S6720S-26Q-EI-24S-AC

The Huawei S6720S-26Q-EI-24S-AC is a high-performance 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GE) fixed switch, part of Huawei’s S6720-EI series. The “EI” (Enhanced Version) designation signifies that this switch offers advanced features for demanding network environments, including comprehensive routing capabilities, larger MAC address tables, and robust scalability, making it suitable for large-scale enterprise campus networks and data centers. The “-AC” suffix confirms that it includes an AC (Alternating Current) power supply.

The “S” in S6720S typically denotes a specific variant within the series, often related to form factor or a specific market segment, but it retains the core high-performance and feature set of the EI series.

Here’s an introduction to its key features and typical applications:

Key Features:

• 24 x 10GE SFP+ Ports: These provide high-density 10 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, making it ideal for connecting servers, high-performance workstations, or for acting as an aggregation point for other access layer switches. These ports generally support auto-negotiation down to 1GE speeds for flexibility.
• 2 x 40GE QSFP+ Fixed Uplink Ports: These two 40 Gigabit Ethernet ports offer very high-bandwidth uplinks to the aggregation or core layer of the network. Importantly, each 40GE QSFP+ port can typically be split into four 10GE SFP+ ports using breakout cables, providing further flexibility for 10GE connectivity if needed (effectively up to 32 x 10GE ports).
• Built-in AC Power Supply: The “-AC” indicates that it comes with an integrated AC power module, simplifying deployment in environments with standard AC power.
• Dual Pluggable Power Supplies: The switch supports two pluggable power supply slots, allowing for 1+1 power redundancy. This is a critical feature for ensuring high availability and continuous operation, as it can operate even if one power supply fails. You would typically install two AC power modules for full redundancy.
• No Extended Slot: This particular model has a fixed port configuration and does not support additional extended slots for modular interface cards.
• High Performance:
  • Switching Capacity: 2.56 Tbit/s (Terabits per second). This substantial switching capacity ensures wire-speed, non-blocking forwarding across all ports, even under heavy traffic loads.
  • Packet Forwarding Rate: 240 Mpps (Million packets per second). This metric highlights its efficient processing of a large volume of network packets.
• Enhanced Routing Capabilities (EI Features): As an “EI” series switch, it boasts more robust Layer 3 features, including:
  • Support for a wider range of routing protocols (e.g., RIP, OSPF, IS-IS, BGP, VRRP).
  • Larger routing tables and higher forwarding performance for Layer 3 packets.
  • Support for advanced routing features like policy-based routing, ECMP (Equal-Cost Multi-Path), and sometimes even basic MPLS capabilities.
• Comprehensive Security: The switch incorporates extensive security measures to protect the network from various threats:
  • DoS, ARP, and ICMP attack defense.
  • DHCP snooping, IP source guard, and strict ARP learning to prevent IP/MAC spoofing.
  • 802.1X, MAC address authentication, and portal authentication for stringent user and device access control.
  • MACsec support for hardware-based encryption of Ethernet frames between devices.
  • CPU defense mechanisms to protect the control plane.
• Advanced Quality of Service (QoS): It provides sophisticated QoS mechanisms to ensure the priority of critical services:
  • Flexible traffic classification based on multiple criteria (e.g., 5-tuple, IP precedence, DSCP, VLAN ID, CoS).
  • Flow-based two-rate three-color CAR (Committed Access Rate).
  • Multiple queue scheduling algorithms (WRR, DRR, PQ, WRR+PQ, DRR+PQ) and WRED (Weighted Random Early Detection) for congestion avoidance, ensuring high-quality voice, video, and data services.
• High Reliability: To maximize network uptime, it supports numerous redundancy protocols:
  • STP/RSTP/MSTP for loop prevention.
  • RRPP (Rapid Ring Protection Protocol), Smart Link, SEP (Smart Ethernet Protection), and G.8032 ERPS (Ethernet Ring Protection Switching) for millisecond-level protection switchover in various network topologies.
  • Enhanced Trunk (E-trunk) for inter-device link aggregation and load balancing.
  • BFD (Bidirectional Forwarding Detection) for rapid fault detection.
• Flexible Management and iStack:
  • iStack Technology: This allows multiple physical switches to be virtualized into a single logical switch, greatly simplifying management, enhancing scalability, and improving overall network resilience. Any 10GE SFP+ or 40GE QSFP+ ports can be configured as stack ports.
  • Supports various management interfaces, including CLI, Web-based NMS, and SNMPv1/v2c/v3.
  • Features like automatic configuration, plug-and-play, USB-based deployment, and remote upgrades simplify operations.

Typical Applications:

• 10GE Access Layer in Campus Networks: A perfect fit for providing high-bandwidth access to servers and high-performance user groups within large enterprise or educational campus environments, with the 40GE uplinks providing robust connections to the distribution or core layers.
• Data Center Access Layer: Ideal for connecting racks of 10GE servers in a data center, with the 40GE uplinks providing high-capacity connections to spine or aggregation switches, facilitating efficient east-west and north-south traffic flow.
• Enterprise Branch Offices: Suitable for larger branch offices requiring advanced Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities for their network infrastructure.

The S6720S-26Q-EI-24S-AC is a robust and high-performing switch, offering a powerful combination of 10GE access, 40GE uplinks, and comprehensive enterprise-grade features for building scalable, secure, and highly available networks.