DCS-7320X-32C-LC Arista 7320X 32x 100GB Switch Line Card

High-Density Data Center Switching Line Card Category

The Arista DCS-7320X-32C-LC 7320X Series 32x 100GB QSFP100 Switch Line Card belongs to an advanced category of modular data center switching components designed for ultra-high bandwidth environments. This category focuses on scalable, non-blocking Ethernet switching solutions that support modern cloud architectures, large-scale enterprise networks, and service provider infrastructures. Line cards in this category are engineered to integrate seamlessly into modular switch chassis, delivering predictable performance, high port density, and operational consistency across diverse deployment scenarios.

High-density switch line cards are a foundational element of spine-leaf network designs, enabling east-west traffic flows that dominate modern data centers. By supporting multiple 100 Gigabit Ethernet ports within a single line card, this category addresses the exponential growth of data traffic driven by virtualization, containerization, artificial intelligence workloads, and distributed storage systems. The emphasis is on deterministic latency, lossless transport, and architectural flexibility.

Modular Switching Architecture and Chassis Integration

The 7320X Series line card category is built for modular switching platforms that allow organizations to scale bandwidth and port counts independently from the control plane. This modularity enables data center operators to adapt network capacity to evolving requirements without wholesale infrastructure replacement. Line cards such as the DCS-7320X-32C-LC are inserted into compatible chassis, instantly expanding the system’s forwarding capacity while maintaining centralized management and control.

This category emphasizes hot-swappable design, ensuring that maintenance and upgrades can be performed without disrupting network operations. The ability to add or replace line cards dynamically is essential for environments that require continuous uptime, such as financial trading platforms, hyperscale cloud providers, and mission-critical enterprise applications.

High-Speed Backplane Connectivity

Line cards in this category interface with a high-speed chassis backplane that supports massive aggregate throughput. The backplane architecture is optimized for non-blocking performance, allowing all ports on the line card to operate at full line rate simultaneously. This design ensures predictable behavior under peak loads, which is critical for applications sensitive to congestion and latency.

Advanced signal integrity engineering enables reliable data transmission across the backplane at extremely high speeds. This reliability underpins the overall stability of modular switching systems and allows network architects to design fabrics that scale horizontally and vertically.

100 Gigabit Ethernet Port Density and Throughput

The defining characteristic of this category is its support for multiple 100 Gigabit Ethernet QSFP ports within a single line card. The Arista DCS-7320X-32C-LC provides 32 QSFP100 interfaces, delivering exceptional port density that reduces rack space consumption and simplifies cabling complexity. High port density is a critical requirement in modern data centers where physical space, power, and cooling resources must be optimized.

Each 100GbE port supports high-throughput data transfer suitable for bandwidth-intensive workloads such as distributed databases, large-scale analytics, and high-performance computing clusters. This category enables network fabrics to support terabits of aggregate throughput while maintaining consistent performance across all connections.

QSFP100 Optics and Cabling Flexibility

The use of QSFP form factors within this category provides flexibility in media selection, supporting both optical transceivers and high-speed direct attach or active optical cables. This flexibility allows organizations to tailor connectivity based on distance, cost, and performance requirements. Short-reach connections within racks or rows can leverage cost-effective copper solutions, while long-reach optical links enable inter-row or inter-data-center connectivity.

Standardized QSFP interfaces ensure interoperability with a wide ecosystem of transceivers and cables, simplifying procurement and enabling rapid deployment. This openness aligns with modern networking strategies that prioritize vendor flexibility and long-term investment protection.

Non-Blocking Performance

Switch line cards in this category are engineered to deliver non-blocking throughput, meaning that all ports can transmit and receive data at full capacity without contention. This performance characteristic is essential for spine-layer deployments where line cards aggregate traffic from multiple leaf switches. Non-blocking behavior ensures that application performance remains consistent even during peak traffic periods.

Low and predictable latency further defines this category, supporting time-sensitive applications and protocols that rely on rapid packet delivery. Deterministic latency is particularly valuable in financial services, real-time analytics, and distributed application architectures.

