DCS-7300X3-48YC4-LC Arista 7300X3 48x 25GB SFP28 4x 100GB QSFP28 Line Card

Arista DCS-7300X3-48YC4-LC 7300X3 48x Line Card Overview

The Arista DCS-7300X3-48YC4-LC 7300X3 48x 25GB SFP28 4x 100GB QSFP28 Line Card is a high-performance switching module engineered for modern data center environments that demand ultra-low latency, high port density, and seamless scalability. Designed for integration into the Arista 7300X3 Series modular switching platform, this line card provides 48 ports of 25 Gigabit Ethernet via SFP28 interfaces and 4 uplink ports of 100 Gigabit Ethernet via QSFP28, delivering exceptional bandwidth aggregation and network flexibility. Enterprises, cloud service providers, colocation facilities, and large-scale campus deployments rely on this line card to enable robust east-west and north-south traffic patterns while maintaining consistent performance under heavy workloads.

As part of the Arista 7300X3 Series modular chassis ecosystem, the Arista DCS-7300X3-48YC4-LC line card leverages advanced silicon architecture to support wire-speed performance across all ports. The 7300X3 family is engineered to meet the evolving needs of hyperscale data centers and enterprise networks that require predictable latency, high throughput, and advanced telemetry capabilities. By combining dense 25GbE access connectivity with 100GbE uplinks, this line card is optimized for top-of-rack aggregation, leaf-spine architectures, and high-density server connectivity scenarios.

High-Density 25GbE Access for Modern Workloads

The 48x 25GB SFP28 configuration of the Arista DCS-7300X3-48YC4-LC line card is designed to maximize rack-level connectivity while minimizing power consumption and physical footprint. The transition from 10GbE to 25GbE has become standard in modern data centers due to its improved performance-per-dollar and enhanced throughput capabilities. By providing 25GbE downlinks, this line card enables data centers to support high-performance computing, virtualization clusters, hyperconverged infrastructure, and large-scale containerized environments with greater efficiency.

Each SFP28 port supports backward compatibility with 10GbE where required, allowing organizations to migrate gradually from legacy environments without a complete infrastructure overhaul. This flexibility ensures investment protection while enabling future-ready network architectures. The 25GbE access ports are ideal for connecting high-performance servers, storage arrays, and network appliances that require consistent bandwidth and low latency for mission-critical applications.

100GbE QSFP28 Uplinks for Core and Spine Integration

Complementing the 48x 25GbE access ports are 4x 100GbE QSFP28 uplink interfaces, providing substantial bandwidth for aggregation and core connectivity. These 100GbE ports enable high-capacity interconnections between leaf and spine switches or between aggregation and core layers within enterprise campus networks.

The QSFP28 interfaces support various breakout configurations, allowing administrators to adapt the line card to different deployment requirements. Whether used for direct 100GbE spine uplinks or broken out into multiple lower-speed connections, the flexibility of QSFP28 enhances deployment versatility while maintaining optimal throughput.

Advanced Hardware Architecture

The Arista DCS-7300X3-48YC4-LC is built upon advanced switching silicon capable of delivering wire-speed Layer 2 and Layer 3 performance across all ports simultaneously. This architecture ensures that even under heavy load conditions, packet forwarding remains efficient and latency remains minimal. High-performance buffering and intelligent traffic management mechanisms prevent congestion and optimize flow control across the network fabric.

Data center operators benefit from deterministic latency and high packet processing rates, enabling support for latency-sensitive applications such as financial trading systems, distributed databases, and high-performance computing clusters.

Low Latency and High Throughput

In environments where microseconds matter, the Arista DCS-7300X3-48YC4-LC provides consistent low-latency forwarding. The combination of high-density 25GbE ports and robust 100GbE uplinks ensures that traffic moves efficiently between endpoints without bottlenecks. This capability is critical for workloads involving real-time analytics, large-scale storage replication, and east-west traffic in distributed applications.

Arista EOS Integration and Software-Defined Capabilities

The Arista DCS-7300X3-48YC4-LC operates within the Arista Extensible Operating System, widely known as EOS. EOS is a single-binary, Linux-based network operating system that provides advanced programmability, resilience, and automation capabilities. Through EOS, administrators gain access to a unified control plane, comprehensive APIs, and support for open standards that facilitate integration with orchestration tools and software-defined networking frameworks.

EOS enables advanced routing protocols, virtualization overlays such as VXLAN, and real-time telemetry, empowering network teams to deploy automated and highly observable infrastructures. The integration of the line card with EOS ensures consistent management across the entire 7300X3 chassis, simplifying configuration and operational workflows.

Automation and Programmability

Automation is central to modern data center operations. The Arista DCS-7300X3-48YC4-LC supports programmatic management via REST APIs, Python scripting, and integration with automation platforms such as Ansible and other DevOps toolchains. This capability allows for rapid provisioning, zero-touch deployment, and dynamic configuration changes aligned with application demands.

Advanced Telemetry and Monitoring

Real-time telemetry features provide deep visibility into network performance, traffic patterns, and hardware health. Administrators can monitor interface utilization, detect anomalies, and implement proactive capacity planning strategies. Enhanced monitoring reduces troubleshooting time and improves overall service reliability.

High-Performance Computing and AI Workloads

With increasing adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning, networks must handle massive data flows between compute nodes. The 25GbE access ports provide efficient connectivity for GPU servers, while the 100GbE uplinks aggregate traffic to high-speed backbones. This ensures consistent throughput and minimal latency for distributed AI training clusters.

Virtualized and Containerized Environments

Modern enterprises rely on hypervisors and container orchestration platforms to deploy applications at scale. The Arista DCS-7300X3-48YC4-LC supports overlay networking technologies and high-density server connectivity, making it ideal for Kubernetes clusters, VMware deployments, and other virtualized infrastructures.

Compatibility with Optical Modules

The SFP28 and QSFP28 interfaces support a variety of optical modules and DAC cables, enabling both short-range and long-range connectivity. This adaptability allows the Arista DCS-7300X3-48YC4-LC to function effectively in diverse physical environments, from compact enterprise server rooms to expansive hyperscale data centers.