DCS-7280QR-C36-R Arista 24x 40GB QSFP+ 12x 100GB QSFP28 B-F Airflow Switch

Arista 24x 40GB QSFP+ 12x 100GB Switch

The Arista DCS-7280QR-C36-R is a high-performance data center switch engineered for scalability, speed, and reliability. Designed with advanced airflow and redundant components, it ensures optimal efficiency in demanding networking environments.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Arista Networks
• Model Number: DCS-7280QR-C36-R
• Device Type: Enterprise Network Switch

Connectivity Features

Network Ports

• 24x 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+
• 12x 100 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP28 uplinks

Management Interfaces

• 1x RS-232 Serial Console
• 1x Gigabit Ethernet Management Port
• 1x USB Interface

Performance Highlights

Processing and Memory

• Quad-Core x86 CPU
• Up to 32GB DRAM
• 4GB Flash Storage
• 8GB Packet Buffer

Switching Capabilities

• Switching Capacity: 4.32 Tbps
• Forwarding Rate: 1.44 Bpps
• MAC Address Table Size: 768K
• IPv4 and IPv6 Host Routes: 768K
• Latency: 3.8 microseconds
• Supports 4096 VLAN IDs

Cooling and Power Options

Airflow Design

• Back-to-Front Airflow for efficient cooling

Fan Modules

• 4x FAN-7000-R (N+1 redundancy)

Power Supplies

• 2x PWR-745AC-R AC Back-to-Front PSU included
• Optional PSU models: PWR-745AC-F, PWR-500AC-F, PWR-500AC-R, PWR-500-DC-F, PWR-500-DC-R

DCS-7280QR-C36-R 24x 40GB QSFP+ QSFP28 Switch Overview

The Arista DCS-7280QR-C36-R belongs to a specialized category of high-performance, fixed-configuration data center switches engineered for modern spine, leaf, and aggregation layer deployments. This category focuses on delivering extreme port density, predictable low latency, and non-blocking throughput to support large-scale cloud computing, enterprise data centers, service providers, and high-performance computing environments. The combination of 40GbE and 100GbE interfaces positions this switch category as a transitional yet future-ready solution, enabling organizations to scale bandwidth efficiently while maintaining compatibility with existing network infrastructures.

This category emphasizes architectural efficiency by integrating multiple high-speed interfaces into a compact form factor. The DCS-7280QR-C36-R, with its mix of 24x 40GB QSFP+ and 12x 100GB QSFP28 ports, exemplifies how modern data center switches bridge legacy 40GbE deployments and next-generation 100GbE networks. Such switches are designed to support east-west traffic patterns, virtualization-heavy workloads, containerized applications, and distributed storage systems that require consistent throughput and minimal packet loss.

Port Configuration and Interface Versatility

Switches in this category are defined by their flexible port configurations, allowing network architects to adapt connectivity based on application requirements. The 24 QSFP+ ports operating at 40GbE provide robust support for established server and leaf-spine architectures, while the 12 QSFP28 ports deliver high-capacity 100GbE uplinks or downlinks for aggregation and core connectivity. This dual-speed capability enables seamless integration across multiple network tiers without requiring additional hardware platforms.

The category supports port breakout capabilities, allowing a single high-speed port to be subdivided into multiple lower-speed connections where appropriate. This flexibility maximizes port utilization and supports gradual migration strategies from 10GbE and 25GbE to higher-speed interfaces. As a result, data center operators can optimize capital expenditure while maintaining performance headroom for future growth.

QSFP+ and QSFP28 Ecosystem Compatibility

Category-level compatibility with a broad ecosystem of QSFP+ and QSFP28 transceivers and direct attach cables is a defining attribute. These switches are designed to support a wide range of optical and copper media, enabling short-reach, long-reach, and inter-building connectivity. This adaptability allows deployments across diverse physical environments, from dense data halls to geographically distributed facilities.

The ability to interoperate with various transceiver types also supports redundancy and resilience strategies. Network designers can select media types that best align with latency, distance, and cost considerations, ensuring that the switching layer remains both performant and economical.

