Cisco today unveiled a new network architecture to power the campus, branch, and industrial networks of the future. The new architecture delivers unmatched operational simplicity through unified management, next-generation networking devices purpose-built for AI workloads, and advanced security capabilities embedded into the network.

Cisco is setting a new standard for how organizations navigate the challenges of skyrocketing traffic, rising cyber threats, and critical uptime requirements created as enterprises rush to harness the potential of AI in the workplace. According to the Cisco IT Networking Leader Survey, 97% of businesses believe they need to upgrade their networks to make AI and IoT initiatives successful, and the stakes are high: a single severe outage can inflict nearly $160 billion in losses globally. Faced with these challenges, IT teams need a new approach to scale operations, reduce downtime, and unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise today announced expansions of its HPE Aruba Networking wired and wireless portfolio, along with new HPE Aruba Networking CX 10K distributed services switches, which feature built-in programmable data processing units (DPU) from AMD Pensando to offload security and network services to free up resources for complex AI workload processing.

The new expansions from HPE Aruba Networking include:

• The HPE Aruba Networking CX 10040 is HPE's latest distributed services switch -- also known as a "smart switch" -- that doubles the scale and performance of the previous networking and security solution.
• Four new HPE Aruba Networking CX 6300M campus networking switches, which provide faster data speeds for enterprise IoT, AI, or high-performance computing with a more compact footprint.
• New Wi-Fi 7 access points (APs) and capabilities for AI-driven indoor and outdoor connectivity that deliver the highest quality of service for data, voice, and video communications.

Thanks in part to our readers' comments on the back of the new Realtek 10 Gbps Ethernet solutions, we discovered a company that produces what appears to be the only 5 Gbps Ethernet switches in the entire world and it just so happens that they are attending Computex this week. The company goes under the name of Cirinet or Sirivision in China, but after our chat with them at the show, it appears that Apple has taken an issue with the company name, although it might not matter, since the company is largely an ODM/OEM. The company offers two 5 Gbps switches, both are eight port switches and are built around Realtek hardware.

The product on display at Computex is called the SR-S5G3008 and it's an 8-port managed switch, with the unmanaged model being the SRS5G1008. The SR-S5G3008 is a fully managed L3 switch and rather unusually, the company even claims to offers up its firmware for the switch under GPL terms, so at least in theory, it would be possible to download the source code and compile your own version of it. We did also ask about potential retail pricing and the company suggested a price range in the US$150-200 bracket for the unmanaged version. However, with the advent of the new Realtek 10 Gbps PHY, they expect the price difference between a 5 Gbps and a 10 Gbps version, otherwise identical, since the same switching IC would be used, to be less than US$50 in retail. This suggests that 5 Gbps switches might be dead before they've even hit the market, at least if Realtek delivers on their power consumption figures, as both options could be fanless, an advantage these two 5 Gbps switches have over 10 Gbps switches today.

It's been two years since Realtek showed off its 5 Gbps Ethernet chips at Computex and at the time, they hinted at a 10 Gbps chip. This year, the company was showing off a wide range of 10 Gbps Ethernet chips on the show, ranging from a standard consumer solution, to server chips and native USB variants. The base chip is the RTL8127, which offers the full range of speeds from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps, with a sub 2 Watt power consumption. This is followed by the RTL8127AP intended for servers, as it has full remote management support via DASH 1.2 support. Both chips sport a PCIe 4.0 x1 host interface, which for better or worse limits compatibility to more modern systems.

Next up is the fibre only RTL8127ATF, although it doesn't support 10/100 Mbps speeds, but it has a lower power consumption at just over 1 Watt. This is followed by the RTL8127AT, which is limited to the same speeds as the fibre only SKU, but it's a standard copper NIC. What sets these two SKUs apart from the previous two, is that they support PCIe Gen 3 x2 or PCIe Gen 4 x1 and they actually have a physical PCIe x2 interface, which limits compatibility with some motherboards as an add-card. Finally we have the RTL8159, which is Realtek's USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 10 Gbps chip, which again covers the full range of speed from 10 Mbps to 10 Gbps. Realtek had several mockups of customer products on display, but final products might not look exactly like the ones shown.