Advanced Ethernet Features

The 7320X Series line card category supports a comprehensive set of Layer 2 and Layer 3 Ethernet features designed for large-scale, automated networks. These capabilities enable robust traffic management, segmentation, and routing across complex topologies. Support for modern protocols allows network operators to build resilient, scalable fabrics that adapt dynamically to changing workloads.

This category emphasizes standards-based networking, ensuring compatibility with widely adopted protocols and simplifying integration into existing infrastructures. Advanced forwarding capabilities enable efficient handling of both north-south and east-west traffic patterns.

Layer 2 Switching Capabilities

Within this category, line cards provide extensive Layer 2 functionality, including VLAN scalability and high MAC address table capacity. These features support multi-tenant environments where network segmentation is critical for security and performance isolation. The ability to handle large numbers of endpoints is essential in virtualized and containerized environments.

Fast convergence and loop prevention mechanisms contribute to network stability, minimizing downtime during topology changes. These characteristics ensure that applications remain accessible even as the network adapts to failures or configuration updates.

Layer 3 Routing and Scalability

High-density switch line cards in this category support advanced Layer 3 routing features, enabling efficient IP traffic forwarding across large networks. Support for scalable routing tables and high route counts allows the network to grow without sacrificing performance. This scalability is crucial for cloud providers and enterprises operating multi-site or multi-region infrastructures.

Hardware-based forwarding ensures that routing decisions are executed at line rate, maintaining throughput even as routing complexity increases. This approach offloads processing from the control plane, enhancing overall system efficiency.

Overlay Networking and Virtualization

The category also encompasses support for overlay technologies that enable network virtualization at scale. These capabilities allow operators to build logical networks on top of a shared physical infrastructure, supporting agile application deployment and tenant isolation. Overlay support is a cornerstone of modern data center networking, enabling rapid provisioning and simplified management.

Cloud-Scale Design and Operational Efficiency

The Arista 7320X Series line card category is tailored for cloud-scale environments where automation, telemetry, and operational simplicity are paramount. Line cards are designed to integrate with centralized management systems that provide comprehensive visibility into network performance and health. This visibility enables proactive monitoring and rapid troubleshooting.

Operational efficiency is further enhanced through consistent hardware and software design across the product family. This consistency reduces the learning curve for network engineers and streamlines operational workflows.

Telemetry and Network Visibility

Advanced telemetry capabilities are a hallmark of this category, providing granular, real-time insights into traffic patterns, latency, and congestion. These insights enable data-driven optimization of network performance and capacity planning. Telemetry data can be integrated with analytics platforms to support predictive maintenance and anomaly detection.

High-resolution visibility is particularly valuable in large environments where manual monitoring is impractical. Automated alerts and dashboards allow operators to maintain service quality at scale.

Automation and Programmability

This category supports extensive automation and programmability features, enabling integration with orchestration tools and DevOps workflows. Programmable interfaces allow network configurations to be managed as code, reducing human error and accelerating deployment cycles. Automation is essential for environments that require rapid scaling and frequent configuration changes.

Support for open APIs and industry-standard management frameworks ensures interoperability with a wide range of tools and platforms. This openness aligns with modern infrastructure-as-code strategies.

Reliability, Redundancy, and High Availability

Reliability is a defining attribute of the high-density switch line card category. The DCS-7320X-32C-LC is engineered with redundant components and fault-tolerant design principles to ensure continuous operation. High availability is achieved through features that minimize the impact of hardware failures and support rapid recovery.

Line cards are validated for operation in demanding data center environments, where thermal stability and power efficiency are critical. Rigorous testing ensures consistent performance under sustained high loads.

Hot-Swap Capability and Serviceability

The ability to hot-swap line cards without interrupting network operations is a core requirement of this category. This capability supports maintenance activities and capacity upgrades while maintaining service continuity. Serviceability is further enhanced through clear diagnostics and status indicators.

Rapid replacement reduces mean time to repair and supports stringent uptime requirements, making this category suitable for mission-critical deployments.

Power Efficiency and Thermal Management

High port density and throughput necessitate efficient power and thermal design. Line cards in this category are optimized to deliver maximum performance per watt, reducing operational costs and supporting sustainable data center practices. Advanced thermal management ensures consistent operation across a wide range of environmental conditions.

Efficient cooling design supports dense chassis configurations, enabling organizations to maximize capacity within existing facilities.