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Summary
If your 2026 campus build needs a high-density 10G access template with multiple 100G-class uplinks. H3C S6812/S6813 and Huawei CloudEngine S6730-H / S6730-H-V2 are the closest "same-role" options: they target 48×10G downlinks plus 6×QSFP28 uplinks (40/100G) on Huawei, and 48×10G + 6×100G on H3C.
The practical difference that most often breaks projects isn't brand-it's uplink deliverables:
- H3C positions S6812/S6813 with 6×100G QSFP28 ports on the 48-port models.
- Huawei's S6730-H-V2 states all ports support 40GE by default, and you can buy RTU licenses to upgrade 40GE→100GE.
So a "fair" comparison in 2026 should be role-based (where the switch sits) and deliverable-based (what speed your uplinks run on day one), then expanded into HA design and operations/visibility.
Why this comparison matters?
Campus networks are increasingly "cloud-like":
- More 10G endpoints (workstations, lab gear, CCTV aggregation, production lines, design studios)
- More segmentation (VLAN sprawl, L3 at the edge, sometimes overlays)
- Higher uplink expectations (100G becoming normal for high-density closets)
When you pick the wrong "equivalent," the failure mode is predictable:
- The port template looks similar, but uplink speed assumptions differ (40G default vs 100G day-one), so quotes and outcomes drift.
- The HA model differs, so maintenance windows and blast radius differ.
- Operations tooling differs, so troubleshooting and long-term OPEX differ.
Core evaluation metrics
Here are the five categories we'll use-kept intentionally consistent throughout the article.
For 10G/100G campus switching
| Category | What we compare | Why it matters |
| Role fit | IDF access vs building distribution vs edge room | "Same model" can behave very differently per layer |
| Port template | 10G downlinks + uplink count/type | Decides whether it's truly equivalent |
| Uplink reality | Default uplink speed + licensing/activation | Decides what you actually deploy |
| HA design options | Stacking/virtualization vs M-LAG-like designs | Controls uptime during failures and upgrades |
| Operations & visibility | Telemetry/measurement, automation hooks, troubleshooting workflow | Determines long-term stability and OPEX |
Models in scope
H3C baseline: S6812 / S6813 (48×10G + 6×100G template)
H3C describes S6812/S6813 as high-density intelligent switches designed for data centers and cloud networks. They can operate as ToR access switches on overlay or integrated networks-useful for campus edge rooms and high-density IDFs. On the 48-port variants, H3C lists: 48×10G SFP+ + 6×100G QSFP28.
H3C also highlights:
- IRF2 for device virtualization (multiple devices as one logical device)
- DRNI (M-LAG) for dual-homing and independent upgrades
- VXLAN + MP-BGP EVPN, and DCB features like PFC/ETS/DCBX (important if you use lossless Ethernet in edge rooms)
Huawei equivalents: S6730-H / S6730-H-V2 (closest template) and S6750-H (one tier up)
- Huawei CloudEngine S6730-H48X6C: 48×10G SFP+ + 6×40/100G QSFP28, 490 Mpps, 2.16/2.4 Tbps
- Huawei CloudEngine S6730-H48X6C-V2: 48×1/10G SFP+ + 6×40/100G QSFP28, 490 Mpps, 2.16/2.4 Tbps; with explicit note about 40GE default and RTU licensing for 100GE
- Huawei CloudEngine S6750-H48X8C (core/aggregation leaning): 48×1/10GE SFP28 + 8×40/100GE QSFP28, 1200 Mpps, 4/8 Tbps
Quick spec + Role snapshot
This is the fastest way to see what is actually comparable.