Astera Labs, Inc., a global leader in semiconductor-based connectivity solutions for AI and cloud infrastructure, today announced its purpose-built PCIe 6 connectivity portfolio is ramping production to fast-track deployments of modern AI platforms at scale. Now featuring gearbox connectivity solutions alongside fabric switches, retimers, and active cable modules, Astera Labs' expanding PCIe 6 portfolio provides a comprehensive connectivity platform to deliver unparalleled performance, utilization, and scalability for next-generation AI and general-compute systems. Along with Astera Labs' demonstrated PCIe 6 connectivity over optical media, the portfolio will provide even greater AI rack-scale distance optionality. The transition to PCIe 6 is fueled by the insatiable demand for higher compute, memory, networking, and storage data throughput, ensuring advanced AI accelerators and GPUs operate at peak efficiency.

Thad Omura, Chief Business Officer, said, "Our PCIe 6 solutions have successfully completed qualification with leading AI and cloud server customers, and we are ramping up to volume production in parallel with their next generation AI platform rollouts. By continuing to expand our industry-leading PCIe connectivity portfolio with additional innovative solutions that includes Scorpio Fabric Switches, Aries Retimers, Gearboxes, Smart Cable Modules, and PCIe over optics technology, we are providing our hyperscaler and data center partners all the necessary tools to accelerate the development and deployment of leading-edge AI platforms."

Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU), a leader in innovative memory and storage solutions, today announced a market segment-based reorganization of its business units to capitalize on the transformative growth driven by AI, from data centers to edge devices.

Micron has maintained multiple generations of industry leadership in DRAM and NAND technology and has the strongest competitive positioning in its history. Micron's industry-leading product portfolio, combined with world-class manufacturing execution enables the development of differentiated solutions for its customers across end markets. As high-performance memory and storage become increasingly vital to drive the growth of AI, this Business Unit reorganization will allow Micron to stay at the forefront of innovation in each market segment through deeper customer engagement to address the dynamic needs of the industry.

QNAP Systems, Inc. today launched the ES1686dc R2, a high-performance 16-bay SAS 12 Gb/s enterprise NAS engineered for mission-critical applications. Featuring dual active-active controllers, it ensures High Availability (HA) and delivers uncompromising performance for demanding workloads. Designed for enterprise file and virtualization storage, the ES1686dc R2 minimizes downtime with redundant controllers and power supplies, enabling seamless component replacement. This ensures continuous operations, reliability, and stability for business-critical environments.

"The ES1686dc R2 delivers outstanding performance and a reliable high-availability storage solution," said Waterball Liu, Product Manager of QNAP, adding: "The QES operating system features an intuitive user-friendly interface with enhanced functionality, enabling customers to effortlessly adopt professional-grade dual-controller enterprise storage when high availability is required. Whether deployed as a mission-critical file server, virtualization server, VDI, or for efficient file backup and recovery, the ES1686dc R2 meets service-level agreements for both performance and uptime."

As industrial systems become more interconnected and data-driven, the need for connectivity solutions that offer superior performance, scalability, and flexibility is growing rapidly. Cervoz, a leading provider of industrial embedded modules, is meeting this demand with an expanding portfolio of innovative, real-world expansion solutions.

Seamless Expansion for Future-Ready Performance
Picture a smart logistics hub handling tens of thousands of packages a day, where Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) operates across vast spaces. In such environments, traditional RJ45 connections may initially suffice—but as operation expand and AMRs navigate distances beyond 100 meters, connectivity becomes prone to signal degradation and industrial interference.

From April 6-9th, UGREEN, a global leader in consumer electronics and charging technology, is showcasing its innovative NASync series at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. The UGREEN NASync iDX6011 and iDX6011 Pro have been the highlights of the display at Booth SL9210 in the Las Vegas Convention Center. These latest UGREEN NASync iDX models revolutionize data management and security for content creators through advanced AI technology, setting a new standard as the world-first AI-powered NAS.

UGREEN NASync is a series of network-attached storage devices tailored for personal, home, or business use. In March 2024, UGREEN launched a 44-day crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter for the NASync DXP series, successfully raising over $6.6 million achieved No.1 in the NAS category. This remarkable support highlights the strong demand for advanced storage solutions.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading computing, networking, and storage solutions innovator, has enhanced its 100GbE Lite-L3 managed switch, QSW-M7308R-4X. The 100GbE QSFP28 ports now has backwards compatibility with 40GbE QSFP+, and supports breakout cables to four 25GbE SFP28 ports. IT staff can also monitor multiple switches centrally via the AMIZcloud management platform, enabling efficient and flexible network deployment and device management, reducing initial investment and operational maintenance costs for enterprises deploying 100GbE networks. Users can enjoy these features by upgrading the QSW-M7308R-4X to the latest QSS Pro v4.1 software version.

