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Summary
If you're building or refreshing an access-layer network in 2026-especially for Wi-Fi 6/6E/7, IP surveillance, VoIP, and IPv6 readiness-the H3C S5130S family is a practical "one-series, many-scenarios" choice:
S5130S-EI covers cost-effective Gigabit access with flexible port mixes, S5130S-LI adds simplified managed features with 10G uplinks for SMB/branch, and S5130S-EI-G (notably S5130S-54S-EI-G) pushes higher 10G uplink density for campus/aggregation edge-so you can standardize operations while right-sizing hardware per closet.
In 2026, the access layer is no longer "just edge ports." It's where Wi-Fi 7 APs draw PoE, where IoT endpoints multiply, where micro-segmentation starts, and where oversubscription mistakes show up as video jitter and roaming delays.
The H3C S5130S family is popular precisely because it lets you keep one operational playbook-stacking, security posture, QoS habits-while selecting the exact hardware shape (copper, fiber, PoE, multigig, uplink mix) that each wiring closet needs.
This guide covers all 29 models you listed (no omissions, no extras), and is written to be 2026-forward: multigig at the edge, 10G uplinks as the default design baseline, and security + IPv6 as "day-0" requirements.
What's inside the S5130S family?
1. S5130S-EI (Enhanced Gigabit Access Switches)
Think of EI as the "broadest menu": classic 8/16/24/48 Gigabit copper access, plus variants for PoE, fiber-heavy deployments, combo ports, and stacking. The official EI datasheet includes detailed per-model hardware specifications like port switching capacity and forwarding rate.
2. S5130S-LI (Simplified Gigabit Access Switches)
LI targets SMB/branch networks that want managed features and 10G SFP+ uplinks with a lighter product set (only two models). It explicitly supports IRF2 stacking and a broad feature set (security, QoS, IPv6, routing like OSPF).
3. S5130S-EI-G (Enhanced Gigabit Access Switches - EI-G line)
EI-G (notably S5130S-54S-EI-G) is positioned as a cost-effective access switching solution with high-density GE + 10GbE uplinks, and includes SDN messaging in the product page. Hardware specs list 216Gbps port switching capacity and 161Mpps forwarding for this model.
Key Specifications at a Glance
| Model | Family | Access / Service Ports | Uplinks | Multigig Ports | PoE / Budget (as listed) | Port Switching Capacity | Forwarding Capacity | Box Switching Capacity | Max Stacking Bandwidth | Max Stack Num |
| S5130S-10P-EI | EI | 8×1G RJ45 | 2×1G SFP | - | No | 20Gbps | 15Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-20P-EI | EI | 16×1G RJ45 | 4×1G SFP | - | No | 40Gbps | 30Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28P-EI | EI | 24×1G RJ45 | 4×1G SFP | - | No | 56Gbps | 42Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-52P-EI | EI | 48×1G RJ45 | 4×1G SFP | - | No | 104Gbps | 78Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-10P-HPWR-EI | EI (PoE) | 8×1G RJ45 | 2×1G SFP | - | Yes (PoE 125W) | 20Gbps | 15Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-20P-PWR-EI | EI (PoE) | 16×1G RJ45 | 4×1G SFP | - | Yes (PoE 185W) | 40Gbps | 30Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28S-PWR-EI | EI (PoE) | 24×1G RJ45 | 4×1G SFP | - | Yes (PoE 170W) | 56Gbps | 42Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28S-HPWR-EI-AC | EI (PoE) | 24×1G RJ45 | 4×1G SFP (4×Base-T combo) | - | Yes (PoE 370W) | 56Gbps | 42Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-52P-PWR-EI-AC | EI (PoE) | 48×1G RJ45 | 4×1G SFP | - | Yes (PoE 370W) | 104Gbps | 78Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28S-EI | EI (10G uplink) | 24×1G RJ45 | 4×10G SFP+ | - | No | 128Gbps | 96Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-52S-EI | EI (10G uplink) | 48×1G RJ45 | 4×10G SFP+ | - | No | 176Gbps | 131Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-16S-PWR-EI | EI (10G+PoE) | 14×1G RJ45 (12 PoE+ + 2 non-PoE) | 2×10G SFP+ | - | Yes (PoE 125W) | 68Gbps | 51Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28S-PWR-EI | EI (10G+PoE) | 24×1G RJ45 PoE+ | 4×10G SFP+ | - | Yes (PoE 170W) | 128Gbps | 96Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28S-HPWR-EI-AC | EI (10G+PoE) | 24×1G RJ45 PoE+ (4×SFP combo) | 4×10G SFP+ (+ 4×1G SFP combo) | - | Yes (PoE 370W) | 128Gbps | 96Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-52S-PWR-EI-AC | EI (10G+PoE) | 48×1G RJ45 PoE+ | 4×10G SFP+ | - | Yes (PoE 370W) | 176Gbps | 131Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28ST-EI | EI (Multigig) | 24×1G RJ45 | 2×10G SFP+ | 2×1/2.5/5/10G BASE-T | No | 128Gbps | 96Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-52ST-EI | EI (Multigig) | 48×1G RJ45 | 2×10G SFP+ | 2×1/2.5/5/10G BASE-T | No | 176Gbps | 132Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28ST-PWR-EI | EI (Multigig+PoE) | 24×1G RJ45 | 2×10G SFP+ | 2×1/2.5/5/10G BASE-T | Yes (PoE 370W) | 128Gbps | 96Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-52ST-PWR-EI | EI (Multigig+PoE) | 48×1G RJ45 | 2×10G SFP+ | 2×1/2.5/5/10G BASE-T | Yes (PoE 370W) | 176Gbps | 132Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28F-EI | EI (Fiber-heavy) | 24×1G SFP (8×Base-T combo) | 4×10G SFP+ | - | No | 128Gbps | 96Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-52F-EI | EI (Fiber-heavy) | 48×1G SFP (2×Base-T combo) | 4×10G SFP+ | - | No | 176Gbps | 131Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28PS-EI | EI (Combo mix) | 24×1G SFP (8×SFP combo) | 4×10G SFP+ | - | No | 128Gbps | 96Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-12TP-EI | EI (Compact combo) | 10×1G Base-T (2×SFP combo) | 2×1G SFP | - | No | 24Gbps | 18Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28TP-EI | EI (Combo) | 26×1G Base-T (2×SFP combo) | 2×1G SFP | - | No | 56Gbps | 42Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-52TP-EI | EI (Combo) | 50×1G Base-T (2×SFP combo) | 2×1G SFP | - | No | 104Gbps | 78Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-12TP-HPWR-EI | EI (Compact PoE) | 10×1G Base-T (2×SFP combo) | 2×1G SFP | - | Yes (PoE 125W) | 24Gbps | 18Mpps | 336Gbps | 16Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-28S-LI | LI | 24×1G Base-T | 4×10G SFP+ | - | No | 128Gbps | 96Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-52S-LI | LI | 48×1G Base-T | 4×10G SFP+ | - | No | 176Gbps | 132Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
| S5130S-54S-EI-G | EI-G | 48×1G Base-T | 6×1/10G SFP+ | - | No | 216Gbps | 161Mpps | 336Gbps | 80Gbps | 9 |
How to choose the right S5130S model in 2026?
Rule A - Design uplinks first (then choose access ports)
In 2026, the "safe default" is: 10G uplinks for any closet that serves Wi-Fi 6E/7 or heavy video. That pushes most modern deployments toward:
- S5130S-28S/52S (EI or LI): 4×10G SFP+ uplinks (good general-purpose design)
- S5130S-54S-EI-G: 6×10G SFP+ uplinks (stronger uplink density without jumping to an aggregation chassis)
- S5130S-28ST/52ST: 2×10G SFP+ uplinks + 2×multigig BASE-T for "AP-first" closets
If the closet is truly light-duty (printers, a few desks, low concurrency), then 1G SFP uplinks can still be valid:
- S5130S-10P/20P/28P/52P and their PoE variants (EI)
Rule B - Let PoE budget decide "PWR vs HPWR" in real deployments
The EI line explicitly lists PoE budgets in parentheses alongside max power consumption-use these as your first sizing anchor.
- A Wi-Fi 7 AP can range from "comfortable" to "power-hungry" depending on radio chains, USB, or IoT modules-so 370W models give you breathing room across refresh cycles.
- Cameras + intercoms + door controllers can quietly consume your headroom; 170W feels fine until you add "just a few more endpoints."
