R9W92A#ABA HPE 48-Ports Aruba Networking Cx 8100 Sfp+ Qsfp28 L3 Managed Rack-mountable Switch.

Comprehensive Overview of the Aruba CX 8100 Platform

The Aruba CX 8100 Series delivers powerful networking solutions to support modern applications, cloud services, and increasing IoT device traffic. With its robust operating system—Aruba AOS-CX—and intelligent automation, the CX 8100 platform significantly reduces operational complexity.

Platform Capabilities

• 48 SFP+ (10GbE) ports for high-speed access layer connectivity
• 6 QSFP28 ports supporting 40/100GbE uplinks for high-bandwidth aggregation
• Dual hot-swappable power supplies and fans for improved hardware redundancy
• Layer 2/3 feature set with dynamic routing, policy-based segmentation, and VXLAN support
• High availability through VSX (Virtual Switching Extension)

Advanced Layer 3 Networking and Routing

As a Layer 3 managed switch, the Aruba CX 8100 switch delivers advanced routing capabilities including OSPF, BGP, PIM, and VRF. It enables segmentation and scalable multi-tenant network designs ideal for modern distributed environments.

Routing Protocols Supported

Whether you're running dynamic protocols or static routing, the Aruba CX 8100 supports:

• Open Shortest Path First (OSPFv2/v3)
• Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
• Static and connected routes
• Policy-based routing
• Multicast routing: PIM-DM and PIM-SM

Enterprise-Class Hardware for Maximum Uptime

The HPE R9W92A#ABA switch is engineered with enterprise-grade reliability and scalability. Featuring redundant fans and dual power supply units, this model ensures 24/7 operational uptime, making it an ideal choice for mission-critical deployments.

Redundant Power and Cooling

Dual power supplies and field-replaceable fans support non-stop switching with failover and load balancing. Hardware redundancy ensures continuous service delivery and safeguards against unexpected hardware failures.

Energy Efficiency

Designed with energy-conscious features, the switch intelligently manages power consumption across idle ports and modules, adhering to modern data center sustainability standards.

Aruba AOS-CX: Smarter Switching at Scale

Powered by the Aruba AOS-CX operating system, the CX 8100 series introduces a modular, programmable, and cloud-native software foundation. This OS delivers real-time analytics, REST APIs, and Python scripting for automation and rapid troubleshooting.

Network Analytics Engine (NAE)

AOS-CX includes the integrated Network Analytics Engine (NAE), providing in-depth visibility, telemetry, and historical troubleshooting capabilities. Network operators can resolve issues faster and optimize performance using built-in monitoring tools.

Programmability and Automation

Aruba AOS-CX supports:

• Python-based scripting for custom automation
• RESTful APIs for seamless third-party integration
• YANG data modeling for network configuration consistency

Security and Segmentation Capabilities

Aruba CX 8100 switches offer industry-leading security features. Support for MACsec, role-based access control (RBAC), and network segmentation with VXLAN ensures that the most demanding network environments remain secure and isolated.

Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

With integrated RBAC, organizations can define and apply access policies based on user identity, role, or device type, ensuring granular control over network traffic.

MACsec Encryption

The switch supports MACsec (802.1AE) to encrypt traffic at Layer 2, offering robust encryption between trusted endpoints and eliminating man-in-the-middle risks.

VXLAN-Based Segmentation

With Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN), the Aruba CX 8100 facilitates scalable segmentation across Layer 2 and Layer 3 domains—perfect for dynamic and multi-tenant cloud environments.

Flexible Deployment for Modern Network Architectures

Whether deployed in the core, aggregation, or top-of-rack (ToR) positions, the HPE R9W92A#ABA switch offers the adaptability required for next-gen networking. Its 1U form factor and high port density make it ideal for constrained rack spaces.

Use Case Scenarios

• Enterprise campus core and aggregation layers
• Data center top-of-rack deployments
• Multi-site campus and cloud edge architectures
• High-density server or storage connectivity environments

Top-of-Rack (ToR) Deployment

The CX 8100’s 48 SFP+ ports make it an ideal switch for ToR installations in data centers, connecting to servers and storage nodes via 10GbE links with minimal latency.

Cloud-Edge Connectivity

For hybrid and multi-cloud environments, the Aruba CX 8100 integrates seamlessly with Aruba Central and cloud-native orchestration tools, extending visibility and control to cloud-connected nodes.

Scalability and Future-Proof Infrastructure

The switch’s support for high-bandwidth 100GbE uplinks via QSFP28 ensures your network is ready for future demands. With support for VSX, customers can build highly available networks with active-active architecture.

Virtual Switching Extension (VSX)

VSX delivers consistent configuration, real-time failover, and multi-chassis redundancy. Operators benefit from minimal downtime during updates and high availability for mission-critical applications.

Multi-Terabit Switching Fabric

The CX 8100 offers a multi-terabit switching capacity that can support tens of thousands of packets per second, ensuring stable and seamless packet forwarding even under heavy load.

Aruba Central and Cloud-Based Management

Integrated with Aruba Central, the switch supports unified network operations and policy enforcement through a single dashboard. Network managers can automate provisioning, orchestrate policy updates, and visualize performance from any location.

Zero-Touch Provisioning (ZTP)

ZTP automates switch configuration by fetching settings and scripts from the cloud, reducing installation time and eliminating manual errors. Ideal for enterprise rollouts and remote branch setups.

Monitoring and Visualization

• Live topology maps with path tracing
• Real-time performance and utilization metrics
• Event-driven alerting and remote troubleshooting

Environmental Compliance and Green IT

The Aruba CX 8100 series is compliant with energy-efficient standards such as IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) and features intelligent fan and power usage control for lower environmental impact and operational cost.

Certifications and Standards

• RoHS compliant
• WEEE compliant
• Energy Star certified