Huawei S5732 Switch: High-Performance Aggregation & Campus Switches

Demand for Wi‑Fi 6-ready campus networks is growing rapidly, the Huawei S5732 Series empowers modern networks as a cutting-edge Aggregation Switch and Campus Switch, offering multi-Gigabit access, PoE++, and service intelligence.

Its capabilities—from built-in WLAN AC to VXLAN and MACsec—ensure robust, scalable campus infrastructures that drive business growth and prompt quick purchasing decisions through tangible ROI.

Product Line Overview & Model Highlights

Below is a clear table of the primary Huawei S5732 Switch models, showing specifications at a glance:

Model	Downlink Ports	Uplink Ports	Capacity (Tbps)	PoE++	MACsec	WLAN AC
S5732‑H24S6Q / H48S6Q	20/44 × GE SFP (optical) + 4×10GE + 6×40GE	40GE	0.6–0.648 / 2.4	No	Optional	Yes
S5732‑H24UM2CC / H48UM2CC	24/48 × 100M–10G Base-T + FTU slot	4×25GE + 2×40/100GE	1.48–1.96	Yes	Yes	Yes
S5732‑H48XUM2CC (Hybrid)	24 optical + 24 electrical	4×25GE + 2×40/100GE	1.76 / 2.4	Yes	Yes	Yes
S5732‑H‑V2 (24/48‑port)	24/48 × 100M–10G Base-T + RTU flex slots	4×25GE + 2×100GE	1.24/1.72	Yes	Yes	Yes

Deep Dive into Key Features

🧠 Multi‑Gigabit Access & Wi‑Fi 6 Readiness

Designed for multi-GE speeds (1/2.5/5/10 G), the S5732 delivers ultra-fast access to Wi‑Fi 6 APs—fully aligned with next-gen campus demands. The hybrid optical-electrical model enables extended cabling (up to 300 m) while supplying PoE++, solving the dual challenge of power and speed over long distances.

⚡ High‑Power PoE++ Support

These switches can deliver 60 W–90 W PoE++ per port, ideal for powering Wi‑Fi 6 APs and PTZ cameras without extra midspan devices. The S5732‑H48UM2CC even accommodates dual 1000 W power modules for power resilience.

🛡 Built‑In WLAN AC & Unified Policy

Supports up to 1,024 APs, eliminating the need for separate AC hardware. Unified wired/wireless policies enhance user experience and simplify management.

🔐 Advanced Security with MACsec & Threat Detection

Integrated MACsec, ECA, DoS defense, DHCP snooping, strict ARP, and built-in security probes—all working with Huawei HiSec Insight—ensure campus networks are safe from internal/external threats.

🧩 VXLAN, BGP‑EVPN & Open Programmability

With VXLAN with BGP‑EVPN, the S5732 supports multi-tenant “one network, multiple services” scenarios. Open APIs and microcode programmability allow custom protocols and innovations—no hardware swaps needed.

⚙ Intelligent O&M & Automation

Tools like iPCA, TWAMP, telemetry, Easy Deploy, and CampusInsight enable real-time fault detection, auto-deployment, and AI-driven network insights—turning reactive maintenance to proactive intelligence.

🔗 iStack & High Availability

Stackable up to 9 units, iStack simplifies management, enhances resilience, and scales port bandwidth dynamically.

🌐 IPv4/IPv6 & VPN/MPLS Ready

Supports mature routing (OSPFv3, BGP4+, RIPng), MPLS, GRE, and multi-instance VPN—ideal for large campuses, branch networks, or service-provider edge deployments

Aggregation & Campus Scenarios: Why It Matters

A. University Smart Campus Deployment

At Southeast University, the S5732-H48XUM2CC drove the migration to Wi‑Fi 6 wall‑plate APs, enabling full dormitory coverage with zeroblindspots, dual‑mode access (optical + electrical), and PoE++ over 300 m. Result: faster downloads (~400 Mbps per user), stable live-streams, unified wired/wireless network, and significantly simplified O&M via iMaster NCE–CampusInsight platforms.

B. Enterprise Aggregation Switch Use

As an Aggregation Switch, the S5732‑H24S6Q/H48S6Q series delivers robust performance (0.6 Tbps forwarding) with six 40GE uplinks and built‑in WLAN AC—ideal for mid-sized campuses requiring security, QoS, and virtualization.

C. Data Center Edge Access

The hybrid optical‑electrical S5732‑H48XUM2CC performs double duty at edge layers in small data centers: 10GE access, PoE++, and long-reach fiber—reducing cabling complexity and hardware layers.

Deployment & Management Experience

Zero-Touch Setup: Easy Deploy, SVF, and native AC enable plug‑and‑play onboarding—Southeast University rolled out 10k+ devices in 39 days.
Centralized O&M: iMaster NCE works with telemetry and CampusInsight to preemptively locate faults, auto-calibrate Wi‑Fi, and provide root‑cause analysis.
Full Network Visibility: Unified wired/wireless user policies under 802.1X enhance security and user experience.
Automation & One-Click Upgrade: With intelligent upgrade via HOUP and Python scripting, maintenance downtime is minimized.
Stack Management: iStack’s logical stacking simplifies config rollout, resilience, and monitoring—supported by Huawei stack best practices.

