applications have flourished, leading to ever-expanding scope and scale of interconnectedness among systems, processes and data. Inexorably, the demand for high-speed transmission has continued to grow, driving the need for higher processing speeds of network switches to transmit the vast amount of data and facilitate communication. These switches, enabling connected devices to share information and communicate with each other, are key building blocks for any network.
Network communication platform manufacturers have been tackling some “advanced” challenges. In light of the revolution of 5G technology, high-performance big data computing, as well as increasing demand for communication management equipment, both communication signals and optical communication technology of network switches need to be upgraded to achieve higher efficiency in accelerating information processing, and enhance big data filtering and classification capabilities.
Concurrently, while more and more 400GbE (Gigabit Ethernet) solutions are being introduced, the requirements for signal interface speed have ascended, and dedicated support is urgently needed to effectively address the router-related technical issues.
High Processing Performance: With the escalating demand for high-speed networks, switches supporting 25GbE, 100GbE, and 400GbE applications are being rapidly introduced. While at the same time, there is a need to maintain the agility developed into next-generation product offerings. This trend drives the demand for embedded computing solutions with a modular design architecture, aimed at delivering a scalable solution with enhanced computing and processing capabilities.
Hardware Specifications: In addition to having powerful processing performance, the platform hardware itself must meet the requirements of various network deployment scenarios, such as enterprise, network edge or data centers. These diversely application-centric requirements include the number of Ethernet interfaces/ports, instruction set architecture (ISA), scalability, wide operating temperature, security, and more.
Migrating to x86 Architecture: To meet the demands of complex network applications across enterprise networks and data centers, there arises a necessity to transition the architecture from ARM to x86.
The Portwell PCOM-B700G-NS, a COM Express Type 7 Basic size module, was suggested and selected as the ideal solution. PCOM-B700G-NS features Intel® Xeon® D-1600 processor series, offering workload-optimized support for network solutions targeting access edge system platforms and regional data centers. It effectively meets the project’s requirements for wide operating temperature range support. Furthermore, it ensures security and scalability while achieving accelerated interconnectivity, aggregation, filtering, and transmission between managed devices through the onsite bus network interface.
Additionally, Portwell has provided value-added services with an experienced design and development team. The services encompass tasks, including but not limited to, hardware specification review and design, technical expertise facilitating the design of complete solutions ranging from selecting components, baseboards, structures, operating systems such as Linux®, Microsoft® Windows® 10, and Microsoft Windows 11 on x86 architecture, to development board support packages, and customized product research and development of base-layer firmware and BIOS. This comprehensive support helps improve compatibility between drivers, operating systems and hardware, meeting the diverse demands for customized operating systems.
For years, Portwell has provided high-performance and scalable network switch modules with the latest technologies ready for next-gen network implementations. Build in with the Portwell PCOM-B700G-NS COM Express module, there has been developed a series of application-centric network switches encompassing wide selection of product models, each with optimized features and high security to accelerate packet transmission operations. The PCOM-B700G-NS plays a trusted management role, working in conjunction with the Ethernet switch ICs to ensure the availability, reliability, stability, and security of network systems. This establishes a solid foundation for the development of 5G network communication equipment, and further enhances operational efficiency and digital transformation across industries.
Founded in 1993, Portwell has accumulated over 30 years of diverse industry experience. The company thrives on competitive advantages, including a leading vision into market trends, innovative research and development capabilities, superior product quality, professional technical expertise, and efficient logistics and shipping processes, all of which empower us to deliver comprehensive solutions with a faster time-to-market edge. Portwell values listening to customer needs and market feedback. By combining these cross-industry insights with our experience, expertise, and creativity, we are committed to be the most trusted partner and a leading brand in the industrial and embedded computing solutions industry.