H3C vs Huawei
| Brand / Model | Downlinks | Uplinks | Switching capacity | Forwarding | Notable features (high-level) | Best-fit campus role |
| H3C S6812-48X6C | 48×10G SFP+ | 6×100G QSFP28 | 2160 Gbps (48-port variants shown) | 600 Mpps (S6812 48-port line) | IRF2 virtualization, DRNI (M-LAG), VXLAN + EVPN, DCB features | High-density IDF access / edge room ToR |
| H3C S6813-48X6C | 48×10G SFP+ | 6×100G QSFP28 | 2160 Gbps (48-port variants shown) | 1050 Mpps (S6813 48-port line) | Same family features; higher forwarding headroom | High-density IDF access where concurrency is heavier |
| Huawei S6730-H48X6C | 48×10G SFP+ | 6×40/100G QSFP28 | 2.16/2.4 Tbps | 490 Mpps | "Direct template neighbor" to 48×10G + QSFP28 uplinks | High-density IDF access / building edge |
| Huawei S6730-H48X6C-V2 | 48×1/10G SFP+ | 6×40/100G QSFP28 (40GE default; RTU to 100GE) | 2.16/2.4 Tbps | 490 Mpps | VXLAN; IFIT measurement for delay/loss; ring protection options | IDF access where O&M visibility is prioritized |
| Huawei S6750-H48X8C | 48×1/10GE SFP28 | 8×40/100GE QSFP28 | 4/8 Tbps | 1200 Mpps | iStack; IFIT; telemetry to CampusInsight; VXLAN + EVPN; MACsec; Python OPS | Building distribution / collapsed aggregation |
Dimension 1: Role fit and port template
A campus "same-role" switch comparison should start with where the switch lives:
Role A - High-density IDF access (wiring closet)
You're trying to standardize a repeatable template:
- 48×10G downlinks (for edge uplinks, servers-in-edge-room, or 10G endpoints)
- Multiple 100G-class uplinks back to building distribution or campus core
H3C explicitly positions S6812/S6813 for high-density 10GE and ToR use.
Huawei positions S6730-H-V2 for enterprise campus and aggregation roles with 10GE and 100GE uplinks.
Role B - Building distribution / aggregation
Here, uplink fan-in and headroom dominate, which is why a model like S6750-H48X8C (8×QSFP28 uplinks) becomes more "equivalent" than any 6-uplink box, even if the downlink count is similar.
Key takeaway: If the switch is meant to be a repeatable IDF template, compare S6812/S6813 against S6730-H(-V2). If it's meant to concentrate multiple closets, compare against S6750-H.
Dimension 2: Uplink reality
If you only remember one thing from this article, make it this:
A QSFP28 port is not a deliverable. A 100GE uplink in production is.
Huawei's S6730-H-V2 datasheet is unusually explicit:
- "All ports support 40GE by default."
- You can purchase "RTU licenses to upgrade the port rate from 40GE to 100GE."
That single sentence changes:
- how you write the BoM,
- how you compare quotes,
- and what you can turn on during commissioning.
H3C's S6812/S6813 model list presents the 48-port variants with 6×100G QSFP28 in the base description.
Practical guidance (still "fair"):
- If your design depends on 6×100G uplinks per closet, treat Huawei V2's uplinks as "100G-capable but deliverable depends on RTU," and validate that assumption early.
- If your design can run at 40G uplinks first and "unlock 100G later," then Huawei's explicit licensing path may fit your phased rollout.
Dimension 3: Performance headroom
Switching specs matter, but in campus networks they matter when they correlate to symptoms (jitter, microbursts, policy overhead, visibility overhead).
H3C's own spec table shows a meaningful separation inside the family:
- S6812 forwarding capacity: 600 Mpps
- S6813 forwarding capacity: 1050 Mpps
Huawei S6730-H (and H-V2) lists 490 Mpps, while Huawei S6750-H48X8C lists 1200 Mpps.
"Numbers → outcomes" map (how to interpret specs in campus designs)
| Metric | What it tends to show up as | When it matters most | Role that cares most |
| Forwarding (Mpps) | Stability under concurrency and small packets; policy-heavy traffic | Many short flows; heavy ACL/QoS; high visibility overhead | IDF access / edge room |
| Uplink count + speed | Whether you "feel" oversubscription | Growth, fan-in, multi-closet aggregation | Distribution / aggregation |
| Switching capacity (Tbps) | Upper limit headroom | High-traffic aggregation blocks | Distribution / collapsed core |
- If your closets serve relatively predictable north-south traffic and your bottleneck is uplinks, chasing higher Mpps at the access layer won't fix user complaints.
- If your closets run heavy segmentation, security policies, and "spiky" workloads (labs, media production, industrial telemetry bursts), the higher-forwarding tier can be worth it.
