Huawei is putting its latest data center switch - the CloudEngine 12800 - to the test at the Interop event which starts in Las Vegas today.

Not only is it hoping it can spark interest in the next-generation technology designed for the Cloud and the convergence of storage, servers and networking in the data center, it is putting its money where its mouth is, using the technology for the event's own campus network.

Interop works with a large number of technology vendors, many which are exhibiting and sponsoring the event, to power the InteropNet, a high-speed network which fuels communications for sponsors, delegates and other participants at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and conference center.

Organizers say the network offers a hands-on demonstration of a multi-vendor, converged network. Engineers conduct tours of the network to highlight how such a large temporary set up can be installed, and the work that goes into keeping it running (FOCUS will have more on other participants throughout the show).

Huawei Enterprise Business Group CEO William Xu said by not only displaying its new technology but putting it in a real-world network environment, Huawei gets to show the CloudEngine's capabilities to a massive audience, representing companies from around the world.

The new CloudEngine 12800 series core switches have a capacity of 48Tbps - a rate Huawei said is three times faster than the industry average. It has a bandwidth of 2Tbps per slot and like the CloudEngine 5800/6800 top-of-rack switches, it can support high density  connectivity for 100GbE, 40GbE, 10GbE and network virtualization and converged infrastructure for compute, storage and network.

"The CloudEngine series can support evolution of four generations of servers over a 10- year span, helping customers build a sustainable center network infrastructure with long-term stability," Huawei said.

Huawei said it is one of two core network providers building the campus network for the event. It said the project required security features and real-time monitoring to ensure that Interop's 350 exhibitors and 15,000 attendees stay connected at all times.

DatacenterDynamics FOCUS will be providing more coverage from the Interop event. Stay tuned onTwitter and sign up to our newsletter to see more.