Case Study: Arizona State University achieves 400 Gb campus network to power cutting-edge research with Arista Networks

Arizona State University - Customer Case Study

Arizona State University, in partnership with Arista Networks, faced a critical infrastructure challenge: research at Biodesign Institute Building C—home to the CXFEL X‑ray laser, genomic sequencing and other data‑intensive labs—was generating terabytes of data that exceeded the capacity of the campus network (typical speeds of 10–100 Gb). ASU launched a multi‑year network transformation to deliver ultra‑high bandwidth and reliable connectivity across hundreds of buildings.

Arista’s solution upgraded Biodesign C to 400 Gb and kicked off campus‑wide deployments—covering over 450 buildings with 4,500 switches, 15,000 wireless access points and miles of new fiber and power—enabling real‑time transfer and analysis of massive datasets, lowering time and cost for researchers, and supporting critical efforts like CXFEL experiments and COVID‑19 sequencing. The partnership also included training, donated lab equipment and certification programs to strengthen student workforce readiness.

Arizona State University

Kevin Tinnin

Senior Systems Architect in the Research Technology Officer