As digital transformation accelerates, campuses and enterprises need smarter, more scalable networking solutions. The Huawei S5736 Switch series offers all‑optical gigabit access, layered intelligence, and flexible uplink speeds—positioning it as an exceptional Campus Switch and Enterprise Switch that both meets today’s needs and adapts to tomorrow’s growth.
Product Line Overview & Model Highlights
Model | Downlink Ports | Uplink Ports | Capacity / Forwarding | RTU Upgrade | PoE | Power Supply |
S5736‑S24S4XC | 24 × GE SFP | 4 × 10GE SFP+ | 448 Gbps / 240 Mpps | No | No | Dual AC/DC |
S5736‑S48S4XC | 48 × GE SFP | 4 × 10GE SFP+ | 496 Gbps / 240 Mpps | No | No | Dual AC/DC |
S5736‑S48S4X‑A | 48 × GE SFP | 4 × 10GE SFP+ | 1.04 Tbps / 480 Mpps | Yes | No | Dual AC |
S5736‑S48S4X‑D | 48 × GE SFP | 4 × 10GE SFP+ | 2.72 Tbps / 480 Mpps | Yes | No | Dual DC |
These all-optical models offer pay‑as‑you‑grow flexibility with Right‑To‑Use licenses, making them ideal for evolving Campus Switch and Enterprise Switch needs.
Deep Dive into Key Innovations
⚡ All-Optical Access with RTU Flexibility
All S5736 models use GE‑SFP ports, and select variants (S4X‑A/D) permit on‑the‑fly upgrades to 10 GE speeds via RTU licensing. This future-proofs your network with minimal hardware change.
🧠 Layer‑3 Intelligence & Security
Powered by Huawei VRP, S5736 includes OSPF, RIPng, IS‑IS, BGP, VRRP, and ECMP. Advanced security—MAC filtering, DHCP snooping, ARP protection, ACL, DoS defense—and optional MACsec on subcards, secure edge networks.
🔁 Flexible Ethernet and Ring Protection
Supports traditional STP/RSTP/MSTP, plus Huawei's SEP and industry-standard ERPS, enabling <50 ms convergence in ring topologies—perfect for campus and metro access rings.
🌐 Intelligent O&M & Telemetry
Integrated sFlow, telemetry, and CampusInsight gather real-time metrics and quality-of-service measurements (eMDI), enabling proactive maintenance and fast root-cause analysis.
🔗 SVF & Fabric Simplification
Acts as SVF client; one logical device handles edge access and APs. Unified config and firmware ease bulk deployments.
☁️ Hybrid Cloud Management
With HOUP and IDN licensing, S5736 supports on‑prem or Huawei cloud-based management, offering flexible operational deployment.
Deployment Scenarios & Real-world Examples
A. All‑Optical Campus Edge
A regional university deployed S5736‑S48S4X‑A in dormitory buildings, leveraging all-optical access and 10 GE uplinks. The RTU upgrades kept costs low initially, and telemetry enabled real-time user QoE insights.
B. Metro Wi‑Fi Aggregation
In city-wide Wi‑Fi networks, S5736 devices with SEP/ERPS and optical access formed resilient access rings. Fault tolerance and optical cabling ensured uninterrupted public hotspots across blocks.
Deployment & Management Experience
- Zero-Touch Deployment: SVF and EasyDeploy reduce device staging from hours to minutes.
- Centralized O&M: CampusInsight interprets telemetry, speeding up fault detection and improving user experience.
- Flexible Growth: RTU upgrades mean operators pay only for required capacity—ideal for phased rollouts.
- Hybrid Operations: Cloud/on-prem choices adapt to enterprise policies; one-click firmware via HOUP simplifies maintenance.
Technical Guides & CLI Examples
A. Activate RTU License
[HUAWEI] license activate rtu-ge
Upgrades GE ports to 10 GE on S4X‑A/D models.
B. SEP Ring Protection Setup
[HUAWEI] sep enable
[HUAWEI] sep ring 1 node 1
[HUAWEI] sep ring 1 node 2
C. Enable sFlow Telemetry
[HUAWEI] sflow-agent 10.0.0.5 sampling 1000
[HUAWEI] sflow enable
Competitive Comparison
Feature | Huawei S5736 Switch | Cisco Catalyst 9200/9300 |
All‑Optical Ports | Yes (48 GE SFP) | No |
10GE RTU Upgrade | Supported on S4X models | No |
SEP/ERPS Rings | Yes | Partial ring protection |
Telemetry & eMDI | Included | Premium licenses required |
Hybrid Management | HOUP & cloud ready | DNA Center (on-prem) |
Huawei's S5736 delivers optical access, virtualization, and smart management at attractive TCO—setting it apart in today’s Campus and Enterprise Switch markets.
FAQs from Customers
-
Can I upgrade GE ports to 10GE later?
Yes, on S4X‑A/D models via RTU licenses. -
Does it support ring topologies?
Yes—with SEP and ERPS for <50 ms convergence. -
Are Layer‑3 protocols included?
OSPF, BGP, RIPng, IS‑IS, VRRP, ECMP are fully supported. -
Is MACsec available?
Yes—on 8×10GE subcards for encrypted links. -
Can I monitor QoE?
Yes, via telemetry and eMDI metrics routed to CampusInsight. -
Does it require cloud?
No—fully operable standalone; cloud management is optional. -
What switching capacity?
Up to 2.72 Tbps system, and 480 Mpps forwarding. -
Does it support VLAN scale?
Up to 4094 VLANs, GVRP/MUX VLAN enabled.
Conclusion
The Huawei S5736 Switch series offers a unique blend of all‑optical gigabit access, flexible 10 GE upgrades, Layer‑3 smarts, fabric virtualization, and intelligent operations—at a compelling price.
Its ring protection, telemetry-driven O&M, and hybrid management empower modern enterprises and campuses with reliability, scalability, and agility. Choose S5736 as your future-ready Campus Switch and Enterprise Switch to build a resilient, intelligent, and upgradeable network foundation.
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