DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R Arista 24x 40GB QSFP+ 12x 100GB QSFP100 B-F Air Switch

Arista 24x 40GB QSFP+ Ethernet Switch

The Arista DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R is a high-performance data center switch engineered for scalability, speed, and reliability. It belongs to the 7280R Series, offering advanced networking capabilities for modern enterprises.

General Details

• Brand: Arista
• Model: DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R
• Category: Network Switch

Technical Specifications

Port Configuration

• 24x 40 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP+
• 12x 100 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP100
• Flexible combinations: up to 12x100GE, 36x40GE, 24x50GE, 48x25GE, 120x10GE (breakout cables required)

Management Interfaces

• 2x USB ports
• 1x Gigabit Management port
• 1x RS-232 RJ45 console

Performance Metrics

• Switching Capacity: 3.84 Tbps
• Forwarding Rate: 1.44 Bpps
• Latency: as low as 3.8 microseconds
• MAC Address Table: 768,000 entries

System Resources

Processor and Memory

• Quad-Core x86 CPU
• 8GB DRAM (expandable to 32GB)
• 4GB Flash storage
• Packet Buffer: 8GB

VLAN Support

• Up to 4096 VLAN IDs

Cooling and Power

Airflow and Fans

• Back-to-Front airflow design
• 4x FAN-7000H-R modules (N+1 redundancy)

Power Supply Units

• 2x PWR-747AC-BLUE modules included
• 1+1 redundancy for reliability

DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R 24x 40GB QSFP+ Switch Overview

The Arista DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R belongs to a performance-focused category of high-density fixed-configuration data center switches designed to address modern cloud-scale, enterprise, and service provider network requirements. This category emphasizes deterministic latency, flexible port configurations, and advanced routing capabilities that support large-scale east-west traffic patterns. Positioned within Arista’s 7280R series, this switch category is optimized for environments that demand both Layer 2 and Layer 3 functionality at scale, with consistent performance across all ports under full load conditions.

Switches in this category are engineered to serve as versatile building blocks within spine-and-leaf architectures, collapsed cores, and aggregation layers. The DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R specifically highlights the evolution of high-speed connectivity by combining 40GbE and 100GbE interfaces in a single compact chassis, enabling network architects to design flexible topologies while preserving investment protection. The category reflects Arista’s philosophy of delivering cloud networking principles into hardware that remains adaptable to changing bandwidth and protocol requirements.

Port Configuration and Interface Flexibility

A defining characteristic of this category is its mixed-speed port density, allowing seamless integration of legacy and next-generation network segments. The Arista DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R features twenty-four 40GbE QSFP+ ports alongside twelve 100GbE QSFP100 ports, representing a category that prioritizes transitional flexibility. This approach enables organizations to gradually migrate workloads and uplinks to higher speeds without disruptive infrastructure changes.

The category supports breakout configurations, enabling QSFP interfaces to operate as multiple lower-speed ports where required. This flexibility supports diverse deployment scenarios, including high-density compute clusters, storage backends, and inter-rack connectivity. By consolidating multiple bandwidth tiers into a single platform, switches in this category reduce operational complexity and minimize the need for multiple hardware SKUs within the same network layer.

QSFP+ and QSFP100 Ecosystem Compatibility

Within this category, compatibility with a wide ecosystem of transceivers and direct attach cables is critical. The DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R aligns with industry standards for QSFP+ and QSFP100 modules, supporting both short-reach and long-reach optical connectivity. This ensures that data center operators can deploy the switch across varied physical layouts, from dense single-row racks to geographically dispersed data halls.

The category also emphasizes signal integrity and thermal design to maintain reliability when operating high-speed optics at scale. Consistent performance across all supported media types ensures predictable network behavior, which is essential for latency-sensitive applications and distributed systems.

Advanced Routing and Switching Capabilities

Switches within this category are designed to deliver comprehensive Layer 2 and Layer 3 feature sets without compromising performance. The Arista DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R supports advanced routing protocols and large forwarding tables, enabling it to function effectively as a core routing element or as a high-performance leaf switch. This category is particularly well-suited for environments that rely on IP-based fabrics, where scalability and fast convergence are paramount.

Support for technologies such as ECMP routing, BGP-based fabrics, and VXLAN overlays positions this category as a foundational component for modern software-defined data centers. The ability to handle large-scale routing tables ensures that the switch can support thousands of endpoints and virtual networks while maintaining line-rate forwarding.

Low-Latency and Deterministic Performance

Latency characteristics are a core differentiator of this category. The hardware architecture of the DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R is optimized for predictable, low-latency packet forwarding, making it suitable for high-performance computing, financial trading platforms, and real-time analytics workloads. This category emphasizes consistent forwarding behavior under congestion, ensuring that application performance remains stable even during peak traffic conditions.

Deterministic latency is achieved through advanced buffering strategies and non-blocking switch fabrics. These design principles allow the category to support bursty traffic patterns common in modern distributed applications while minimizing packet loss and jitter.

Redundant Cooling and Power Architecture

Reliability is a defining attribute of this category, with redundant fans and power supplies forming a core design principle. The DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R supports hot-swappable components, enabling maintenance and upgrades without service interruption. This aligns with the category’s focus on maximizing uptime and minimizing operational risk.

By supporting redundant power feeds and efficient power conversion, switches in this category contribute to overall data center resilience. This design approach ensures continuous operation in mission-critical environments where network availability is non-negotiable.

Integration with Arista EOS and Automation Frameworks

The category is tightly integrated with Arista EOS, a modular, programmable network operating system that provides consistent behavior across the entire Arista switching portfolio. The DCS-7280QRA-C36S-R benefits from EOS’s single-image architecture, which simplifies upgrades and reduces the risk of software fragmentation. This category is particularly attractive to organizations pursuing network automation and DevOps-driven operational models.

Support for APIs, streaming telemetry, and automation frameworks enables switches in this category to integrate seamlessly with orchestration platforms and monitoring systems. This level of programmability allows network teams to implement intent-based networking and proactive troubleshooting strategies.