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HPE Aruba Core Switching

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Steel City Consulting is a HPE Business Partner.

Network cores must handle increasing traffic volumes while maintaining uptime and consistent policy control. Bottlenecks or outages at this layer disrupt multiple services at once. HPE Aruba Core Switching addresses this with high-capacity modular and fixed platforms, providing resilient switching with automation and end-to-end visibility.

They are deployed at the core of enterprise networks connecting access and aggregation layers. These switches maintain network availability, support high throughput, and reduce the risk of service disruption.

HPE Aruba Core Switching Quick Specs & Key Features

  • High-Capacity Core Switching: Provides high-throughput Layer 3 switching to aggregate traffic from access and distribution layers across campus and data centre networks.
  • Advanced Routing Services: Supports dynamic routing protocols and traffic engineering to manage large-scale network segmentation and data flows.
  • Resilient System Architecture: Uses redundant components and high-availability design to maintain continuous network operation during faults or maintenance.
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  • Modular Expansion Capability: Supports scalable port and bandwidth expansion to adapt to growing network demands without redesigning the core.
  • Automation and Orchestration Support: Provides programmable interfaces and integration with automation tools to manage large network environments efficiently.
  • Integrated Security and Segmentation: Applies policy-based controls to segment traffic and protect critical network resources across the infrastructure.
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Find your ideal HPE Aruba Core Switching

Full technical specifications are available on each product page.

Model Popularity Deployment Target Organisation Size Primary Use Case Access Ports Port Configuration Maximum Port Speed PoE Budget (W) Maximum Switching Capacity (Gbps) Stackable Operating System / Management Platform
HPE Aruba CX 8100 24-Port 10GBASE-T Switch HPE Aruba CX 8100 24-Port 10GBASE-T Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Leaf 24 24×RJ45 10G + 4×SFP+ + 4×QSFP28 100G None 1360 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8100 24-Port SFP+ Switch HPE Aruba CX 8100 24-Port SFP+ Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Leaf 24 24×SFP+ + 4×QSFP28 100G None 1280 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8100 48-Port SFP+ Switch HPE Aruba CX 8100 48-Port SFP+ Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Leaf 48 48×SFP+ + 4×QSFP28 100G None 1760 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8320 48-Port SFP+ Switch HPE Aruba CX 8320 48-Port SFP+ Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Leaf 48 48×SFP+ + 6×QSFP+ 40G None 2560 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8360 48-Port SFP28 Switch HPE Aruba CX 8360 48-Port SFP28 Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Leaf 48 48×SFP28 + 6×QSFP28 100G None 4800 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 6405 v2 Modular Switch HPE Aruba CX 6405 v2 Modular Switch ★ ★ ★ Campus Enterprise Core — — 100G — 19200 — AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 6410 v2 Modular Switch HPE Aruba CX 6410 v2 Modular Switch ★ ★ ★ Campus Enterprise Core — — 100G — 28800 — AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8320 32-Port QSFP+ Switch HPE Aruba CX 8320 32-Port QSFP+ Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Spine 32 32×QSFP+ 40G None 2560 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8320 48-Port 10GBASE-T Switch HPE Aruba CX 8320 48-Port 10GBASE-T Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Leaf 48 48×RJ45 10G + 6×QSFP+ 40G None 2560 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8325 32-Port QSFP28 Switch HPE Aruba CX 8325 32-Port QSFP28 Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Spine 32 32×QSFP28 100G None 6400 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8325 48-Port SFP28 Switch HPE Aruba CX 8325 48-Port SFP28 Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Leaf 48 48×SFP28 + 8×QSFP28 100G None 6400 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8360 12-Port QSFP28 Switch HPE Aruba CX 8360 12-Port QSFP28 Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Spine 12 12×QSFP28 100G None 2400 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8360 16-Port SFP28 Switch HPE Aruba CX 8360 16-Port SFP28 Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Leaf 16 16×SFP28 + 2×QSFP28 100G None 2000 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8360 24-Port SFP+ Switch HPE Aruba CX 8360 24-Port SFP+ Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Leaf 24 24×SFP+ + 2×QSFP28 100G None 2000 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8360 32-Port SFP28 Switch HPE Aruba CX 8360 32-Port SFP28 Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Leaf 32 32×SFP28 + 4×QSFP28 100G None 4000 Not supported AOS-CX View
HPE Aruba CX 8360 48-Port 10GBASE-T Switch HPE Aruba CX 8360 48-Port 10GBASE-T Switch ★ ★ ★ Data Centre Enterprise Leaf 48 48×RJ45 10G + 4×QSFP28 100G None 4000 Not supported AOS-CX View

HPE Aruba Core Switching Deployment Scenarios and Industries

Data Centres

Data centre teams manage application traffic and interconnect infrastructure where consistent throughput and low latency are required. HPE Aruba CX 8320 and CX 8400 provide core switching for these environments, supporting large-scale data movement across central systems.

