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Quick Summary
If you're building a 2026-ready aggregation layer-either for a campus fabric (distribution/core) or a data-center edge pod-the H3C S6530X-48Y8C is designed for the mainstream upgrade path: 25G downlinks + 100G uplinks, with resiliency options (IRF2 / M-LAG) and modern ops visibility (Telemetry via gRPC) to reduce mean time to repair.
Its defining hardware profile is 48× SFP28 (GE/10G/25G) + 8× QSFP28 (40/100G) and 4 Tbps port switching capacity, backed by a 36M buffer and low-latency forwarding targets.
What the S6530X-48Y8C is?
The S6530X Series is positioned by H3C as an "advanced aggregation 25GE" platform built with ASIC technology, modular dual power, fixed 40/100G uplinks, and IRF resiliency.
The S6530X-48Y8C specifically targets environments that need:
- Dense 25G aggregation (server rows, high-performance building distribution, campus fabric aggregation blocks)
- Multiple 100G uplinks (spine/core uplinks, inter-building backbone, or DC edge uplinks)
- High availability choices (virtual chassis or dual-chassis link aggregation patterns)
- Operational visibility for proactive monitoring and faster incident response
Verified model specifications
Key specs
| Item | H3C S6530X-48Y8C |
| Downlink ports | 48× SFP28 (GE/10G/25G) |
| Uplink ports | 8× QSFP28 (40G/100G) |
| Port switching capacity | 4 Tbps |
| Packet forwarding rate | 1920 Mpps |
| Packet buffer | 36M |
| Latency targets | 25GE: <3 (64byte/us), 100GE: <1.2 (64byte/us) |
| CPU / memory | Quad-core 2GHz; SDRAM 4GB; Flash 4GB |
| Form factor | 1U, 44×440×400 mm; weight ≤7.6 kg |
| Cooling / power | 5 fan tray slots; 1+1 hot-swappable PSU redundancy supported |
Core features & differentiators
1) The 2026 "sweet spot": 25G access/aggregation + 100G uplinks
Most enterprises don't need 100G everywhere-what they need is predictable scaling:
- 10G endpoints remain common,
- new build-outs trend toward 25G in high-demand zones,
- aggregation/backbone increasingly standardizes on 100G.
The S6530X-48Y8C matches that trajectory directly with 48× multi-rate SFP28 and 8× 40/100G QSFP28 uplinks.
2) Uplink density that enables "design freedom"
Why do 8 uplinks matter?
- Dual-homing without compromise: two uplinks to each upstream device, plus room for growth.
- Aggregation blocks at scale: fan-in from multiple access switches while maintaining clean redundancy patterns.
This is especially valuable in campus fabrics where distribution is often the failure domain you want to harden.
3) IRF2 virtualization (single logical switch operations)
H3C's IRF2 is positioned to virtualize multiple switches into one virtual switch, with:
- single point of management,
- high availability (routing hot backup / nonstop L3 forwarding claims),
- distributed link aggregation for redundancy/load balancing,
- flexibility using standard ports for IRF links.
How to think about it: IRF2 is a good fit when you want "one box operationally" at distribution/core-fewer moving parts for operations teams.
4) M-LAG (dual-chassis redundancy without "one failure domain" concerns)
H3C also highlights M-LAG for:
- device-level link backup,
- streamlined topology (reduce STP complexity),
- independent upgrading (upgrade DR members one-by-one),
- high availability with keepalive to prevent split-brain forwarding.
How to think about it: M-LAG is often preferred when you want two independent control planes (two switches) but one logical dual-homed access domain.
5) Telemetry via gRPC
The datasheet explicitly calls out Telemetry sending real-time resource and alarm information to an O&M platform through gRPC, enabling troubleshooting, risk early warning, and optimization via data analysis.
In 2026 operations, this matters because you don't want to diagnose performance issues purely from:
- periodic polling,
- after-the-fact syslogs,
- human-only CLI workflows.
6) VXLAN + EVPN, ISSU, MACsec
The platform highlights:
- VXLAN with EVPN-based automation,
- EVPN as control plane for L2/L3 connectivity across sites,
- ISSU/OAM for continuity and better maintainability,
- MACsec for hop-by-hop link-layer encryption when you need it.
Where the S6530X-48Y8C fits best?
Scenario A - Campus fabric aggregation block
Use it to aggregate multiple access stacks/closets and push uplinks into core/spine. The uplink count helps you keep redundancy clean while reducing oversubscription pain.
