Arista Network Switches: Are They the Peak of Compatibility?

Published on: January 31, 2025 | 5 minute read | by Krisa Cortez

Designed to serve large-scale data centers and high-performance environments, Arista Network Switches are a king in advanced network designs while still retaining reliability and performance. The Arista Network Switch is versatile and is believed to be the best at catering to different configurations in a breeze. But what makes them a major contender among the top network switch brands? And how are they compared to other network switch manufacturers in the same market category?

Key Features of Arista Network Switches

Arista Networks has established itself as a dominant player in the network switch ranking, prioritizing solutions that effectively address the evolving demands of modern data centers and AI applications. Since before, they have distinguished themselves from traditional network switch brands with their approach, with the features below being some of the characteristics that customers have loved them for in years.

High Performance

An Arista PCIE switch card is built to be efficient and high-performing. They are engineered to deliver exceptional performance across a wide range of networking speeds. They are particularly focused on low latency and high throughput. Both are crucial for performance-sensitive applications where delays can significantly impact outcomes.

Modular Designs

The modularity of an Arista Network Switch allows data center switches operators to tailor their switch configurations to meet specific requirements and goals. Being modular means their products are flexible in many possible scenarios. Product lines such as the Arista 7800R3 and Arista 7200 Series are some of the best in this category. You can also check out the Arista 7010T, 7048T, and 7050S for details on other Arista switch models available.

Advanced Features

The Arista Extensible Operating System (EOS) is something unique to an Arista Networks Switch. It is built on a Linux operating system foundation. This means you are operating in an already powerful environment for developing and deploying network applications. Moreover, the automation features in EOS streamline network operations and make management easy by allowing network administrators to manage and monitor network health and performance through programmable interfaces on Arista EOS switches.

Rich Layer 2 and Layer 3 Features

Arista routers and switches come equipped with extensive functionalities that afford their customers routing capabilities and efficient data traffic management. Layer 2 features include VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) support that helps greatly in segmenting network traffic. Layer 3 features, on the other hand, focus on routing capabilities that enable devices to communicate across different networks. The combination of both functionalities allows Arista Networks Switches to manage complex networks more effectively than most.

Multi-Generational Compatibility

Arista ethernet switches and the brand’s other product offerings are said to be some of the best in the industry when it comes to supporting various generations of technology. This means older systems are not rendered immediately obsolete upon upgrading. You will find no need to uproot and replace what you already have built upon.

Investment Protection

Arista's solutions provide a foundation that allows for investment protection by supporting multiple generations of networking technologies. This means customers can upgrade their hardware without needing to replace entire infrastructure systems

Support for Multiple NIC Generations

Arista access switches enable coexistence of existing and future upgrades across various speeds. Their PCIE switch is able to handle the latest higher specifications like PCIe Gen4 while ensuring backward compatibility with your older systems. They have also positioned themselves to be compatible with the upcoming Gen5/6. This makes them a worthwhile investment for future use.

Seamless Transition

Arista’s vision allows for seamless upgrades. Users can easily transition to higher speeds (such as 400G switches and 800G switches) compatible with earlier generations. This also means lower associated costs because overhauls become unnecessary to proceed with your upgrades.

Key Competitors of Arista Networks

The top network switch companies are rapidly evolving with competitors continuously expanding their product offerings and services. The competitive landscape is anticipated to shift as cloud computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) further influence networking requirements and innovation. While Arista Networks Data Center Switches are a prominent player in multi-generational compatibility, several competitors also provide similar capabilities:

Cisco Systems: Cisco’s Catalyst series supports multiple generations of hardware, allowing organizations to maintain their investments while transitioning to new technologies.
Juniper Networks: The EX and QFX series switches support multi-generational compatibility, ensuring legacy systems can work efficiently with current architectures.
Dell Technologies: Dell’s networking solutions allow the addition of new arrays alongside older models, enabling seamless scaling and software upgrades.
VMware: With NSX, VMware supports multi-generational compatibility through its virtualization technology.
Huawei: Huawei’s networking solutions allow coexistence of newer and older standards, making gradual upgrades feasible.

On Arista’s Approach

One of the significant advantages of Arista Network Switches is its comprehensive backward compatibility across four generations of technology. This makes an Arista Network Switch attractive for enterprises facing rapid technological changes yet could use the extra hand while transitioning to their newer technologies. However, no solution is without its limitations. The competitive landscape Arista thrives on includes companies that also excel in multi-generational compatibility. There’s likewise the fact that customer preferences often depend on specific use cases, pricing structures, and existing infrastructure.

Our Final Notes

Arista Networks Switches are a strong contender in the top 10 network switches market, widely acknowledged for their focus on investment protection and seamless upgrades across network generations. However, its competitors also offer robust solutions in this area. The question of being the "best" is subjective and may depend on individual organizational needs, existing infrastructure, and market conditions. As technology evolves, even the best solutions may face additional challenges associated with newer network demands requiring innovative architectural strategies beyond traditional network switch manufacturers.

P.S.

UNIXSurplus backs this healthy competition between all network switch brands, believing that such rivalry provides more options to consumers tailored to their specific needs. If you are in search of a reliable supplier to harness the full potential of Arista Network Switches, or if you need support with other popular network switches, Contact Us today!