R0P81A HPE 48 Ports 25 Gigabit Ethernet 8QSFP28 Airflow Switch.

HPE R0P81A SN2410M Data Center Switch

The HPE R0P81A (SN2410M) is a 1U M-Series ToR switch engineered for storage-heavy and high-performance server environments. Designed around a 48x SFP28 (1/10/25GbE) front panel and eight QSFP28 uplinks, the SN2410M SKU balances high port density, low latency, and flexible uplink topologies — making it an ideal option for modern cloud, virtualization and NVMe-over-fabric deployments.

Key hardware and platform traits include a compact 1RU form factor, multi-rate SFP28 ports capable of 1/10/25GbE operation, 8 QSFP28 ports that can operate as 40/50/100GbE uplinks or be broken out to 4x10/25GbE, and SKU variants that include ONIE support and selectable fan/power airflow orientations (Power-to-Connector or Connector-to-Power).

Models, SKUs and ONIE Options

Available SKUs & form factors

The SN2410M family is offered in multiple SKUs so organizations can pick the right balance of port activation, software options, and airflow orientation for their cabinet. Standard configurations include:

• 48x SFP28 + 8x QSFP28 (25GbE capable) — full density 1U ToR model.
• 24x SFP28 + 4x QSFP28 — half-density variant for lower entry cost or smaller racks.
• 10GbE versions (SN2410bM) that use SFP+ for environments where 25GbE is not required.

Selected SKUs (including the R0P81A) ship with ONIE (Open Network Install Environment) pre-installed so you can boot and install a compatible third-party network OS (NOS) should your deployment require an alternate network operating system. For ONIE SKUs, transceiver and cable support depends on the NOS you choose to load.

Airflow and data center cooling compatibility

HPE offers the SN2410M with different airflow orientations: "Power-to-Connector" and "Connector-to-Power" (sometimes described as power-side to port-side or port-side intake/exhaust). These choices let you align switch airflow with your rack/cold-aisle strategy (front-to-back vs back-to-front), which is essential when mixing equipment from multiple vendors or using hot/cold aisle containment. Ensure all devices in a given rack row share the same airflow orientation to avoid hot-spotting and to maximize cooling efficiency.

Performance, Latency and Forwarding Characteristics

Wire-rate forwarding and ultra-low latency

The SN2410M family is built for predictable, line-rate performance. The architecture delivers cut-through forwarding that keeps port-to-port latency extremely low (typically under 300 nanoseconds), enabling storage and high-frequency workloads to avoid network-side latency bottlenecks. This low latency and deterministic forwarding is especially important for flash storage, NVMe, HCI clusters, and financial workloads where microseconds matter.

Switching capacity and forwarding rate

Architected to support simultaneous line-rate traffic on all ports, the SN2410M offers multi-terabit internal switching capacity with enough fabric to avoid head-of-line blocking. That translates to sustained throughput across L2 and L3 use cases and zero packet loss at line rate when correctly configured — a critical guarantee for storage replication, backup windows, and east-west traffic in virtualized fabrics.

Ports, Breakout Flexibility and Cabling Strategies

SFP28 ports: multi-rate and use cases

The front panel SFP28 connectors support 1/10/25GbE optics and DAC cables, allowing operators to right-size server links based on NIC speed and budget. Use 25GbE links for high-performance hosts and NVMe arrays, 10GbE for legacy or mid-tier servers, and 1GbE where needed for management or edge devices.

QSFP28 uplinks and breakout options

The eight QSFP28 ports provide flexible uplink capacity. Each QSFP28 can operate as a single 100GbE link or be broken out into 4x25GbE (or 4x10GbE) with breakout cables, giving you a wide range of blocking ratios and fabric topologies — from oversubscribed aggregation fabrics to nearly non-blocking leaf-spine designs. Note that when an odd-numbered QSFP28 port is configured in an x4 breakout, it may unmap the adjacent even numbered QSFP port; always verify breakout implications when planning port layouts. 

Cable and transceiver guidance

• For short runs within racks, consider SFP28 passive or active DACs for lower latency and lower per-port cost.
• For longer or multi-rack uplinks, use SFP28 optical transceivers (LR/ER variants) with single-mode fiber and appropriate MPO/LC patching.
• When breaking out QSFP28, use vendor-approved breakout cables and observe the recommended port mapping rules to avoid accidental disablement of neighboring ports.

Software, Management and Automation

HPE Onyx and ONIE flexibility

HPE M-Series switches commonly ship with HPE Onyx (or support ONIE on specific SKUs). Onyx brings a full set of enterprise L2/L3 features including advanced telemetry, DCB (for storage/CNA use), and integrated container support for running management tools as dockerized services on the switch. ONIE SKUs allow operators to install alternate NOS images for environments standardizing on third-party network software. When using an ONIE SKU, check the chosen NOS documentation for supported optics and transceivers. 

