https://network-switch.com/pages/about-us
Key takeaways
- What it is: A high-density switch built for 25GE access + 100GE/40GE aggregation, commonly used as campus core / building distribution or a data center leaf (ToR).
- Why it matters in 2026 designs: The port template (48×1/10/25G SFP28 + 8×40/100G QSFP28) supports phased upgrades-keep 10G today, move to 25G, and scale uplinks to 100G without changing the chassis role.
- Ops angle: The S6550X-HI family emphasizes "visibility" and automation-sending RDMA-related stats/alarms via ERSPAN + gRPC and supporting Telemetry.
- Ordering reality: It's a modular platform: power supplies and fan trays are field-replaceable and must be planned correctly, including airflow direction.
What the S6550X-56HF-HI is designed to do
The H3C S6550X-HI series is positioned for data centers and cloud networks, offering high-density ports, modular power/fans, and 100G ports that are 40G/100G autosensing and can be split into four interfaces (breakout).
Within the series, S6550X-56HF-HI targets the "sweet spot" many 2026 enterprises are moving toward:
- 25G at the access/aggregation edge (server rows, high-performance campus distribution, high-bandwidth zones)
- 100G on uplinks (building backbone, core interconnects, or leaf-to-spine)
That combination makes it a practical "bridge switch" when you're modernizing from 10G/40G to 25G/100G without redesigning your entire topology.
Verified Model Specifications
Verified specifications (H3C S6550X-56HF-HI)
| Item | Specification |
| Model | H3C S6550X-56HF-HI |
| Downlink ports | 48 × 1G/10G/25G SFP28 |
| Uplink ports | 8 × 40G/100G QSFP28 |
| Switching capacity | 4.0 Tbps |
| Packet forwarding rate | 2800 Mpps |
| Buffer | 24 MB |
| CPU / memory | 4 cores @ 2.0 GHz; Flash/SDRAM 4GB/8GB |
| OOB management | 1 × 10/100/1000Base-T management port; console + USB |
| Form factor | 1U; 43.6 × 440 × 400 mm; full-loaded weight ≤ 9 kg |
| Power & cooling | 2 power module slots; 4 fan tray slots; airflow front→rear or rear→front |
| Operating temperature | -5°C to 45°C |
Common platform traits (S6550X-HI series):
- Developed for data centers/cloud networks; supports modular PSUs and fan trays and field-changeable airflow.
- 100G ports are 40G/100G autosensing and support port splitting.
- Built around "visibility" and automated O&M (Telemetry, gRPC/ERSPAN data export).
Core Features & Differentiators
1) High-density 25G access (why 25G is the practical upgrade lane)
A lot of networks jump from 10G straight to 100G and overpay (in optics, cabling, and power) before the workload truly requires it. 25G often hits the best ROI point:
- It's a clean step-up from 10G for compute and high-performance edge zones.
- It lets you keep the same "leaf-like" cabling model while scaling uplinks for growth.
With 48 SFP28 multi-rate ports (1G/10G/25G), this model supports mixed estates-some legacy 10G today, more 25G tomorrow-without a forklift change.
2) 8× QSFP28 uplinks + breakout = more design freedom
The uplink side is where this switch becomes a serious aggregation option:
- 8 × 40/100G QSFP28 for core/distribution uplinks or leaf-to-spine connectivity.
- QSFP28 ports are described as 40G/100G autosensing, and each can be split into four interfaces.
What that means in real designs:
- If you're in a building distribution role, 8 uplinks gives you room for dual-homing + growth.
- If you're in a leaf role, breakout lets you convert 100G into 4×25G lanes to match ToR expansion patterns (e.g., additional racks, storage pods, or a dense endpoint zone).
3) Forwarding headroom that keeps aggregation stable under load
Specs aren't everything-but they matter when you're aggregating many links and policy features:
- 4.0 Tbps switching capacity and 2800 Mpps forwarding provide strong headroom for high-density 25G access and heavy east-west traffic patterns.
4) IRF2 stacking + M-LAG for resilient topologies
H3C highlights two "availability patterns" in the S6550X-HI platform:
- IRF2: virtualizes multiple switches into one logical switch, aiming for fast convergence (the datasheet mentions convergence within 50 ms) and a single management point.
