Data Center Switches

When you are specifying a data center switch, compare port speed, throughput and stacking headroom against the role the switch will play in the fabric. This page explains what matters in that decision and shows two listed switches with their specifications as listed, supplied by Hui Tong as original, brand-new equipment.

Data Center Switching as a Category (general background, not a description of the listed models)

A data center switch sits at the center of east-west traffic: server-to-server, rack-to-rack and leaf-to-spine. In a typical spine/leaf design, top-of-rack (ToR) leaf switches aggregate server links and uplink to a spine layer, which handles inter-leaf traffic. High port density, low-latency forwarding and predictable stacking or uplink bandwidth matter more here than in an office access closet.

This page is written for network engineers and procurement teams at system integrators specifying a bill of materials, distributors, and importers sourcing brand-new equipment for resale.

Listed Switches — Specifications as Listed

The following models are currently listed. Specifications are as listed for each model; the listings do not state data-center roles, so confirm fit against your design before ordering.

Selection and Sourcing Notes

Start from the role in the fabric — leaf, aggregation or spine — then compare port speeds, switching capacity, forwarding rate and stacking or uplink bandwidth against it. Both listings describe the switch as Layer 3; the EX4600-40F-AFO is listed with 40x 10G SFP+ and 4x 100G QSFP28 ports in 1U, and the QFX5120-48Y-AFO2 with 48 ports and 4 Tbps switching capacity. Neither listing states routing features, airflow direction or power supply configuration, so confirm those, and the optics plan, for the exact part number against your rack layout before ordering.

• Minimum order: from 1 unit. Before payment, confirm price, delivery time and order conditions for your order with the sales team.
• Payment terms: T/T, D/P and D/A.
• Warranty: 1 year on supplied equipment.
• Company locations: the company profile states offices and warehouses in Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan and Shenzhen, and lists main export markets including North America, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa and Oceania.

To compare the listed Layer 3 models side by side, see our Layer 3 switches page. For port-level detail on the 10G/100G option, open the EX4600-40F-AFO page. For a quotation on either model, send your model list and destination, and confirm availability, price and delivery time with the sales team before ordering. General terms: T/T, D/P or D/A payment and a 1-year warranty.