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As 10Gb Ethernet networks become more affordable, many small businesses are opting to make the switch. The fast speeds offer a lot of advantages, but may not be required for smaller companies.
However, with companies now processing more data than ever before, even small businesses can do with the extra speed and bandwidth. Having a 10Gb Ethernet network can, therefore, drastically improve productivity and reduce issues related to slow connection speeds.
Before making the investment, there are however a few things a company should consider.
Improved hardware
Switching to 10Gb can dramatically reduce your need for hardware, which can cut down on required storage space, as well as power consumption. This is ideal if you have a small office environment or are looking to expand your workforce but are staying in the same location.
While buying 10Gb hardware can be an expensive investment on the offset, you won't need to maintain Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet hardware. You will also only need a few pieces of 10Gb hardware as they will be much more powerful, which means that upgrading could be cheaper in the future.
This improved hardware will also allow your company to get the best possible use out of the faster connection, further improving overall productivity.
Less cabling
Working in a small business with a slower Ethernet network can mean that you seem to have an excess of cables, which can be problematic when it comes to space and safety. Even rearranging an office can become an issue when you need to factor a large amount of cable into the design.
However, a 10Gb Ethernet network can mean you are able to reduce the amount of cables needed, especially if your company already has multiple Gigabit Ethernet switches in place in order to improve the throughputs. Not only does this look neater, it can help you decrease costs.
You also have a choice between fibre and copper cabling solutions, which can alter the expenses of your new network, potentially making the transition more affordable. However, it's worth noting that copper cabling is best suited to short distance connections, while fibre cabling is best for broader connections, which can impact what options are available to you.
Improved scalability
Unlike Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet, 10Gb Ethernet allows companies to scale upwards much easier without having to deal with increased slowdowns. Typically, as more hardware is added to these other network types, businesses will experience a slower connection, especially at peak times.
In comparison, virtualisation of a 10Gb Ethernet network enables up to eight 10Gb switches to be aggregated together as a single virtual switch. This allows for around 80 Gbs in throughput, making scaling up a lot simpler, even if a company uses a large amount of data.
Businesses foreseeing growth in the near future may want to consider making the switch.