"QNAP continues to enhance the advanced software features of our 100GbE switches to meet the high performance and flexibility required for enterprises expanding their 100GbE network infrastructure," said Ronald Hsu, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "The QSW-M7308R-4X is one of the few switches that supports 100GbE backward compatibility at an extremely low cost, along with MC-LAG fault tolerance, half-rackmount design, and cloud management capabilities, making it the most cost-optimized choice for small and medium-sized businesses upgrading to 100GbE."

MSI IPC, a global leader in industrial computing solutions, proudly unveils the MS-CF05, V2.0, a high-performance ATX motherboard engineered for industrial automation, edge computing, and embedded applications. Designed to support 14th, 13th, and 12th Gen Intel Core, Pentium, and Celeron processors, the MS-CF05, V2.0 delivers exceptional computing power, scalability, and I/O flexibility, including a PCI slot for legacy support, making it ideal for modern industrial needs.

QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading innovator in computing, networking, and storage solutions, has unveiled the TS-h1277AFX, a 12-bay tower all-flash NAS designed to meet the rigorous demands of multimedia production and virtualization. Powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 9000 Series processor, the TS-h1277AFX can be upgraded to 25GbE via expansion cards for high-speed data access. Combining exceptional performance and capacity, it serves as a centralized hub for storage, backup, and disaster recovery, making it an ideal choice for dynamic and collaborative work environments.

"All-flash NAS solutions are crucial for media professionals," said Alex Shih, Product Manager of QNAP, adding "the TS-h1277AFX delivers low-latency, multi-user access that optimizes collaboration workflows. It provides an excellent price-to-performance ratio for creative teams, enabling seamless 4K/8K media transfers, real-time editing, and secure file management."

Jio Platforms Limited (JPL), together with AMD, Cisco, and Nokia, announced at Mobile World Congress 2025 plans to form an innovative, new Open Telecom AI Platform. Designed to support today's operators and service providers with real-world, AI-driven solutions, the Telecom AI Platform is set to drive unprecedented efficiency, security, capabilities, and new revenue opportunities for the service provider industry.

End-to-end Network Intelligence
Fueled by the collective expertise of world leaders from across domains including RAN, Routing, AI Data Center, Security and Telecom, the Telecom AI Platform will create a new central intelligence layer for telecom and digital services. This multi-domain intelligence framework will integrate AI and automation into every layer of network operations.

Dell Technologies announces financial results for its fiscal 2025 fourth quarter and full year. The company also provides guidance for its fiscal 2026 first quarter and full year.

Full-Year Summary

• Full-year revenue of $95.6 billion, up 8% year over year
• Full-year operating income of $6.2 billion, up 15% year over year, and non-GAAP operating income of $8.5 billion, up 8%
• Record full-year diluted earnings per share of $6.38, up 39% year over year, and record non-GAAP diluted EPS of $8.14, up 10%
• Cash flow from operations was $4.5 billion
• Announcing a cash dividend increase of 18% and $10 billion increase in share repurchase authorization
• FY26 guidance: Full-year revenue growth of 8%, diluted EPS growth of 23% and non-GAAP diluted EPS growth of 14%

Leading network platform provider AAEON this week announced the release of its FWS-7370, a Rackmount Network Appliance powered by Intel Atom P5300 series CPUs (formerly Snow Ridge). Compatible with the higher end models from the series, the FWS-7370 offers up to 24 cores alongside integrated network and security features like Intel QuickAssist Technology for hardware-accelerated encryption, decryption, and compression of large datasets.

The FWS-7370's standard I/O grants users a total of 12 LAN ports, comprised of four RJ-45 ports for 2.5GbE and four RJ-45 ports for 1GbE—each with one pair LAN bypass, as well as four 10GbE SFP+ ports. AAEON note that the platform's networking capacity can be expanded via NIM slot, which can accommodate either a PoE module for an additional dual 2.5GbE PoE LAN interfaces or extra fiber-based networking ports for extended distances.

Intel today launched two new Ethernet product lines - the Intel Ethernet E830 Controllers and Network Adapters, and the Intel Ethernet E610 Controllers and Network Adapters - designed to meet the growing demands of enterprise, telecommunications, cloud, edge, high performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. These next-generation solutions provide robust, high-performance connectivity while enhancing energy efficiency and security, and lowering total cost of ownership (TCO).