Performance, Throughput, and Low-Latency Design

This category of data center switches is engineered for line-rate performance across all ports, ensuring non-blocking throughput even under peak load conditions. The Arista DCS-7280QR-C36-R exemplifies this approach by delivering consistent packet forwarding with deterministic latency, a critical requirement for latency-sensitive applications such as financial trading, real-time analytics, and distributed databases.

Low-latency switching is achieved through advanced ASIC design, deep packet buffers, and optimized forwarding pipelines. These characteristics reduce congestion and microbursts, which are common in highly virtualized environments. As part of this category, such switches are suitable for both lossless and lossy Ethernet designs, supporting technologies like RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) and storage traffic over Ethernet.

Scalability for Cloud and Enterprise Workloads

The category is built to scale horizontally and vertically, supporting large-scale leaf-spine topologies with predictable performance. High radix designs reduce the number of network hops, improving application response times and simplifying network architecture. This scalability is essential for cloud service providers and large enterprises that must accommodate rapid workload growth and dynamic traffic patterns.

By supporting high port density within a single chassis, these switches reduce rack space consumption and power overhead per gigabit. This efficiency aligns with modern data center design principles focused on maximizing performance per rack unit.

Airflow Design and Thermal Optimization

The B-F airflow configuration, meaning back-to-front airflow, is a critical category feature for compatibility with hot-aisle and cold-aisle containment strategies. This airflow direction ensures efficient heat dissipation when deployed in data centers with standardized cooling layouts. Proper airflow alignment reduces thermal hotspots, improves component longevity, and contributes to overall energy efficiency.

Switches in this category are designed with redundant, hot-swappable fans and power supplies, enabling maintenance without service interruption. Thermal sensors and intelligent fan control systems dynamically adjust cooling based on real-time conditions, balancing noise levels, power consumption, and thermal performance.

Data Center Environmental Compatibility

This category is optimized for high-density racks where thermal management is critical. The airflow design supports consistent operating temperatures even under sustained high traffic loads. This reliability is essential for mission-critical environments where downtime or performance degradation is unacceptable.

Network Operating System and Automation Capabilities

A defining characteristic of this category is support for advanced network operating systems designed for programmability and automation. The Arista EOS platform, commonly associated with this switch category, provides a single binary image across hardware models, simplifying operations and reducing configuration drift. This consistency allows network teams to deploy, manage, and scale networks more efficiently.

Automation and programmability are core to this category, enabling integration with orchestration frameworks, configuration management tools, and telemetry systems. Support for APIs, scripting, and model-driven management allows organizations to implement DevOps practices within the network layer, improving agility and reducing human error.

Telemetry and Visibility

Enhanced visibility into network performance is a key category advantage. Real-time telemetry, streaming analytics, and detailed monitoring capabilities provide deep insight into traffic patterns, congestion points, and application behavior. This visibility supports proactive troubleshooting and capacity planning, ensuring optimal network utilization.

Virtualization and Containerized Environments

Modern virtualization and container platforms generate significant east-west traffic within the data center. This category is optimized to handle such traffic patterns efficiently, ensuring consistent application performance. Support for overlay networks, VXLAN, and advanced routing protocols enables seamless integration with software-defined networking architectures..

Security and Segmentation Capabilities

Security is an integral aspect of this category, with support for robust access control, segmentation, and monitoring features. Advanced ACLs, MACsec support, and secure management interfaces protect data in motion and control plane integrity. Network segmentation capabilities enable multi-tenant environments and compliance with regulatory requirements.

By integrating security at the switching layer, this category reduces reliance on external appliances and simplifies overall network design. This approach aligns with zero-trust and defense-in-depth strategies increasingly adopted across industries.

Integration with Modern Network Architectures

The Arista DCS-7280QR-C36-R category aligns with modern network design philosophies, including leaf-spine architectures, IP fabric designs, and software-defined networking. Its high port density and performance characteristics make it a foundational component for scalable, resilient, and automated data center networks.