- M-LAG: allows device-level link backup and supports independent upgrading of dual-homed devices (DR member devices can be upgraded one-by-one), which can reduce maintenance impact.
Practical takeaway:
- If you prefer "one logical box" operations, IRF2 is attractive for campus core/building distribution.
- If you prefer "two boxes, one logical uplink domain" for dual-homed servers/aggregation with controlled blast radius, M-LAG is often the cleaner pattern.
5) Data center features: lossless Ethernet and VXLAN hardware gateway capability
The S6550X-HI datasheet calls out "abundant data center features," including:
- PFC, ECN, and DCBX (lossless/low-latency behavior for storage/HPC-style needs)
- VXLAN hardware gateway capability (with multi-tenant scale claims in the datasheet)
- DCB, RoCE, and OAM as part of its high-performance services positioning
How to use this without overcomplicating your network:
- If you're not running RoCE or lossless fabrics today, you can treat these as "future-proofing."
- If you are building RDMA-sensitive zones (AI/HPC/storage), these capabilities help you avoid a separate "special fabric" for only one workload.
6) Intelligent O&M: ERSPAN + gRPC + Telemetry
H3C positions S6550X-HI around "visualization of data center." It describes exporting real-time resources information, statistics, and RDMA alarms via ERSPAN and gRPC to an O&M platform for tracing, troubleshooting, risk warning, and optimization.
And H3C also provides a dedicated Telemetry Configuration Guide (including gRPC configuration) for the S6550X-HI series, indicating this is not a marketing checkbox but an operational feature with implementation documentation.
7) Flexible airflow + modular FRUs
The platform supports modular power supplies and fan trays, and H3C explicitly describes field-changeable airflow.
From the hardware guide:
- You must install four fan trays of the same model.
- Fan models represent airflow direction: FAN-40B-1-A (port→power) and FAN-40F-1-A (power→port).
- PSU options include PSR450-12A / PSR450-12A1 / PSR450-12AHD / PSR450-12D, and you can run 1+1 redundancy.
This matters because in real racks, airflow mismatch is one of the most common causes of "mystery thermal alarms."
Deployment Scenarios (where this model fits best)
Scenario 1 - Building distribution / campus core uplift (10G→25G with 100G backbone)
If your campus is experiencing uplink congestion between buildings or between IDFs and a distribution layer, the S6550X-56HF-HI gives you:
- 25G where you need it (aggregation of high-demand floors)
- 100G where you must have it (core/backbone)
Scenario 2 - Data center leaf (ToR) for mixed 10G/25G servers + 100G spines
The S6550X-HI series is positioned to operate as a ToR access switch in overlay or integrated networks.
This model's port template (48×SFP28 + 8×QSFP28) maps naturally to leaf-to-spine patterns-especially when you want a "single leaf type" for multiple rack profiles.
Scenario 3 - Edge room / mini-DC aggregation pod
If you're running compute close to the users (branch edge, factory edge, enterprise edge rooms), you often need:
- dense 10G/25G endpoints
- a few clean 100G uplinks to the central core
- manageable O&M visibility when you don't have on-site specialists
Telemetry + gRPC configuration guidance (with an official 2025 guide) is particularly relevant here.
Scenario 4 - RDMA-sensitive or low-latency zones (lossless where it counts)
When you have workloads that are sensitive to loss/jitter, the PFC/ECN/DCBX and RoCE-related positioning gives you a path to build "lossless islands" inside a broader Ethernet network.
Scenario 5 - High fan-in aggregation for multiple access blocks
If you're aggregating many uplinks (multiple IDFs or multiple racks), having 8 uplinks and robust forwarding headroom helps keep oversubscription predictable rather than chaotic.