Scenario B - Building distribution pair for high-bandwidth floors
For R&D floors, trading floors, media production, and "high-throughput office" zones, the 25G side provides headroom while keeping optics and cabling costs controlled versus "100G everywhere."
Scenario C - Data center edge / enterprise edge pods
As an L3 edge / aggregation for small pods, you can keep multi-rate flexibility for endpoints while maintaining 100G uplinks upstream-especially useful when the endpoint mix is still evolving.
Scenario D - Security-sensitive interconnect zones
If you have regulatory drivers for link-layer protection between infrastructure nodes, MACsec capability helps cover some "east-west" risk surfaces without pushing everything up to a higher-layer overlay.
Deployment & management experience
1) Don't skip the airflow plan
H3C's hardware docs emphasize that you must install five fan trays of the same model in the fan tray slots. And fan tray type determines airflow direction:
- LSPM1FANSA-SN: power supply side → port side
- LSPM1FANSB-SN: port side → power supply side
This is one of the most common causes of "surprise" delays in DC/campus deployments: the switch arrives, but airflow direction doesn't match the rack row.
2) Remember the base unit ships "without power supplies"
The ordering info lists LS-6530X-48Y8C as "Without Power Supplies." So your BOM must include PSUs (and often two for 1+1 redundancy).
3) Standardize optics early
Because the SFP28 ports are multi-rate (GE/10G/25G) and uplinks are 40/100G, your operational simplicity depends on standardization:
- pick default optics types per distance category (in-rack vs building vs campus),
- keep a spare strategy (especially for uplinks),
- align link FEC expectations during interop (important across vendor boundaries).
FAQs
Q1: What's the exact port layout of the S6530X-48Y8C?
A: 48× SFP28 (GE/10G/25G) plus 8× QSFP28 (40/100G).
Q2: How does S6530X-48Y8C fit a 2026 campus fabric design?
A: It works well as an aggregation/distribution block where you need 25G fan-in from access and multiple 100G uplinks to core/spine, with resiliency options like IRF2 or M-LAG.
Q3: IRF2 vs M-LAG-how should I choose?
A: IRF2 targets a "single logical switch" operational model and is highlighted for single management and redundancy; M-LAG is highlighted for device-level link backup and independent upgrading of DR members. Choose based on your failure-domain preference and maintenance model.
Q4: What performance numbers matter most for aggregation stability?
A: For this model, the datasheet highlights 4 Tbps port switching capacity, 1920 Mpps forwarding rate, and a 36M packet buffer-useful signals for handling bursts and congestion at aggregation points.
Q5: What's the stated latency for 25G and 100G?
A: The datasheet lists 25GE latency <3 (64byte/us) and 100GE latency <1.2 (64byte/us).
Q6: Does the base switch include power supplies?
A: The ordering information lists LS-6530X-48Y8C as "Without Power Supplies," so PSUs must be ordered separately.
Q7: How many fan trays do I need, and can I mix models?
A: Hardware information indicates the chassis comes with five fan tray slots and requires five fan trays of the same model to be installed.
Q8: How do I pick the correct airflow direction?
A: Fan tray model defines direction: LSPM1FANSA-SN (power→port) and LSPM1FANSB-SN (port→power). Match this to your rack/cold-aisle/hot-aisle plan.
Q9: What does "Telemetry via gRPC" give me in daily operations?
A: It's positioned to stream real-time resource and alarm information to an O&M platform, enabling troubleshooting, early warning, and optimization through data analysis-useful for faster root cause and proactive baselining.
Q10: Can S6530X-48Y8C support VXLAN/EVPN designs?
A: The S6530X series highlights VXLAN with EVPN-based tunnel establishment and EVPN benefits in the datasheet/product feature descriptions.
Q11: Is MACsec relevant for campus switching?
A: It can be, especially for protecting sensitive inter-switch links in regulated environments. H3C highlights MACsec as a hop-by-hop link-layer encryption method and describes deployment modes for client/device oriented protection.
Q12: Does it support cloud management?
A: Yes-H3C states S6530X series supports cloud management by H3C Cloudnet, described as a proprietary O&M platform based on a unified O&M cloud platform (U-center).
Conclusion
The H3C S6530X-48Y8C is built for the most common enterprise modernization lane: dense multi-rate SFP28 access/aggregation with 8× 40/100G uplinks, plus resiliency patterns (IRF2 / M-LAG) and modern operations capabilities (Telemetry via gRPC, cloud management via Cloudnet).
If you're upgrading campus distribution or building an enterprise edge pod for 2026, it's a pragmatic choice because it balances throughput headroom (4 Tbps port switching) with operational features that reduce downtime and complexity.
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