"In today's interconnected world, networking is essential to the success of business and technology transformation. With the launch of the Intel Ethernet E830 and E610 products, we are helping customers meet the growing demand for high-performance, energy-efficient solutions that optimize network infrastructures, lower operational costs and enhance TCO." -Bob Ghaffari, Intel vice president, Network and Edge Group

Axiomtek - a world-renowned leader relentlessly devoted to the research, development, and manufacture of a series of innovative and reliable industrial computer products of high efficiency - is proud to announce the NA346B, a fanless and power-efficient network appliance designed for small office VPN setups and a versatile customer premises equipment (uCPE) solution. With software-defined flexibility, customers can configure the device as a firewall or router, tailoring it to their unique networking needs. Overall, the NA346B delivers reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in a compact form factor, making it an excellent choice for secure connectivity solutions in space-constrained environments.

Key Features and Advantages of the NA346B: Power-Efficient, Space-Saving Secure Connectivity Solutions for Small Business Networks

• Compact Palm-Sized Form Factor - The NA346B combines a sleek, space-saving design with flexible functionality, ideal for small offices and areas with limited space. Its compact, aesthetic appearance enhances the ease of installation in various settings.
• Low-Power Consumption Design for a Sustainable Future - Powered by the Intel Celeron processor N3350, the NA346B combines performance with exceptional energy efficiency. Featuring a dual-core architecture and a TDP of under 6 W, this power-efficient processor is ideal for sustainable operations, reducing energy costs while supporting robust performance.

At CES 2025, NETGEAR announced its new Orbi 870 mesh networking system, positioned between the company's existing 770 and 970 WiFi 7 models. The mid-range system features tri-band connectivity with combined speeds rated at 21 Gbps and coverage up to 9,000 square feet when using three units. In testing environments, the system supports up to 150 simultaneous device connections. Specifications include a 10 Gigabit internet port on the main router and four 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports on both the router and satellite units. The system utilizes WiFi 7's multi-link operation capability, which can combine two frequency bands to potentially reduce latency and improve reliability.

The hardware incorporates NETGEAR's router protection system that can deploy security patches independently of full firmware updates. Standard features include WPA3 encryption, customizable access controls, and separate network options for guest and IoT devices. The Orbi 870 will be sold in multiple configurations: a three-unit package for $1,299.99, a two-unit system for $999.99, and individual satellite units for $549.99. Both black and white color options will be available through NETGEAR's website and major retailers.

Netgear, Inc., a leading provider of innovative, security-driven solutions for people to connect and manage their digital lives, today announced the launch of the Orbi 870 Series Mesh System - the latest addition to its growing portfolio of mesh networking systems delivering the enhanced power of WiFi 7 to homes of all sizes.

Building on nearly 30 years of WiFi innovation expertise, NETGEAR designed the Orbi 870 series to deliver high-performance mesh networking powered by WiFi 7. Created to meet the needs of today's connected homes, the Orbi 870 ensures exceptional speeds, reduced latency and ample capacity for even the most demanding households. Whether streaming ultra-high-definition content, working remotely, or gaming online, families can rely on Orbi 870's advanced WiFi technology to support a smooth experience across up to 150 connected devices. Meanwhile, Advanced Router Protection, only available from NETGEAR, helps ensure router security out of the box with advanced safety features and automatic security updates designed to help protect routers against cyberattacks and other security threats.

Synology at the 2025 International CES showcased updates to its popular consumer network storage products, beginning with one for its popular BeeStorage line of flash-based personal cloud devices. The new BeeStation Plus comes with 8 TB of flash-based storage—double that of the original BeeStation from 2023—and updated system hardware that includes an Intel Celeron J4125 processor with 4 GB of DDR4 memory, USB 3.2 Gen 2 type-A and type-C ports; and an updated software frontend, including the BeeProtect software that makes snapshots and other forms of backups of your machine. The device continues to lack Wi-Fi, and relies on wired Ethernet to connect to the network.

Next up, the company showed off a couple of its entry-level desktop NAS solutions under the DiskStation brand, the DS224+ (2-bay), and the DS423+ (4-bay). Both feature SATA 6 Gbps drive bays, and you can expand storage using any USB mass-storage device that plugs into its 5 Gbps USB 3.2 port. The DS224+ comes with two 1 GbE interfaces. Under the hood are a Celeron J4125 processor backed by 6 GB of DDR4 memory. The DS423+ can hold up to 72 TB of storage, and besides the four SATA 6 Gbps bays, has two M.2-2280 slots with Gen 3 wiring. The NAS can access any of its drives at up to 226 MB/s reads, with up to 224 MB/s writes. Networking interfaces include a pair of 1 GbE. Lastly, the company showcased a series of "direct-to-cloud" WLAN and PoE surveillance cameras under the C2 Camera series.

