DCS-7280CR2M-30-Arista F 7280R2 30-Ports 100GBASE-X QSFP28 Layer 3 Network Switch

Product Overview of the Arista Managed Network Switch

The Arista DCS-7280CR2M-30-F is a high-performance, rack-mountable managed Ethernet switch designed for modern data centers and enterprise networking environments. This refurbished model delivers enterprise-grade reliability, ultra-fast data transmission, and scalable architecture for cloud networking, virtualization, and large-scale infrastructures.

Built with front-to-back airflow for optimized cooling efficiency, this 30-port 100GbE switch ensures seamless integration into high-density server racks. It runs on Arista EOS (Extensible Operating System), providing advanced automation, network visibility, and secure management capabilities.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Arista
• Manufacturer Part Number: DCS-7280CR2M-30-F
• Device Type: 30-Port Switch

Technical Specifications

Network Ports and Connectivity

• 30 x 100GbE QSFP28 ports
• Compatible speeds: 100G / 50G / 40G / 25G / 10G
• 1 x 1GbE dedicated management port
• 1 x RS-232 RJ45 console port
• 2 x USB ports
• 30 x 100 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP28 ports
• Supports 100G, 50G, 40G, 25G, and 10G speeds
• 6 Tbps switching capacity
• 2.51 billion packets per second forwarding rate
• Up to 32GB DRAM and 4GB Flash memory
• Front-to-back airflow cooling design
• Dual 1600W AC redundant power supplies included
• Advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 routing features
• Enterprise-grade x86 high-performance CPU

Performance and Switching Capacity

• Switching Capacity: 6 Terabits per second
• Forwarding Rate: 2.51 Billion packets per second (Bpps)
• Latency: Starting from 3.8 microseconds
• Packet Buffer: 12GB

The ultra-low latency and high packet throughput make this switch ideal for data-intensive workloads, virtualization platforms, and financial trading networks.

Memory and Processing Power

• Up to 32GB DRAM
• 4GB Flash storage
• High-performance x86 CPU

With powerful hardware resources, the switch efficiently handles complex routing tables, automation tasks, and large-scale deployments.

Routing and Layer 3 Capabilities

• MAC Address Table: 768,000 entries
• Maximum IPv4 LPM Routes: 1.3 Million
• Maximum IPv6 LPM Routes: 1 Million
• Maximum IPv4 Host Routes: 768,000
• Multicast Routes: Up to 768,000
• VLAN Support: 4096 VLANs

This makes the device suitable for complex network architectures, including service provider networks and enterprise core layers.

Cooling and Airflow

• Front-to-back airflow configuration
• 5 x FAN-7001D-F fan modules included (red handles)
• Optimized for hot aisle / cold aisle data center design

The front-to-back cooling system ensures consistent airflow, preventing overheating in high-density rack deployments.

Power Supply

• 2 x PWR-1600AC-F 1600W AC power supplies included
• Redundant and hot-swappable design
• Optional DC alternative: PWR-1611-DC-RED
• Note: This model does not support back-to-front airflow

Redundant power supplies enhance uptime and reliability for mission-critical networking environments.

Operating System and Software

Arista EOS (Extensible Operating System)

• Switch Version: ARISTA EOS (Group 3)
• Minimum EOS Version: 4.20.3
• Algomatch-2 architecture

Arista EOS provides advanced automation, programmability, and network telemetry. It supports API-driven configuration, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), and real-time monitoring for modern software-defined data centers.

Compatibility

Transceivers and Cables

• QSFP28 100G SR4, LR4, and ER4 optical modules
• QSFP+ 40G transceivers
• SFP28 25G transceivers (via breakout cables)
• Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables
• Active Optical Cables (AOC)

The QSFP28 ports support breakout configurations, allowing connection to multiple 25G or 10G devices using compatible breakout cables.

