Arista DCS-7050CX4M-48D8-F | 7050X4 48-Port 100G Switch, MACsec, 8x 400G QSFP-DD

Q: What is MACsec and which ports support it on this switch?
A: MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) provides line-rate hardware encryption for securing data in transit. The DCS-7050CX4M-48D8-F supports MACsec on 56 ports, enabling secure communications without performance degradation for sensitive enterprise and cloud environments.

Q: Can this switch support mixed port speeds simultaneously?
A: Yes, the DCS-7050CX4M-48D8-F supports flexible multi-speed configuration. QSFP-28 ports can run at 100G, 50G, 25G, or 10G speeds, while QSFP-DD ports support 400G, 200G, 100G, or 40G. All ports can be configured independently, allowing seamless migration and diverse connectivity requirements.

Q: What deployment scenarios is this switch best suited for?
A: This switch is ideal for high-density data center leaf and spine architectures, particularly for 100G server connectivity with 400G uplinks. It excels in cloud computing, AI/ML infrastructure, hyperscale environments, and applications requiring hardware-based encryption with MACsec.

Q: Does this model include Arista EOS software licensing?
A: Arista switches run Arista EOS (Extensible Operating System), which provides comprehensive Layer 2 and Layer 3 features, automation, and programmability. Contact your Arista representative or authorized reseller to confirm current licensing models and subscription options for CloudVision and advanced features.

Q: What is the difference between the -F and -R suffix models?
A: The -F suffix indicates front-to-rear (forward) airflow, while the -R suffix denotes rear-to-front (reverse) airflow. Select the appropriate airflow direction to match your data center hot-aisle/cold-aisle cooling design for optimal thermal management.