Dimension 4: HA design
A fair cross-brand comparison doesn't ask "does it support stacking?" It asks:
What happens when you patch, upgrade, or lose a box?
H3C highlights IRF2 for virtualization and DRNI (M-LAG) for dual-homing and independent upgrades.
Huawei's S6750-H series datasheet describes iStack, which combines multiple switches into one logical switch and provides redundancy backup and scalable expansion.
How to write this section (without getting too complex)
Break it into two "operator questions":
1. Maintenance question: Can I upgrade one unit with minimal interruption?
- H3C's DRNI section explicitly calls out independent upgrading and split-brain protection logic.
- Huawei iStack emphasizes virtualization and simplified management through a logical switch abstraction.
2. Failure-domain question: If something goes wrong, how big is the blast radius?
- Virtualizing multiple switches can simplify operations, but you must match it to your change-control maturity.
- M-LAG-style dual-homing can preserve operational independence but demands disciplined cabling and configuration.
Fair takeaway: Choose the HA pattern your team can operate repeatedly-not the one that looks best on paper.
Dimension 5: Operations & visibility
This is where "enterprise" decisions are made: you're not buying a switch; you're buying the next five years of troubleshooting.
Huawei: measurement + telemetry + automation hooks
Huawei's S6750-H series datasheet provides unusually concrete operations features, including:
- IFIT (In-situ Flow Information Telemetry) for in-band measurement of packet loss rate and delay (native-IP IFIT on this series)
- Telemetry feeding Huawei iMaster NCE-CampusInsight for fault identification and experience impact analysis
- Python-based OPS for programmable O&M functions
- VXLAN + BGP EVPN, configurable via NETCONF/YANG (useful if your campus segmentation strategy goes overlay)
- MACsec for link-layer security in environments with strict security requirements
Huawei S6730-H-V2 also includes VXLAN and IFIT measurement language in its datasheet (native-IP IFIT for delay/loss monitoring).
H3C: ToR/DC features that can matter in "campus edge rooms"
H3C's S681X page emphasizes:
- VXLAN and MP-BGP EVPN control-plane support
- DCB features (PFC/ETS/DCBX) aimed at lossless Ethernet for RDMA/FC-like use cases (relevant in mini-DC edge rooms)
- Programmable chips / SDN capacity and controller integration (Netconf, SNMP listed in the page text)
Fair takeaway: If your campus includes edge rooms running storage/compute-like workloads, H3C's data-center feature emphasis may align well. If your priority is campus-wide experience visibility and centralized analytics workflows, Huawei's explicit IFIT/telemetry tooling is worth weighting heavily (because it changes how you troubleshoot).
Scenario-based recommendations
This is the "so what should I do?" section-kept practical.
2026 campus roles
| Scenario | What usually breaks first | Role template | Lean H3C S6812/S6813 when... | Lean Huawei S6730-H-V2 / S6750-H when... |
| Office tower IDFs | Uplink oversubscription | 48×10G + multi-uplink | You want DC-style ToR features and 100G uplinks as a core deliverable | You want a campus ops/measurement workflow and accept 40G default + RTU to 100G |
| University (many buildings) | OPEX + troubleshooting | Standardized closet templates | Your team is standardized on H3C fabric features and HA model (IRF2/DRNI) | You want IFIT/telemetry + centralized analytics at scale |
| Hospital / critical uptime | Maintenance blast radius | HA-first design | You prefer DRNI-style dual-homing with independent upgrades | You want stacked logical switches (iStack) plus visibility for rapid fault isolation |
| Manufacturing campus | Visibility under bursts | Access + robust uplinks | You need headroom for bursty traffic and ToR-like behavior; S6813's higher Mpps tier is attractive | IFIT/telemetry to pinpoint loss/delay and reduce mean-time-to-innocence |
| Collapsed distribution/core | Uplink density | Aggregation switch | (Use an H3C aggregation class) | You need 8×40/100G uplinks and higher headroom (S6750-H48X8C) |
| Future overlay segmentation | Operational complexity | VXLAN-capable edge | You'll run VXLAN + EVPN and value DC-leaning feature set | You'll run VXLAN + EVPN and want NETCONF/YANG + campus analytics workflows |
FAQs
Q1: What does "equivalent campus switch" mean for H3C S6812/S6813?