Server and Network Device

• Compatible with enterprise servers supporting 10G / 25G / 40G / 50G / 100G NICs
• Works with virtualization platforms such as VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM
• Supports integration with spine-leaf network architectures
• Compatible with data center rack infrastructure

The DCS-7280CR2M-30-F Arista 7280R2 30-Ports Switch

The DCS-7280CR2M-30-F Arista 7280R2 30-Ports 100GBASE-X QSFP28 Layer 3 Network Switch is purpose-built for modern data center spine, leaf, and high-density aggregation environments that demand ultra-low latency, massive throughput, and advanced Layer 3 capabilities. As part of the Arista 7280R2 Series, this high-performance switch delivers exceptional routing scale, deep packet buffering, and cloud-grade resilience for enterprises, service providers, hyperscale data centers, and large campus cores.

Designed to handle today’s most demanding network workloads—including cloud computing, virtualization, big data analytics, storage networking, and high-frequency trading—the DCS-7280CR2M-30-F provides a powerful combination of hardware innovation and software intelligence. With 30 x 100GBASE-X QSFP28 ports, it offers flexible 100GbE connectivity and high port density in a compact form factor suitable for rack-level deployments.

High-Performance Architecture for Modern Data Centers

Advanced Switching and Routing Capabilities

The DCS-7280CR2M-30-F is engineered with a high-capacity switching fabric capable of delivering multi-terabit throughput. This enables line-rate performance across all 100GbE ports without bottlenecks. The architecture is optimized for Layer 2 and Layer 3 forwarding, making it ideal for spine-and-leaf topologies where consistent, predictable latency is critical.

With hardware-based routing and switching, the platform supports large routing tables, advanced routing protocols, and high-scale equal-cost multipath (ECMP). This ensures efficient traffic distribution across multiple paths, improving redundancy and load balancing in highly meshed data center fabrics.

Deep Buffering for Burst Traffic

Modern applications generate unpredictable traffic bursts. The DCS-7280CR2M-30-F includes deep packet buffers designed to absorb microbursts and prevent packet loss. This feature is especially valuable in environments with high east-west traffic, distributed storage systems, and virtualized workloads.

Deep buffering ensures smooth traffic handling even during peak loads, reducing dropped packets and improving application performance. For financial services, media streaming, and high-performance computing, this level of buffering enhances reliability and consistency.

Low-Latency

Ultra-low latency is critical for real-time applications and high-speed trading platforms. The DCS-7280CR2M-30-F is optimized to provide predictable, low-latency packet forwarding across all ports. This design supports applications that require minimal jitter and consistent response times.

30 x 100GBASE-X QSFP28 Ports for High-Density Connectivity

Flexible 100GbE Deployment

Equipped with 30 QSFP28 ports supporting 100GBASE-X, the switch enables flexible deployment options. Each QSFP28 port can operate at 100GbE and, depending on configuration, can also support breakout modes such as 4x25GbE, allowing network architects to scale connectivity efficiently.

Breakout Support for Increased Port Density

Using breakout cables, a single 100GbE QSFP28 port can be split into multiple lower-speed connections. This provides the ability to connect servers, storage arrays, and other switches at 25GbE without requiring additional hardware.

Equal-Cost Multipath (ECMP)

ECMP is essential in modern data center networks. The switch supports high-scale ECMP, enabling traffic to be distributed evenly across multiple equal-cost paths. This increases bandwidth utilization and enhances redundancy.

VXLAN and Network Virtualization

Virtualized environments require overlay networking solutions. The DCS-7280CR2M-30-F supports VXLAN for scalable Layer 2 extension over Layer 3 networks. This allows tenants and workloads to move across data center fabrics without reconfiguring IP addresses.

Arista EOS Software and Programmability

Extensible Operating System (EOS)

The DCS-7280CR2M-30-F runs on Arista’s Extensible Operating System (EOS), a highly programmable and resilient network operating system. EOS is built on a Linux foundation and features a state-sharing architecture that separates state information from protocol processing.

This design improves fault isolation and ensures that individual process failures do not impact the entire system.

CloudVision Integration

The switch integrates seamlessly with centralized management platforms for network-wide visibility and control. This enables real-time telemetry, configuration consistency, and automated compliance checks.

