Aruba JL253A 24x RJ-45 1Gb 4x SFP+ 10Gb - Power Over Ethernet Switch

The Aruba 2930F 24G 4SFP+ Switch (JL253A) is a high-performance, intelligent Layer 3 Access Switch specifically engineered to deliver secure, reliable, and scalable connectivity for enterprise edge, SMBs, and remote branch deployments. It features 24 fixed 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet ports for connecting end-user devices, coupled with four 1G/10G SFP+ uplinks to provide high-speed connectivity to the aggregation or core layers of the network. The switch utilizes a powerful Dual Core ARM Cortex A9 CPU and a substantial 12.38 MB packet buffer to ensure non-blocking, wire-speed performance across its 128 Gbps fabric, with a forwarding rate of up to 95.2 Mpps. Unlike simple Layer 2 switches, the JL253A offers advanced Layer 3 functionalities, including static, RIP, and Access OSPF routing, which enables traffic segmentation and efficient forwarding across different VLANs and subnets right at the access layer. Critically, it supports Aruba's Virtual Switching Framework (VSF), allowing up to eight physical switches to be grouped into a single logical unit. This feature dramatically simplifies management, reduces administrative overhead, and enhances network resilience and uptime through multi-chassis link aggregation. The 2930F series is designed to function as a core element of Aruba’s Mobile First Architecture, ensuring seamless policy enforcement and integration with Aruba wireless solutions and network management platforms like Aruba Central. Its support for advanced security features, quality of service (QoS), and PoE+ options (on other 2930F models) makes it a versatile and future-proof choice for unifying wired and wireless network environments.
This device is an excellent choice for:

• Enterprise and Branch Office Access Layer:

  This is its core role: providing secure, reliable Gigabit Ethernet connectivity to end-user devices (desktops, printers, IoT) at the edge of the enterprise network. Its Layer 3 capabilities allow it to perform basic local routing functions, optimizing traffic flow within the access layer.

• Unified Wired and Wireless Edge Deployment:

  The switch integrates seamlessly with Aruba's architecture, supporting unified security and policy enforcement (via ClearPass) for both wired and wireless users. This is essential for modern offices optimized for mobile users and wireless access points (APs).

• Virtual Switching Framework (VSF) Stacking:

  It is excellent for creating a highly resilient and simplified network by stacking up to 8 switches into one logical unit. VSF provides high availability and reduces management overhead compared to managing individual switches.

• Small to Mid-sized Enterprise (SME) Core/Aggregation:

  In smaller environments, the switch can function as a modest core or aggregation layer device, using its 10 Gigabit SFP+ uplinks to connect to the main network backbone.

• Software-Defined Networking (SDN) Ready Networks:

  The switch supports OpenFlow and REST APIs, making it suitable for environments exploring SDN solutions and seeking to automate network operations, monitoring, and troubleshooting.