Arista DCS-7280SR3M-48YC8-FLX-R | 7280R3 48-Port 25G Switch, MACsec, 8x 100G QSFP28

Q: What is MACsec and why is it important?
A: MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) provides line-rate encryption at the link layer for point-to-point security. This switch supports MACsec on all 48 x 25GbE and 8 x 100GbE ports, enabling authenticated AES-256-GCM encryption without performance impact, critical for secure data center and inter-DC connectivity.

Q: What does the FLX license include?
A: The FLX-Lite license enables full routing with up to 256K routes, EVPN, VXLAN, Segment Routing, and base MPLS LSR functionality. This makes the switch suitable for internet peering, data center interconnect, and service provider edge deployments requiring advanced Layer 3 capabilities.

Q: Can this switch be used in leaf-spine architectures?
A: Yes, the DCS-7280SR3M-48YC8-FLX-R is ideal for leaf-spine data center fabrics. Use the 48 x 25GbE ports for server connectivity and the 8 x 100GbE uplinks for spine connections. It supports VXLAN overlays, EVPN, and MLAG for modern cloud-scale network designs.

Q: What is the difference between the -F and -R models?
A: The difference is airflow direction only. The -R model (this SKU) uses rear-to-front airflow where cool air enters from the fan side and exhausts from the port side. The -F model uses front-to-rear airflow. Choose based on your data center hot/cold aisle design.

Q: Is this switch compatible with Arista CloudVision?
A: Yes, this switch fully integrates with Arista CloudVision for centralized network management, telemetry, configuration automation, and intent-based networking workflows. It runs Arista EOS with full Linux shell access for advanced programmability and DevOps integration.