Technical Guides & CLI Examples

Basic Multi‑GE Port Configuration

Enable multi‑Gigabit speeds on S5732 ports via RTU license:

<HUAWEI> system-view

[HUAWEI] interface GigabitEthernet1/0/1 to 1/0/12

[HUAWEI-GigabitEthernet1/0/1-12] port link-type access

[HUAWEI-GigabitEthernet1/0/1-12] port multi-giga enable

Then, activate:

[HUAWEI] license activate multi-giga-rtu

This allows dynamic speeds spanning 1/2.5/5/10 Gbps, ideal for aligning with Wi‑Fi 6 requirements.

iStack Logical Stacking Setup

Configure stacking for up to 9 x S5732 units:

<HUAWEI> system-view

[HUAWEI] stack enable

[HUAWEI] stack member 1 priority 255

[HUAWEI] stack member 2 priority 200

...

[HUAWEI] stack port group 1

[HUAWEI] stack port 1/0/49 to 1/0/50

[HUAWEI] stack port group 1 port 2/0/49 to 2/0/50

[HUAWEI] save

This ensures resilience and central management under a single virtual switch.

VLAN and VXLAN with BGP‑EVPN

Configure campus-wide virtual segmentation:

[HUAWEI] vlan 100

[HUAWEI-vlan100] quit

[HUAWEI] interface Vlanif100

[HUAWEI-Vlanif100] ip address 10.0.100.1 255.255.255.0

[HUAWEI] vxlan 100

[HUAWEI-vxlan100] vxlan-network 10.10.100.1

[HUAWEI-vxlan100] vni 100 remote-ip 192.168.1.1

This supports multi-tenant campus fabric with distributed routing and isolation.

CLI Setup Walkthrough

This video walk‑through guides you through step‑by‑step CLI configuration of Huawei campus switches—perfect for network engineers transitioning from Cisco to Huawei.

Summary of Technical & Competitive Analysis

Deep CLI control: Offers multi‑GE activation, VLAN/VXLAN virtualization, and robust stack management.
Stronger hardware specs: PoE++, MACsec, and large MAC tables cater to high‑density and security-sensitive environments.
Cost‑performance leader: Comparable features at a lower price than Cisco Catalyst models.
Smooth migration path: Familiar CLI syntax and GUI tools ease learning curves for Cisco-trained professionals

Huawei vs Cisco Campus Switches

Huawei S5732 Switch holds several advantages over similar Cisco Catalyst models:

Feature	Huawei S5732	Cisco Catalyst 9300/9400
Multi‑GE Ports	24/48 × 1/2.5/5/10G via RTU license	Only some Catalyst 9400 series support
PoE Power	PoE++ (60–90 W per port)	Cisco UPOE+ up to 90 W
MACsec	Supported across downlinks/uplinks	Hardware MACsec limited to select high-end models
Stacking Capacity	iStack up to 9 units	StackWise up to 8 units
VLAN Scale	Up to 4K VLANs	Catalyst supports 4K VLANs too
MAC Table	Approx. 288K entries (CloudEngine)	Catalyst ~64K–82K MAC entries
Price Positioning	Lower cost per feature	Premium pricing
Management Tools	iMaster NCE, CampusInsight	Cisco DNA Center, Prime Infrastructure

Why Buy Now?

Future-proof performance: Multi-GE + 100G uplinks + service intelligence keep you ahead as Wi‑Fi 6/7 adoption explodes.
Instant ROI: Reduce hardware by replacing ACs, midspans, and separate virtualization layers—see cost benefits instantly.
Operational efficiency: Automation through zero-touch deployment and AI-driven O&M saves support costs.
Security by default: MACsec, threat analytics, encrypted traffic inspection, and deception hardened your network.
Scalable design: Stack it, virtualize it, expand it—from campus access to aggregation to data center.

Conclusion

The Huawei S5732 Switch series bridges access and aggregation needs with unmatched flexibility. As campus and edge networks evolve toward high-speed, converged, secure models, S5732 stands out as the go-to Aggregation Switch and Campus Switch—empowering enterprises to unlock performance, reliability, and ROI now.

FAQs – Answering the Real Questions

Can I mix and match 1G, 2.5G, 5G, and 10G ports via license?
Yes—multi-GE ports are RTU‑licensed; unlocked per 12 ports, allowing flexible upgrades.
What uplink speed should I use?
Use 25G uplinks for high-volume edge aggregation; choose 40/100G uplinks in data center edge phases ready for massive traffic.
How many Wi‑Fi APs can one switch manage?
Up to 1,024 APs with policy convergence—for cost savings and simpler architecture.
Does it support MACsec encryption?
Yes—multi-GE and V2 series come with MACsec on uplinks and downlinks.
Is VXLAN supported for multi-tenant campuses?
Yes—with distributed/centralized gateways and BGP‑EVPN—enabling network virtualization.
How resilient is deployment during upgrades?
HOUP enables one‑click smart upgrades, with preloading to reduce downtime.
What security features are integrated?
Includes ECA, DHCP snooping, ARP protection, DoS prevention, and native threat deception.
Is stacking easy and scalable?
Yes—iStack up to 9 units, with logical configs and redundancy.
What about power redundancy?
Models like H48UM2CC and V2 support dual 1000 W power modules (1+1), plus AC/DC compatibility.