ASUS and Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced a suite of innovative networking products at CES 2025, pushing the boundaries of Wi-Fi 7 connectivity for gamers, network enthusiasts and home users. In addition, ASUS RT-BE58 Go, a compact mini travels router with versatile connectivity; and ASUS 5G-GO, a sleek 5G mobile router with roaming support in up to 232 countries, both received the prestigious CES 2025 Innovation Award. The latest lineup includes ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI, the world's first AI-powered gaming router with a built-in NPU; and the ZenWiFi outdoor series, a robust outdoor Wi-Fi 7 mesh solution. All of these solutions are designed to deliver unparalleled performance, security, and flexibility.

TP-Link Systems Inc., a global leader in networking and smart home solutions, today announced at CES 2025 its latest Wi-Fi 7 collection with solutions for every connectivity need. This expanded lineup provides seamless coverage for both whole-home and outdoor spaces with advanced mesh Wi-Fi and supports blazing-fast speeds on the go with a new travel router.

"TP-Link is once again delivering on our 'Wi-Fi 7 for Everyone' mission," said Jeff Barney, President, TP-Link Systems Inc. "Whether you need to blanket your home with seamless Deco Wi-Fi, extend coverage to your backyard, or stay connected on the go, we have a solution that fits your life."

Popular router manufacturer TP-Link is being investigated by US authorities over an alleged connection to cyberattacks emanating from the PRC. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Commerce, Justice and Defense departments are all investigating the company and the Commerce Department has gone as far as issuing a subpoena to TP-Link. The WSJ states that TP-Link holds close to a 65 percent market share in the US consumer router market, which puts the company in a unique market position.

The end results of the investigations, assuming either US authority finds any wrongdoings, could lead to TP-Link being banned from selling its routers in the US. A spokeswoman for TP-Link in the US issued the following statement to the WSJ "We welcome any opportunities to engage with the U.S. government to demonstrate that our security practices are fully in line with industry security standards, and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the U.S. market, U.S. consumers, and addressing U.S. national security risks".

Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRVL), a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, today announced that it has pioneered a new custom HBM compute architecture that enables XPUs to achieve greater compute and memory density. The new technology is available to all of its custom silicon customers to improve the performance, efficiency and TCO of their custom XPUs. Marvell is collaborating with its cloud customers and leading HBM manufacturers, Micron, Samsung Electronics, and SK hynix to define and develop custom HBM solutions for next-generation XPUs.

HBM is a critical component integrated within the XPU using advanced 2.5D packaging technology and high-speed industry-standard interfaces. However, the scaling of XPUs is limited by the current standard interface-based architecture. The new Marvell custom HBM compute architecture introduces tailored interfaces to optimize performance, power, die size, and cost for specific XPU designs. This approach considers the compute silicon, HBM stacks, and packaging. By customizing the HBM memory subsystem, including the stack itself, Marvell is advancing customization in cloud data center infrastructure. Marvell is collaborating with major HBM makers to implement this new architecture and meet cloud data center operators' needs.

AAEON's UP brand, most known for its pioneering developer board portfolio, has released the UP Xtreme i14 Edge, a Mini PC equipped with Intel Core Ultra processing, Intel Arc graphics, and 64 GB of LPDDR5 system memory. The PC is primarily geared towards applications requiring high performance computer vision, such as smart traffic monitoring and AI-assisted commercial security systems, but given the serial communication options available on the PC, the UP Xtreme i14 Edge would be just as suitable for the remote monitoring and control of industrial setups.

Outside the integrated CPU, GPU, and NPU of its Intel Core Ultra SoC, a key standout feature of the UP Xtreme i14 Edge is the fact it offers double the system memory of its predecessor, at 64 GB, as well as substantial upgrades to available display outputs. The UP Xtreme i14 Edge offers two HDMI 2.1 ports with Fixed Rate Link (FRL) technology for high bandwidth and improved display output quality. In addition to this, the system also contains one DP 1.2 port and a DP 1.4 interface via its USB Type-C port, giving users simultaneous 4K displays at 144 Hz.