DCS-7280QR-C72-F Arista 56x 40GB QSFP+ 16x 100GB QSFP Front-to-Back Air Switch

Arista 56x 40GB QSFP+ 16x 100GB Switch 

The Arista DCS-7280QR-C72-F is a powerful enterprise-grade switch engineered for high-speed connectivity, optimized airflow, and reliable performance in demanding data center environments.

General Information

• Brand: Arista
• Model: DCS-7280QR-C72-F
• Category: Advanced Network Switch

Technical Specifications

Port Configuration

• 72x QSFP ports
• 56x 40G QSFP+ interfaces
• 16x 100G QSFP100 interfaces

Management Interfaces

• 1x USB port
• 1x Gigabit Ethernet management port
• 1x RS232 RJ45 management port

Performance Metrics

• Switching Throughput: 6.4 Tbps
• Forwarding Speed: 2.88 Bpps
• Packet Buffer: 16GB
• MAC Address Table: 768,000 entries
• Latency: as low as 3.8 microseconds

System Architecture

Processing Unit

• Multi-Core x86 CPU

Memory and Storage

• 8GB DRAM (expandable to 16GB)
• 4GB Flash storage

Cooling and Power

Airflow Design

• Front-to-Back cooling airflow

Fan Modules

• 4x FAN-7000H-F modules included

Power Supply Units

• 2x PWR-1900AC-F power supplies included

Advanced Capabilities

VLAN Support

• Supports up to 4096 VLAN IDs

DCS-7280QR-C72-F 56x 40GB QSFP+ 16x QSFP Switch Overview

The Arista DCS-7280QR-C72-F 56x 40GB QSFP+ 16x 100GB QSFP Front-to-Back Air Switch represents a high-performance, low-latency data center switching platform engineered to meet the evolving demands of modern enterprise, cloud, and high-performance computing environments. Built within the renowned 7280R Series portfolio, this model is optimized for leaf and spine deployments, offering exceptional scalability, deep buffering, and advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities. With 56 QSFP+ 40GbE ports and 16 QSFP 100GbE ports, the DCS-7280QR-C72-F delivers flexible connectivity options suitable for high-density aggregation and core data center architectures.

Front-to-Back Airflow Design for Data Center Efficiency

The front-to-back airflow configuration ensures optimized thermal management in hot aisle/cold aisle deployments. Designed for efficient cooling in structured data center environments, the switch supports consistent airflow from the port side to the power supply side, maintaining performance stability under heavy traffic loads. This airflow orientation is particularly advantageous for large-scale facilities that prioritize energy efficiency and controlled cooling pathways, reducing operational overhead and minimizing the risk of thermal throttling.

High-Density 40GbE and 100GbE Port Configuration

The 56 x 40GbE QSFP+ ports provide substantial bandwidth for server aggregation and leaf-to-spine connectivity. Each QSFP+ interface supports breakout configurations, enabling flexible deployment strategies that adapt to evolving infrastructure requirements. The additional 16 x 100GbE QSFP ports deliver high-throughput uplink capacity, enabling seamless integration into spine layers or core routing environments. This combination ensures the DCS-7280QR-C72-F can handle both east-west traffic patterns typical of virtualization and north-south traffic common in edge and gateway roles.

Architecture and Performance Capabilities

Engineered for high-performance switching, the DCS-7280QR-C72-F leverages a robust switching architecture that supports line-rate performance across all ports. The platform is purpose-built to handle demanding workloads such as large-scale virtualization, cloud-native applications, distributed storage systems, and big data analytics clusters. Deep packet buffers and advanced congestion management features make it especially suitable for bursty traffic environments and latency-sensitive applications.

Ultra-Low Latency Switching

Low latency is a defining characteristic of the Arista 7280R Series. The DCS-7280QR-C72-F offers predictable and deterministic forwarding behavior, which is critical for financial trading platforms, high-frequency transaction systems, and real-time analytics environments. By minimizing forwarding delay, it ensures that application performance remains consistent even during peak utilization.