Automation & orchestration

SN2410M integrates with modern data center automation stacks: Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), Ansible modules, SaltStack, Puppet and the HPE Network Orchestrator/NEO platform. These tools reduce manual configuration, enforce consistent templates across large deployments, and accelerate provisioning of leaf and spine fabrics. The switch also supports CLI, SSH, JSON/REST and web UI for hybrid human/automation workflows.

Telemetry and troubleshooting

M-Series includes advanced telemetry capabilities such as sampling histograms, link diagnostics, signal degradation monitoring, and the "What Just Happened" (WJH) feature which can inspect packets at line-rate to highlight data-plane anomalies. These tools are valuable for rapid RMA validation, debugging complex multi-tenant fabrics, and RCA in storage replication incidents. 

Security, Access Control and Compliance

Authentication & role management

The SN2410M offers enterprise grade access control with TACACS+, RADIUS, LDAP integration and multiple privilege levels for operator accounts. Use role segmentation, SSH key management and strong cipher suites to protect the control plane in multi-admin environments.

Data center security features

• 802.1X port-based access control to authenticate servers and switches at the port level.
• ACLs (L2-L4) and CoPP to protect devices from amplification and misconfiguration.
• System Secure Mode and FIPS alignment options for higher compliance needs (when needed and applicable).

Power, Thermal and Physical Installation

Power supplies & energy efficiency

The SN2410M was engineered to be power efficient — HPE quotes industry-leading low watts per port to reduce rack heat and operational costs. Lower per-port power draw reduces cooling overhead and is especially relevant in dense ToR deployments where rack power and cooling budgets are constrained. Always check the specific SKU (AC vs DC, single vs dual PSUs) for exact power consumption figures prior to procurement.

Fans and airflow best practices

The SN2410M uses multiple fan modules and its airflow variant (Power-to-Connector or Connector-to-Power) must be matched across the rack. Fan redundancy and monitoring are built in; however, mixing airflow directions in the same aisle can lead to inefficient cooling and higher ambient temperatures. HPE fan & PSU modules are color coded for airflow direction — replace with like-for-like parts when changing fans or PSUs.

Rack mounting and physical considerations

• Standard 1U fixed rack mount brackets are included with the switch.
• Allow recommended front and rear clearances for cabling and airflow; review the QuickSpecs for exact dimensions and cable bend radii.
• Plan cable management for QSFP28 breakout cables to prevent strain on ports and to preserve optical performance over time.

Use Cases and Deployment Patterns

Top-of-Rack (ToR) leaf switch for scale-out architectures

SN2410M excels as a ToR leaf connecting server racks to a spine layer. With 48x 25GbE server ports and QSFP28 uplinks, it supports dense host connectivity and flexible oversubscription strategies between leaf and spine. Pair with 100GbE (or 200/400GbE) spine devices depending on fabric bandwidth requirements.

Storage networks and NVMe-over-Fabric

For storage arrays and NVMe deployments, low latency and deterministic QoS features (DCB, PFC, ECN) are crucial. SN2410M supports the data center bridging stack and prioritization tools needed to reduce packet loss and maintain storage SLA consistency during heavy IO bursts. The native low latency and cut-through forwarding profile make it an attractive choice for flash-first designs. 

Cloud, virtualization and multi-tenant data centers

In cloud or shared environments, the SN2410M provides the dense host ports, MLAG/LAG configurations, VLAN/QinQ segmentation, and telemetry required for tenant isolation and performance visibility. Its integration with automation ecosystems (Ansible, ZTP, Puppet) reduces manual template drift during scale out operations.

Compatibility, Accessories and Upgrades

Transceivers, breakout cables and SFP28 support

Use HPE-qualified transceivers and breakout cables for best interoperability and supportability. When using ONIE SKUs with third-party NOS images, confirm optics compatibility with that NOS documentation — HPE notes that the transceiver support for ONIE SKUs depends on the installed NOS. Always adhere to vendor-tested optical lists for production environments. 

License upgrades and pay-as-you-grow options

The M-Series supports capacity activation and port upgrades via license keys for certain half-density models. This "pay as you grow" licensing allows organizations to buy lower entry SKUs and unlock additional ports or features later — a useful model for staged deployments or budget-constrained rollouts.

Maintenance, support and spares

• HPE provides standard support options and field replaceable units (fans, PSUs) for rapid recovery.
• Keep a small stock of vendor-approved spare optics and replacement fan trays or PSUs that match airflow orientation.
• For regulated environments, consult HPE documentation for TAA-compliant SKUs and validated cryptographic modes.

Comparison & Procurement Considerations

How SN2410M compares to other leaf switches

The SN2410M competes in the dense 25GbE leaf market by offering:

• High SFP28 port density (48 ports) in a single 1U chassis — excellent for rack-level consolidation.
• Flexible QSFP28 uplinks with breakout capability for adaptable aggregation strategies.
• ONIE options for organizations that require third-party NOS flexibility.
• Low per-port power consumption and sub-microsecond latency for storage and real-time workloads.