So:
- Choose PoE 125W models for small closets (few APs/cameras): 10P-HPWR, 16S-PWR, 12TP-HPWR
- Choose PoE 170-185W for moderate density: 28P-PWR, 28S-PWR, 20P-PWR
- Choose PoE 370W for Wi-Fi 6E/7-heavy or surveillance-heavy closets: 28P-HPWR-EI-AC, 52P-PWR-EI-AC, 28S-HPWR-EI-AC, 52S-PWR-EI-AC, 28ST-PWR, 52ST-PWR
Rule C - Pick fiber-first models when your building plant demands it
If your endpoints or distribution frames are fiber-based-or you must minimize copper runs in electrically noisy environments-start with:
- S5130S-28F-EI / 52F-EI (many SFP access ports + 10G SFP+ uplinks)
- S5130S-28PS-EI (SFP-heavy with 10G SFP+ uplinks)
Rule D - Multigig is for "AP bottlenecks," not for everything
The ST models add 2× 1/2.5/5/10G BASE-T ports-perfect for:
- A Wi-Fi 6E/7 AP uplink that can exceed 1Gbps sustained throughput
- A small server/NAS "close to users"
- A high-density conference area where your AP is a known choke point
2026 Deployment Patterns
Pattern 1: "10G uplinks everywhere, PoE where needed"
Typical campus/enterprise closet
- Access: 24/48×1G copper
- Uplink: 4×10G (or 6×10G for uplink-heavy closets)
- PoE: sized for AP + camera + VoIP growth
Good fits:
- S5130S-28S-PWR-EI (170W) for medium PoE
- S5130S-52S-PWR-EI-AC (370W) for dense PoE
- S5130S-54S-EI-G for uplink density (6×10G SFP+)
Pattern 2: "Multigig for APs, 10G for the closet uplink"
Wi-Fi 6E/7 refresh closet
- Use the multigig ports for the two highest-impact AP locations (auditorium, lobby, conference hub)
- Keep the rest of the closet on 1G copper
- Ensure uplink is at least 10G and ideally aggregated if upstream is shared
Good fits:
- S5130S-28ST-PWR-EI / 52ST-PWR-EI (PoE 370W)
Pattern 3: "Fiber access edge"
Industrial floors, long runs, EMI concerns
- Use SFP access ports to avoid copper limitations
- Use 10G SFP+ to distribution
- Standardize optics + patching to reduce operational mistakes
Good fits:
- S5130S-28F-EI / 52F-EI
- S5130S-28PS-EI
Stacking/IRF2: why it still matters?
Even with modern controller-based networking, stacking remains the "human-friendly" way to:
- reduce management overhead (single logical device)
- build link redundancy (cross-device aggregation)
- simplify upgrades and maintenance windows
H3C's IRF2 is explicitly referenced on the LI page and is also used across this family's stacking story (up to 9 units, with bandwidth values depending on model group).
Practical 2026 advice
- If you have two switches serving one area, stack them and split access ports across both: you reduce the impact of a single hardware failure.
- Uplink design: use LACP and distribute member links across the stack to avoid "one box = one uplink."
Why buy S5130S from Network-Switch.com?
Network hardware selection is only half the project. In 2026, the hidden risks are:
- PoE budget mis-sizing (AP refresh surprises)
- wrong optics / wrong fiber type
- VLAN/QoS/security rollout mistakes
- downtime during cutovers
At network-switch.com, we combine multi-brand distribution (Cisco, Huawei, Ruijie, H3C, and our NS brand) with certified engineers (CCIE/HCIE/H3CIE/RCNP-level capabilities) and end-to-end delivery + warranty support-so customers can treat procurement + design + rollout as one pipeline, not separate vendors.
FAQs
Q1: What's the difference between Port Switching Capacity and Box Switching Capacity, and which one should I care about in a real network?
A: Port Switching Capacity is the model's "usable throughput budget" tied to its port configuration and switching silicon for that specific fixed switch (e.g., 128Gbps on S5130S-28S-EI), while Box Switching Capacity is a higher-level chassis/box capability figure that's sometimes constant across a family (e.g., 336Gbps appears across many S5130S models). In practice, you size closets with Port Switching Capacity + uplink design: if users, APs, and cameras can collectively push bursts, you want enough port capacity and enough uplink bandwidth so the switch doesn't become the choke point.
Q2: How do I decide if I need 10G uplinks (SFP+) instead of 1G uplinks (SFP) in 2026?
A: Use a simple concurrency rule: if the closet serves Wi-Fi 6E/7 APs, heavy video meetings, or dense surveillance, assume multiple endpoints will peak simultaneously and design uplinks so peak bursts don't queue. The S5130S-28S/52S (EI or LI) provide 4×10G SFP+ uplinks, and S5130S-54S-EI-G provides 6×10G-these are designed for modern uplink expectations; 1G uplinks are best reserved for truly light branch/edge closets with low simultaneous demand.
Q3: What are the ST models (S5130S-28ST/52ST), and why do only two ports support multigig?
A: The ST models add 2× 1/2.5/5/10G BASE-T ports so you can "upgrade the bottleneck" where it actually matters-usually the one or two APs serving the highest-density areas-without paying for 24/48 multigig ports you won't use. This matches 2026 reality: most endpoints are still fine on 1G, but a couple of AP uplinks can exceed 1G in busy spaces, so multigig is targeted rather than universal.