Data Center Use Cases

Hyperscale Data Centers

Hyperscale operators require scalable, high-density switching with predictable performance. The DCS-7280CR2M-30-F supports massive routing tables and deep buffers, making it suitable for large-scale deployments.

Enterprise Core and Aggregation

Enterprises deploying private clouds and large campus networks benefit from the switch’s advanced routing, 100GbE uplinks, and high reliability. It can function as a core switch, aggregation layer device, or data center interconnect (DCI) component.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

HPC environments demand low latency and high throughput. The 100GbE connectivity and deep buffering capabilities ensure efficient handling of parallel workloads and large data transfers.

Storage Networking

With support for high-speed Ethernet, the switch is well-suited for storage backbones, including iSCSI and NVMe over Fabrics deployments. High throughput and low latency are critical for storage performance.

Scalability and Investment Protection

Future-Ready Infrastructure

The DCS-7280CR2M-30-F supports evolving network demands with scalable routing resources and flexible port configurations. Organizations can expand their networks without replacing core infrastructure components.

High Table Scale

The switch supports large MAC address tables, ARP entries, and routing prefixes. This ensures compatibility with growing workloads and expanding IP address spaces in IPv4 and IPv6 environments.

Reliability and High Availability

Redundant Power Supplies

To ensure continuous operation, the switch supports redundant, hot-swappable power supplies. This minimizes downtime during maintenance or hardware failures.

Hot-Swappable Fans

Field-replaceable fan modules enable easy servicing without interrupting network operations. Efficient cooling ensures stable performance even in high-density racks.

Non-Stop Forwarding (NSF)

Advanced high-availability features ensure that traffic continues to flow even during control-plane events. Non-stop forwarding helps maintain session stability and application uptime.

Security and Network

Comprehensive ACL support allows administrators to define granular traffic filtering policies. This enhances security by controlling traffic flows between segments.

MACsec Support

For secure data center interconnects, hardware-based encryption capabilities protect data in transit across high-speed links.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

RBAC ensures that administrators have appropriate access privileges, reducing the risk of unauthorized configuration changes.

Energy Efficiency and Thermal Management

Efficient Power Consumption

The DCS-7280CR2M-30-F is designed to balance performance with energy efficiency. Advanced silicon design reduces power draw per gigabit, lowering operational costs.

Front-to-Rear Airflow (F Variant)

The “F” model designation indicates front-to-rear airflow, aligning with standard hot-aisle/cold-aisle data center designs. This ensures optimal cooling and airflow management within racks.

Deployment Flexibility

Data Center Interconnect (DCI)

The high port density and 100GbE capability make the switch suitable for interconnecting multiple data centers. It supports high-speed links over fiber for metro and regional connectivity.

Private and Hybrid Cloud

Organizations building private or hybrid cloud environments benefit from the switch’s virtualization support and high scalability. It integrates seamlessly with cloud orchestration platforms.

Migration from 40GbE to 100GbE

Enterprises upgrading legacy 40GbE networks can transition smoothly to 100GbE using QSFP28 ports. Breakout options allow phased upgrades without disrupting existing services.

Big Data and Analytics

Large-scale analytics platforms require high-speed data movement between compute nodes and storage clusters. The DCS-7280CR2M-30-F provides the throughput necessary to handle massive data sets efficiently.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

VDI environments generate significant east-west traffic. High-density 100GbE ports and deep buffering ensure smooth user experiences even during peak demand.

Content Delivery and Media Streaming

Media workloads demand low latency and consistent bandwidth. The switch’s architecture ensures uninterrupted streaming and rapid content distribution.

Operational Simplicity and Management

Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

ZTP enables automated device deployment without manual intervention. This reduces setup time and human error during large-scale rollouts.

Enterprise-Grade Reliability

Built with redundant components and resilient software architecture, the switch supports mission-critical applications with minimal downtime.

Scalable Layer 3 Intelligence

Advanced routing capabilities, high table scale, and support for modern overlays make this switch ideal for future-ready networks.