R9W90A HPE 48-Ports Aruba Networking Cx 8100 48x10gsfp+ 4x40/100g Bundle Gigabit Ethernet Switch.

Key Features of the HPE R9W90A Aruba CX 8100 48-Port Switch

High Port Density with 10G SFP+ Connectivity

The switch offers 48 dedicated 10G SFP+ ports, which provide ample high-speed access ports for connecting servers, storage devices, and aggregation switches. These ports support small form-factor pluggable transceivers that enable flexible fiber or copper connections depending on your network setup.

40/100G Uplink Capabilities

Equipped with 4 QSFP28 uplink ports supporting both 40G and 100G speeds, the HPE R9W90A ensures uplink scalability for future-proofing your infrastructure. These high-bandwidth uplinks facilitate rapid data transfer between switches, core networks, or data centers, helping to eliminate bottlenecks in demanding environments.

Advanced Aruba CX Operating System (OS)

The Aruba CX 8100 series runs on the Aruba CX OS, a modern, Linux-based network operating system built for programmability, automation, and operational efficiency. It supports REST APIs, Python scripting, and an intuitive CLI, enabling network administrators to streamline operations, accelerate troubleshooting, and reduce downtime.

Modular and Flexible Architecture

This switch series is designed with modularity in mind. The chassis supports flexible configurations, enabling easy upgrades and expansion without disrupting existing network services. The modular fans and power supplies allow for hot-swappable replacements, maximizing uptime and simplifying maintenance.

Subcategories and Use Cases of Aruba CX 8100 Switches

Campus Core and Aggregation Deployment

The HPE R9W90A is ideal for campus core or aggregation layers where high throughput and low latency are critical. Its 48 10G ports connect multiple access switches or high-performance endpoints, while the 40/100G uplinks connect to the data center or core network.

High Availability and Redundancy

With support for advanced Layer 3 protocols, VRRP, and redundant power and fan modules, this switch provides high availability essential for mission-critical campus networks. Features such as equal-cost multipath (ECMP) routing and fast failover help maintain uninterrupted service.

Data Center Top-of-Rack (ToR) and Spine Deployments

The Aruba CX 8100 series can be deployed as ToR switches in data centers, delivering high-speed 10G connectivity to servers and storage, while utilizing the 40/100G uplinks to spine switches or aggregation layers. Its programmability and telemetry features provide deep network visibility and automation capabilities, which are crucial for modern data centers.

Telemetry and Network Analytics

Integrated streaming telemetry and analytics capabilities allow network teams to proactively monitor switch performance and health in real time. This minimizes downtime and enables predictive maintenance strategies.

Service Provider and Large Enterprise Networks

Large enterprises and service providers benefit from the scalability and multi-gigabit capacity of the Aruba CX 8100 series. The R9W90A model's extensive port count and high-speed uplinks accommodate dense device environments and intensive bandwidth demands, making it suitable for cloud connectivity, virtualization, and multi-tenant networks.

Technical Specifications and Performance Highlights

Switching Capacity and Forwarding Rate

The Aruba CX 8100 48-port switch offers a switching capacity of up to 2.56 Tbps and a forwarding rate exceeding 1.9 billion packets per second (bpps), ensuring it can handle large volumes of data traffic with minimal latency.

Layer 2 and Layer 3 Support

Comprehensive support for Layer 2 features such as VLANs, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Link Aggregation (LACP), and advanced Layer 3 routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, IS-IS) allows for flexible and scalable network topologies.

Security Features

The switch incorporates enhanced security measures including MACsec encryption, dynamic ARP inspection, DHCP snooping, and robust access control lists (ACLs) to protect network integrity and safeguard against threats.

Power Efficiency and Cooling

Engineered for energy efficiency, the Aruba CX 8100 switch employs intelligent power management and fan controls. The modular, hot-swappable fans optimize airflow and cooling, helping to reduce operational costs and environmental impact.

Aruba CX 8100 Series Ecosystem and Integration

Seamless Integration with Aruba Networks Portfolio

The R9W90A switch integrates seamlessly with Aruba’s networking portfolio, including Aruba Central for cloud-managed network operations and Aruba ClearPass for identity and access management. This unified ecosystem enhances operational efficiency and network security.

Automation and Programmability

With full support for automation frameworks such as Ansible, Puppet, and Chef, along with Aruba’s native scripting capabilities, network administrators can automate routine tasks and configuration management to reduce errors and improve network agility.

Open Standards and Interoperability

The Aruba CX 8100 switches comply with open standards protocols, ensuring interoperability with third-party devices and multivendor network environments, enabling organizations to deploy best-of-breed solutions without vendor lock-in.

Benefits of Deploying the HPE R9W90A Aruba CX 8100 Switch

Scalability and Future-Readiness

The modular design, high port density, and 100G uplinks make this switch a future-ready investment capable of growing with network demands.

Operational Efficiency

Simplified management through Aruba CX OS, automation tools, and comprehensive monitoring reduces operational overhead and improves network uptime.

Robust Security Posture

Advanced security features embedded in the hardware and software layers help secure sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access.

Optimized Performance for Demanding Applications

The switch’s low latency and high throughput ensure excellent performance for data-intensive applications such as virtualization, cloud services, video conferencing, and big data analytics.

Supporting Accessories and Related Products

Transceivers and Cables

To maximize the versatility of the R9W90A switch, a wide range of compatible SFP+ and QSFP28 transceivers, DAC cables, and fiber optic cables are available, supporting diverse media types and link distances.

Power Supplies and Fan Modules

Redundant power supplies and fan modules are available to ensure uninterrupted operation and easy maintenance.

Network Management Tools

Aruba Central cloud management platform and AirWave network management software complement the switch by providing comprehensive visibility and control.