Big Switch Networks
Big Switch Networks is a data center networking company focused on Software Defined Networking (SDN) platforms for enterprise and cloud environments.
- SDN-based data center networking platforms for enterprises and service providers
- Software-defined network fabric solutions for private and hybrid cloud infrastructures
- Network Virtualization (NV) and abstraction across physical switches and virtualized workloads
- Centralized network control and automation for multi-tenant and large-scale environments
- Integration with industry-standard Ethernet switching hardware and cloud orchestration systems
More About Big Switch Networks
Big Switch Networks develops SDN platforms that separate the control plane from the data plane in data center networks, using centralized software controllers to manage distributed physical and virtual switches. Its offerings are used by enterprises, cloud providers, and service providers that operate large-scale, multi-tenant, or cloud-style environments and require programmable network fabrics.
The company focuses on data center network fabrics (data center networking) that use SDN principles to create a logically centralized view of the network. This architecture enables administrators to define intent-based policies, automate provisioning, and enforce network segmentation across both physical and virtual infrastructure. The platforms typically integrate with white box or branded Ethernet switches that support standard protocols such as OpenFlow or similar southbound interfaces, allowing organizations to deploy SDN capabilities on commodity switching hardware.
Big Switch Networks positions its solutions for private cloud, hybrid cloud, and on-premises (on-prem) environments that need integration with virtualization platforms and cloud management systems. The SDN controller layer interacts with orchestration tools and hypervisors to synchronize network configuration with Virtual Machine (VM) or container lifecycle events, supporting workflows such as tenant onboarding, network microsegmentation, and dynamic scaling of application tiers. This approach places the company within the broader categories of data center networking, cloud networking, and network automation.
From a technical perspective, Big Switch Networks emphasizes centralized policy control, monitoring, and troubleshooting. By abstracting network configuration into a controller, operators can apply configuration templates across multiple switches, collect telemetry from the fabric, and gain visibility into traffic flows. The SDN architecture can support use cases such as network overlays, Layer 2/Layer 3 fabric designs, and integration with existing IP networks. The reliance on standards-based switching hardware aligns the offerings with open networking practices, in contrast with tightly coupled proprietary hardware-centric approaches.
In an enterprise IT directory or marketplace, Big Switch Networks aligns with categories such as data center networking, SDN, network automation, and cloud network infrastructure. Its platforms address requirements for scalable network fabrics, centralized control, and integration with cloud and virtualization stacks, targeting technical stakeholders responsible for modernizing data center and cloud connectivity architectures.