A: It means the same role and port template: typically 48×10G downlinks with multiple 100G-class uplinks, used for high-density IDF access or edge rooms. H3C's 48-port variants are listed as 48×10G + 6×100G QSFP28, while Huawei's S6730-H(-V2) is 48×10G-class + 6×40/100G QSFP28.
Q2: Why is "40/100G uplinks" not automatically the same as "6×100G uplinks"?
A: Because the deliverable uplink speed may depend on defaults or licensing. Huawei S6730-H-V2 explicitly states 40GE by default and uses RTU licenses to upgrade to 100GE.
Q3: Which Huawei model is the closest template match to a 48×10G + 6×uplink design?
A: Huawei CloudEngine S6730-H48X6C (and its V2 variants) because it aligns to 48×10G downlinks + 6×QSFP28 uplinks.
Q4: When should I compare against Huawei S6750-H48X8C instead?
A: When the switch is acting as building distribution / collapsed aggregation, where uplink density (8×QSFP28) and higher headroom become the primary requirement.
Q5: Is S6813 "better" than S6812?
A: Not universally. The H3C spec table shows higher forwarding capacity for S6813 (1050 Mpps) vs S6812 (600 Mpps), which can matter under heavier concurrency/policy/visibility overhead.
Q6: Does Huawei provide built-in tools for delay/loss visibility?
A: Huawei's S6750-H and S6730-H-V2 datasheets describe IFIT in-band measurement for delay and packet loss (native-IP IFIT supported on these series).
Q7: If I don't plan to run VXLAN in campus, should I care that a switch supports it?
A: Only as future flexibility. H3C lists VXLAN and MP-BGP EVPN, and Huawei lists VXLAN and BGP EVPN on the S6750-H series. It matters most if you have an overlay roadmap.
Q8: What HA options exist on these platforms?
A: H3C highlights IRF2 virtualization and DRNI (M-LAG) for dual-homing with independent upgrades. Huawei documents iStack to virtualize multiple switches into one logical switch with redundancy.
Q9: Is MACsec relevant for campus switching in 2026?
A: It can be, especially in regulated environments or where you need link-layer encryption. Huawei's S6750-H series datasheet explicitly lists MACsec support.
Q10: What's the most common reason "we upgraded switches but users still complain"?
A: Uplinks and architecture. If uplink deliverables (40G vs 100G) and HA design don't match the real traffic pattern, access-layer upgrades won't translate into user experience improvements. (Huawei's 40G default + RTU-to-100G note is a classic example of why deliverables matter.)
Q11: How do I decide between a 6-uplink vs 8-uplink model?
A: If you're aggregating multiple closets or expect rapid growth, the "8 uplinks" class (like S6750-H48X8C) reduces fan-in pressure and gives more design freedom.
Q12: Which platform is more "campus-ops oriented" on paper?
A: Huawei's S6750-H datasheet is very explicit about operations workflows-IFIT measurement, telemetry to CampusInsight, Python OPS, and cloud-based management.
Q13: Which platform is more "edge room / mini-DC oriented" on paper?
A: H3C S681X emphasizes ToR/data-center features such as DCB (PFC/ETS/DCBX) and EVPN control-plane support, which can map well to edge rooms with storage/compute-like behavior.
Conclusion
A fair 2026 cross-brand comparison isn't "H3C vs Huawei"-it's IDF access vs distribution role, and uplink deliverables vs marketing labels. H3C S6812/S6813 provide a clear 48×10G + 6×100G template with DC-leaning features (IRF2, DRNI, VXLAN/EVPN, and DCB).
Huawei's S6730-H-V2 and S6750-H families cover the same campus roles while being unusually explicit about measurement/visibility (IFIT) and telemetry/analytics workflows, and (on S6730-H-V2) the 40G default + RTU-to-100G uplink reality.
If you share your layer/role (IDF vs distribution), 10G port counts, target uplink speeds, and whether you want "100G day one", our team can map the closest equivalents and propose a rollout-ready BoM (switch + optics + fiber patch cables) with a practical HA and operations plan.
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