Recommended Accessories
Accessories & FRUs to plan
| Category | Options | Notes |
| Power supplies | PSR450-12A / PSR450-12A1 / PSR450-12AHD / PSR450-12D | 450W class; supports 1+1 redundancy; DC model supports -48V style inputs |
| Fan trays | FAN-40B-1-A (port→power) / FAN-40F-1-A (power→port) | Must install four fan trays and they must be the same model |
| Expansion modules | LSWM2EC / LSWM2-iMC / LSWM2FPGAB / LSPM6FWD | Optional modules depending on your management/traffic analysis needs |
| Optics & cabling | 25G SFP28 optics; 100G QSFP28 optics; DAC/AOC where appropriate | Choose SR/LR based on fiber type and distance; standardize to reduce OPEX |
Quick comparison
This table is a "buyer orientation" aid-focus on role-fit, not brand emotion.
Same-role alternatives (role-based comparison)
| Feature | H3C S6550X-56HF-HI | H3C S6530X-48Y8C | Cisco Catalyst 9500-24Y4C |
| Downlinks | 48×1/10/25G | 48×10/25G (typical positioning) | 24×25G |
| Uplinks | 8×40/100G | 8×100G | 4×100G |
| Stacking / virtualization | IRF2 | VXLAN/EVPN (family positioning) | Platform-dependent |
| Best-fit role | Campus core / distribution or DC leaf | L3 aggregation focused | Enterprise aggregation/core |
FAQs - Real-world guidance
Q1: Is the S6550X-56HF-HI a campus switch or a data center switch?
A: It's positioned for data centers and cloud networks, but it can also be used as a ToR access switch on overlay or integrated networks-so it can fit both "DC leaf" and "high-performance campus distribution/core" roles depending on architecture.
Q2: What's the exact port template on the S6550X-56HF-HI?
A: 48×1/10/25G SFP28 downlinks and 8×40/100G QSFP28 uplinks.
Q3: Does it support 40G and 100G on the QSFP28 ports?
A: The series documentation states the 100G ports are 100G/40G autosensing.
Q4: Can I use breakout on QSFP28 ports (100G → 4×25G)?
A: H3C states that each 100G port can be split into four interfaces (the typical design use is 100G→4×25G).
Q5: How much switching capacity and forwarding performance does this model have?
A: The datasheet lists 4.0 Tbps switching capacity and 2800 Mpps packet forwarding rate for the S6550X-56HF-HI.
Q6: Does it support IRF2 and what's the benefit?
A: Yes-S6550X-HI supports IRF2, which virtualizes multiple devices into one logical switch for simplified management and high availability; the datasheet mentions fast convergence within 50 ms for IRF2 positioning.
Q7: When should I use M-LAG instead of stacking?
A: If you want dual-homing with device-level redundancy and the ability to upgrade devices one-by-one, M-LAG is often preferred. The datasheet highlights M-LAG's independent upgrading and high availability behavior.
Q8: Do I need lossless Ethernet features like PFC/ECN/DCBX?
A: Only if you're supporting storage/HPC/RDMA-like traffic patterns that benefit from low loss and predictable latency. The S6550X-HI series explicitly lists PFC, ECN, and DCBX among its data center features.
Q9: What O&M capabilities are emphasized for this series?
A: H3C describes "visualization" and exporting real-time statistics/alarms (including RDMA information) via ERSPAN and gRPC, and it supports Telemetry; H3C also publishes a dedicated Telemetry configuration guide with gRPC configuration.
Q10: What power supplies and fan trays are compatible?
A: The hardware guide lists PSU options such as PSR450-12A / 12A1 / 12AHD / 12D, and fan tray models FAN-40B-1-A (port→power) and FAN-40F-1-A (power→port).
Q11: Can I mix fan tray models (one direction for some, opposite for others)?
A: The hardware guide states you must install fan trays of the same model for adequate heat dissipation.
Q12: What should I double-check before ordering?
A: Confirm (1) uplink speed plan and breakout needs, (2) PSU model and redundancy, and (3) airflow direction fan tray model-these three choices prevent most deployment friction.
Conclusion
The H3C S6550X-56HF-HI is a strong "2026-ready" platform when you need a dense 25G edge with multiple 100G-class uplinks, whether you deploy it as campus core/building distribution or as a data center leaf.
Its key strengths are the practical port template (48×SFP28 + 8×QSFP28), robust forwarding headroom (4.0 Tbps; 2800 Mpps), modular FRU design with selectable airflow, and an O&M story that emphasizes visibility through ERSPAN + gRPC + Telemetry.
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