In today’s digital world, your network is more than just infrastructure—it’s the engine powering seamless retail operations, hospital systems, digital classrooms, and connected hotel experiences. As technologies like Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 7, IoT, and cloud apps continue to evolve, businesses need faster, more flexible, and scalable networking solutions to keep up.
That’s why Edgecore Wi-Fi has revamped our enterprise switch classification system—to help you easily find the best switch for your specific use case. Whether you’re managing a chain of stores, supporting smart healthcare networks, upgrading school campuses, or supporting MDUs or hotels as an MSP or ISP, our new classification method makes it quicker and simpler to find the right switch for your needs.
Why We Introduced a New Switch Classification
Traditionally, switches were sorted by Layer 2 or Layer 3 functionality. While this works in theory, it often doesn’t reflect how businesses actually choose products—based on performance needs, application scenarios, and expected growth.
Our new “Layer + Speed” classification aligns directly with real-world use cases. Here’s what drove this change:
- Multi-speed demands: With Wi-Fi 6/7 APs and IoT devices becoming more common, 2.5G and 10G interfaces are becoming mainstream.
- Different needs, different scenarios: A retail store may just need basic connectivity, while a hospital or school requires advanced performance and reliability. MSPs/ISPs supporting MDU or hotel deployments often need L3 routing features. L2 switches are great for local device connectivity, while L3 switches are needed for inter-network routing, traffic management, and broadband aggregation.
- Simplified decisions: Choosing the right switch shouldn’t be complicated. Our new classification helps you quickly match network layer and speed, streamlining your decision-making and boosting deployment efficiency.
A Smarter Switch Framework: What It Looks Like
Edgecore Wi-Fi now classifies enterprise switches based on:
Network Layer
- L2-Lite: Entry-level switches for simple connectivity needs. Includes VLAN, QoS, and silent (fanless) options—ideal for smaller setups.
- L2/L2+: Advanced Layer 2 functionality with STP, IGMP Snooping, ACLs—perfect for mid-sized networks needing more control.
- L3: Routing capabilities (static routes, OSPF, BGP) for complex environments and service provider networks.
Speed Options
- 1G: Standard Gigabit connections for general business and multi-device environments.
- 2.5G: Multi-rate ports designed for Wi-Fi 6/7 and high-performance endpoints.
- 10G: For bandwidth-heavy environments such as hospitals or large campus cores, where both high-speed access and aggregation capabilities are essential.
Classification at a Glance
- L3 Switch-10G (DL)
- L3 Switch-1G/2.5G (DL)
- L2 Switch-10G (DL)
- L2 Switch-2.5G (DL)
- L2 Switch-1G (DL)
- L2 Switch – All 1G (UL/DL)
- L2-Lite Switch – All 1G (UL/DL)
With ecCLOUD management and support for open networking frameworks such as OpenLAN Switching, the switch lineup offers flexibility and forward compatibility.
How to Choose the Right Switch
Our new framework helps you match the right switch in just three steps:
Step 1: Choose the Right Network Layer
- L2-Lite: Best for small networks like clinics or retail stores—just basic connectivity.
- L2/L2+: Ideal for networks that need access and aggregation—great for MDUs, dorms, schools, hotels.
- L3: When routing is needed (e.g., inter-VLAN communication or ISP services), go with L3 switches.
Step 2: Determine the Speed You Need
- 1G: Good for traditional office devices like PCs, printers, VoIP, APs, cameras.
- 2.5G: Supports Wi-Fi 7 APs and high-resolution IP cameras.
- 10G: Ideal for high-volume data transfers like hospital imaging or hotel backhaul.
Step 3: Consider Key Features
Ask yourself:
- Do I need PoE for powering APs, cameras, or medical devices?
- Will I need high uplink bandwidth like 10G for aggregation?
- Do I want to manage everything in the cloud via ecCLOUD or CloudSDK controller?
- Will open network compatibility like OpenLAN Switching or OLS SONiC be useful?
Real-World Examples
To make it clearer, here’s how the new classification aligns with actual deployments:
- L2-Lite 1G: A coffee shop chain deploys L2-Lite 1G switches to connect PoS systems and IP cameras—fanless design means silent operation across multiple locations.
- L2 2.5G: A school uses L2 2.5G switches to power Wi-Fi 6/7 access points across classrooms and libraries, enabling high-speed wireless access for students.
- L3 1G/2.5G: A hospital integrates L3 switches to support medical imaging systems and EMR access, with reliable routing and PoE for connected medical devices.
- L3 10G: An ISP deploys L3 10G switches in MDUs to efficiently aggregate bandwidth and support triple-play services (voice, video, data) across multiple tenants or units.
Ready to Simplify Your Network Deployment?
With Edgecore Wi-Fi, you get more than just hardware—you get a trusted network partner. Here’s what sets us apart:
- Open Networking Ready: Full support for OpenWiFi, OpenLAN Switching, OLS SONiC, and other open systems.
- Reliability & Scalability: From small stores to large MDUs, our switches deliver consistent performance.
- Cloud Management: With ecCLOUD and CloudSDK controller, you can configure and monitor easily—saving time and IT resources.
- Cost-Effective Performance: Our high-value products help you get the most from your network investments.
Edgecore Wi-Fi’s new switch classification—based on network layer and speed—makes it easier than ever for businesses of all sizes to find the right solution. Whether you’re upgrading to Wi-Fi 7, bringing faster connectivity to classrooms, or rolling out broadband for student dorms or hotel guests, Edgecore Wi-Fi has your back.
👉 Visit our website to explore the full product lineup, or reach out to our sales team to find the right switch for your business. Want to learn more? Contact us today!
