Network
Switches
Network Switch Software and Hardware Design
Switch vendors now compete on more than port count and throughput. Customers expect solid switch SDK integration, precise timing, and CRA and FIPS 140-3 security readiness, often from one platform sold in both EU and US markets.
Promwad has designed switch hardware and software for 22+ years on Microchip, Marvell, Realtek, and Broadcom silicon. As a vendor-agnostic team, we build L2/L3 features, timing, and device security into your switch platform.
Our Services
- Custom board design for multi-port (8/16/24/48) gigabit devices, incorporating required uplinks and specific interfaces
- Development of network system-level software on top of Microchip IStaX and Marvell CPSS (Prestera Software Suite)
- Utilization of switchdev framework
- Implementation of a new Linux kernel driver model for Ethernet devices
- Customization and installation of ONIE (Open Network Install Environment) on target switching hardware
- Porting of SONiC (Software for Open Networking in the Cloud) to various switch platforms
- OpenSwitch-based software development
- Security hardening of switch platforms: secure boot, hardware root of trust, signed firmware updates, and SBOM generation for CRA readiness
- FIPS 140-3 readiness: integration of validated crypto modules into the management plane (SSH, HTTPS, SNMPv3) and migration from FIPS 140-2-era designs
Network Switching Devices We Work With
Discover the network switching solutions our engineers specialize in:
Networking Hardware and Equipment
Ethernet switching
We design Ethernet switches for manufacturing as an integral part of any intelligent network. Our goal is to create the non-blocking and scalable Ethernet switching equipment, including:
- Stackable switches and managed access devices
- Carrier Ethernet switches/routers/gateways
- Security appliances
- Aggregation switches and routers
Industrial network equipment and IIoT
We design extensible switches and routers for the industrial Internet of Things domain. They support auto-configuration, address learning, forwarding, filtering, and special means to handle QoS. Our clients employ these solutions in factory automation, smart grids, and other industrial environments. Our expertise includes:
- Solutions for industrial process control
- Transportation and automotive applications
- Energy utility systems or smart grid distribution
Selective Q-in-Q
SDK: Microchip IStaX-APPL-2020.09.
Tested on a PCB135 debug board from Microchip on VSC7558. Q-in-Q operates on the Sparx-5 microprocessor family.
Description: Selective Q-in-Q determines the pairing of a given client VLAN (on the UNI side) and the sought S-VLAN identifier. The S-VLAN identifier is joined to the input unmodified C-VLAN, and the packet is forwarded across the ISP's double-tagged network. The S-VLAN ID is removed from the output, and the client VLAN ID is retained in the packet. Packets that do not match the specified client VLANs are discarded by default.
Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)
SDK: Microchip IStaX-APPL-2020.09.
Tested on a PCB135 debug board from Microchip on VSC7558. MPLS operates on the Sparx-5 microprocessor family.Description: MPLS is a packet-forwarding technology which uses labels to make data-forwarding decisions. The biggest advantage of using MPLS is that the Layer 3 header analysis is done just once when the packet enters the MPLS domain. Intermediate routers will not analyze the IP packet, thus saving valuable router resources, and greatly increasing the speed at which packets are forwarded. Label inspection drives subsequent packet forwarding. Further MPLS supports the following applications:
- Virtual Private Networking (VPN)
- Traffic Engineering (TE)
- Quality of Service (QoS)
- Any Transport over MPLS (AToM)
Additionally, it decreases the forwarding overhead on the core routers.
Features of the Ethernet Switches
Within our Ethernet switch design services, we incorporate the following features:
Why Promwad
Switch vendors usually have strong in-house R&D. They bring in Promwad when a platform has to move faster than their team can: new switching silicon, a new SDK, or new timing and security requirements from their customers.
Our Tech Map
Interfaces
Ethernet 1G/2.5G/10G/40G/100G, Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, BLE and Bluetooth 5.X, DECT, ADSL, SHDSL, RapidIO, G.hn
Vendors
Microchip, Realtek, Marvell, NXP, TI, Broadcom, Centec
Switch Software
Port speed, duplex mode, flow control, link control, statistics, MIB counters, PoE and PoE+ with LLDP, hotplug SFP detection, QoS traffic classification, port priority
Technologies
Fast-path network processing, hardware-accelerated NAT, Linux DSA, distributed switch architecture, VoIP and telephony SLIC interfacing, DECT, Ethernet packet processing, remote management, TSN and IIoT networks, MPLS
Security
Secure boot, TPM and secure elements, side-channel and tamper protection, signed OTA with anti-rollback, OpenSSL and MbedTLS, FIPS 140-3-validated crypto modules, mutual authentication (mTLS), 802.1X, RADIUS, TACACS+, SBOM (SPDX/CycloneDX), engineering aligned with CRA and IEC 62443-4-2
"Despite having their own R&D departments and experience with international manufacturers, our clients choose Promwad to elevate their business. They trust our expertise in telecom electronics design and leverage our partnerships with world-leading semiconductor vendors."
— Ivan Kuten, Managing Director & Tech Advisor at Promwad GmbH
Our Case Studies in Telecom
Do you need a quote for your network switch design or manufacturing project?