Arista DCS-7280CR2K-30-F | 7280R2 30-Port 100G QSFP28 Switch, 6 Tbps

Q: What is AlgoMatch-2 and how does it benefit this switch?
A: AlgoMatch-2 is Arista's advanced technology combining software and hardware algorithms to deliver higher-scale access control lists, policy-based forwarding, and network telemetry. It provides more efficient packet matching for flow-based access control and visibility with better performance and lower power consumption than traditional TCAM-only solutions, making it ideal for complex data center security policies.

Q: Can the 100GbE QSFP28 ports be used at lower speeds?
A: Yes, the QSFP28 ports support flexible breakout configurations including 4x10GbE, 4x25GbE, or 2x50GbE per port, providing deployment flexibility as network requirements evolve. This allows you to connect a mix of 10G, 25G, 50G, and 100G devices to the same switch.

Q: What makes the deep buffer architecture important for data centers?
A: The 12 GB deep buffer with virtual output queue (VOQ) architecture eliminates head-of-line blocking and prevents packet drops during traffic bursts or congestion. This is critical for lossless storage traffic, multi-tenant cloud environments, and mixed workloads where consistent low-latency performance is required.

Q: Is this switch suitable for spine or leaf deployments?
A: The DCS-7280CR2K-30-F is ideal for both spine and leaf roles in modern data center architectures. It supports MLAG for active-active Layer 2 designs and ECMP for scalable Layer 3 leaf-spine fabrics, along with VXLAN overlay capabilities for network virtualization and multi-tenancy.

Q: What software licenses are required for full functionality?
A: The switch runs Arista EOS with base Layer 2 and Layer 3 features included. Optional licenses such as FLX-Lite or FLX enable advanced routing (up to 2M routes), EVPN, VXLAN, Segment Routing, and MPLS capabilities. Monitoring and Automation licenses add features like Zero Touch Provisioning, LANZ microburst detection, DANZ mirroring, and OpenFlow support.