Q4: What does "combo port" mean on models like S5130S-28P-HPWR-EI-AC or S5130S-28S-HPWR-EI-AC?
A: A combo port lets you choose either copper or fiber for that interface position (you don't use both at the same time). In the datasheet tables you'll see notes like "4×Base-T combo" or "4×SFP combo," which is H3C's way of indicating those shared interfaces. This is valuable when your closet design might change (copper now, fiber later) or when you need to adapt to building cabling constraints without changing the whole switch model.
Q5: How do I correctly size PoE budget for Wi-Fi APs, cameras, and VoIP phones without overbuying?
A: Start by listing each powered device's expected draw (not just "max spec"), then apply a concurrency factor: for example, phones are steady but low, cameras are steady-medium (especially IR at night), and APs can spike with load. Then compare your estimated total against the PoE budget class shown in H3C's specs: 125W (small), 170-185W (mid), and 370W (high). In 2026, many teams intentionally pick 370W in AP-heavy closets to avoid forced mid-cycle upgrades when Wi-Fi generations refresh.
Q6: If two models have the same switching capacity and forwarding rate, what should I use to choose between them?
A: Treat switching/forwarding as the "engine," then choose based on "chassis fit": port type (SFP vs RJ45), uplink type (SFP vs SFP+), PoE budget, multigig needs, and physical/operational constraints (fanless for quiet areas, power supply expectations). For example, S5130S-52S-EI and S5130S-52S-PWR-EI-AC share performance class, but the PoE model is built for powering endpoints at scale.
Q7: When should I choose fiber-heavy models (S5130S-28F/52F or 28PS) instead of copper access models?
A: Choose fiber-heavy when copper runs are too long, the environment is electrically noisy, you're aggregating fiber drops from distributed areas, or you want consistent optics-based patching for operations. The 28F/52F models provide many 1G SFP access ports plus 10G SFP+ uplinks, while 28PS is another SFP-centric option-these designs are ideal for industrial, campus distribution closets, or buildings with existing fiber-to-desk/zone architectures.
Q8: What's the practical benefit of IRF2 stacking for a beginner-why not just manage two switches separately?
A: IRF2 turns multiple physical switches into one logical device: one management IP, unified configuration, and the ability to build cross-device link aggregation so your uplinks and downstreams can survive a single switch failure without complex spanning-tree designs. For beginners, this reduces configuration drift ("switch A and switch B don't match") and lowers downtime risk during upgrades.
Q9: How do features like 802.1X and MAC authentication actually fit into a real rollout without breaking users?
A: The safe rollout is staged: start with visibility (learn endpoints), then enforce on low-risk ports, then expand. Many networks use a mixed approach: 802.1X for laptops, MAC auth for printers/IoT, and guest/portal options for unmanaged devices. The LI page explicitly lists support for 802.1X, MAC authentication, and other controls; the key is designing exception handling and device onboarding so "security doesn't become downtime."
Q10: What QoS basics matter most at the access layer in 2026 (voice, video, and Wi-Fi traffic)?
A: Prioritize real-time traffic (voice/video) with consistent marking (DSCP) and ensure the switch uses queue scheduling that preserves latency under load. At the access layer, the most common mistakes are trusting markings from endpoints you don't control, and forgetting to align uplink queues with your access queues, which causes "perfect edge QoS" to be destroyed at the first uplink. A beginner-friendly approach is: mark/remark at the edge, keep a small set of classes, and validate with real call/video tests during peak time.
Q11: Is IPv6 actually "required" in 2026 for access switching, and what should I check in specs?
A: You don't need IPv6 everywhere on day one, but you need hardware that won't block you when security teams or cloud connectivity demands expand. Check for IPv6 features, routing support (if you route at the edge), and security controls for neighbor/ARP-like protections. The LI page explicitly states rich IPv6 features and routing protocol support (including OSPFv3), and the EI-G page positions IPv4/IPv6 dual-stack capability.
Q12: How should I plan optics and cabling so I don't waste money or cause link instability?
A: First decide fiber type (single-mode vs multimode) and distance, then pick transceivers that match exactly (wavelength + reach + connector type). Keep patching standardized (same polarity, clear labeling, tested links). For 10G uplinks (SFP+), it's especially important to match module type to plant-many "mystery flaps" are simply mismatched optics or dirty connectors. If you're unsure, standardize one or two module SKUs per distance tier and reuse them across closets.
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