Scalable Routing and Layer 3 Features

The switch supports extensive Layer 3 routing capabilities, including full routing tables and advanced policy-based routing features. It is capable of handling large-scale route tables and supports dynamic routing protocols such as BGP, OSPF, and IS-IS. This enables seamless deployment in spine layers or core data center routing roles, where route scalability and high availability are essential.

Deep Buffer Architecture

One of the key differentiators of the DCS-7280QR-C72-F is its deep buffer architecture. Deep buffers help prevent packet loss during microbursts and traffic congestion scenarios. In high-performance computing clusters or storage networks where consistent throughput is vital, this capability significantly enhances reliability and maintains data integrity across workloads.

Cloud-Scale Networking and Virtualization Support

The Arista DCS-7280QR-C72-F is designed to meet the needs of hyperscale data centers and private cloud deployments. It integrates seamlessly into software-defined networking frameworks and supports virtualization overlays, enabling flexible and automated network provisioning. VXLAN, EVPN, and other overlay technologies allow organizations to extend Layer 2 domains across distributed data center fabrics while maintaining segmentation and security.

Integration with Arista EOS

Powered by Arista’s Extensible Operating System (EOS), the switch benefits from a modular and resilient software architecture. EOS is built on a Linux foundation and features a state-sharing architecture that ensures system stability and fault isolation. This design allows individual processes to restart independently without affecting overall system functionality, resulting in improved uptime and maintainability.

Automation and Programmability

Modern data centers rely heavily on automation for scalability and operational efficiency. The DCS-7280QR-C72-F supports open APIs and programmable interfaces, including RESTful APIs and support for automation frameworks such as Ansible and Puppet. This facilitates streamlined configuration management, rapid deployment, and integration into DevOps workflows. Automation capabilities reduce manual intervention and help maintain configuration consistency across large deployments.

Leaf-Spine Data Center Architecture

In a leaf-spine architecture, the DCS-7280QR-C72-F can operate as a high-capacity leaf switch connecting to multiple spine switches using its 100GbE uplinks. The 40GbE ports connect directly to servers or top-of-rack aggregation layers. This structure ensures predictable latency and high bandwidth across the entire data center fabric, supporting east-west traffic flows common in virtualized and containerized workloads.

High-Performance Computing Clusters

High-performance computing environments require low latency, high throughput, and minimal packet loss. The DCS-7280QR-C72-F meets these requirements with its deep buffers and high port density. HPC clusters benefit from the deterministic performance and scalable architecture that supports intensive parallel processing and data exchange between compute nodes.

Large-Scale Storage Networks

Storage area networks and distributed storage platforms generate bursty traffic patterns that demand reliable buffering and consistent throughput. The DCS-7280QR-C72-F accommodates these needs with its high-speed QSFP+ and QSFP interfaces, enabling seamless integration with modern storage solutions and ensuring uninterrupted data replication and backup operations.

Segmentation and Multi-Tenancy

Support for VLANs, VXLAN overlays, and virtual routing instances allows secure segmentation of network traffic. Multi-tenancy capabilities are essential for service providers and enterprises operating private clouds, ensuring that workloads remain isolated and protected.

Compatibility with Modern Workloads

Workloads such as artificial intelligence training, machine learning inference, and large-scale data analytics require substantial network bandwidth and low latency. The DCS-7280QR-C72-F is designed to handle these demands efficiently, making it a strong candidate for organizations embracing digital transformation initiatives.

Benefits for Enterprise and Cloud Providers

Enterprises and cloud service providers benefit from the switch’s balance of performance, reliability, and operational simplicity. Its advanced software capabilities, combined with robust hardware architecture, enable streamlined management and high availability.

Operational Simplicity

The intuitive command-line interface and programmatic management tools simplify configuration and maintenance tasks. Consistency across the Arista portfolio ensures seamless integration into existing infrastructures, reducing training requirements and operational complexity.

High Availability and Resilience

Redundant components, resilient software architecture, and support for high-availability protocols ensure uninterrupted service delivery. These features are essential for mission-critical environments where downtime can result in significant financial and operational impacts.