Finance

Financial organisations run core platforms where network performance and availability affect operations. Aruba CX 8320 supports these environments by providing central connectivity between applications, users, and data services.

Healthcare

Healthcare providers connect multiple sites and systems where data must move reliably between departments and locations. Aruba CX 8400 supports these environments with core switching that links clinical and administrative networks.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing organisations connect production environments with enterprise systems where consistent data flow is required. Aruba CX 8320 and CX 8400 support these networks by linking operational and business infrastructure across sites.

Logistics

Logistics providers operate across warehouses and distribution centres where systems must remain connected. Aruba CX 8320 supports these environments by providing central switching that maintains connectivity across operational networks.

HPE Aruba Core Switching Management and Licensing Options

Aruba Central

Manage your entire switching, wireless, and WAN estate from a single cloud-native dashboard. Aruba Central delivers AI-powered network insights, automated configuration and firmware management, and real-time anomaly detection across all sites — reducing operational overhead and giving your team full visibility without being on-site.

Ask us about Aruba Central

Aruba ClearPass

Enforce consistent, policy-driven access control across wired and wireless networks regardless of device type or user role. ClearPass authenticates every endpoint before granting access, segments traffic dynamically, and provides full visibility into who and what is connected across your environment — reducing your attack surface and simplifying compliance reporting.

Ask us about Aruba ClearPass

As an authorised HPE partner, we’re here to help your organisation select, configure, and manage the right combination of platforms and services to efficiently scale and support your new solution long-term. Contact our HPE specialists for guidance today.

Shop All HPE Aruba Core Switching Models

Browse our full range below, or contact our team for tailored configuration advice.
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Designing & Supporting HPE Aruba Core Switching Solutions

Backed by decades of expertise in the IT sector, our specialists support every stage of your deployment — from initial selection through to long-term lifecycle management.

  • Tailored Switch Selection: Our specialists evaluate your network environment from the ground up — port density, uplink requirements, PoE budgets, VLAN complexity, and throughput demands all considered before a recommendation is made. Whether you’re refreshing an office access layer, connecting a factory floor, or building out a data centre fabric, you get the right switch for your environment, not an over-engineered or underpowered compromise.
  • Deployment & Integration: Our engineers manage end-to-end switch installation and network integration — cabling infrastructure, stack configuration, inter-VLAN routing, and integration with existing firewalls, wireless controllers, and management platforms — fully configured and tested so your team inherits a working network from day one.
  • Network Visibility & Security: Choosing the right management software and licensing is critical to getting full value from your switching infrastructure. Our specialists help you identify the right vendor platform for your needs — covering network-wide visibility, switch management, security monitoring, and analytics and reporting.
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  • Industrial & Harsh Environments: Our team has hands-on experience deploying managed switches in demanding conditions — production facilities, outdoor enclosures, transportation infrastructure, and sites with extreme temperature, vibration, or dust exposure. We specify and commission ruggedised switching hardware built to perform where standard office-grade equipment would not.
  • Data Centre & High-Density Switching: Our consultants provide specialist guidance on spine-leaf architectures, 25/100GbE deployments, low-latency fabrics, and ToR switching configurations — helping your team build scalable, resilient data centre networks without starting the design process from scratch.
  • Lifecycle Support & Management: We provide proactive switch monitoring, firmware management, and support packages built around your network infrastructure — with remote diagnostic capability and response times matched to the criticality of each environment, from a branch office to a production data centre.
  • Strategy & Roadmapping: Our consultants run structured sessions to assess your current network architecture, identify bottlenecks and risk, and produce a clear switching roadmap — whether you’re consolidating a multi-site estate, planning a data centre refresh, or introducing managed switching to an industrial environment for the first time.
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HPE Aruba Core Switching FAQ

How do the CX 8320, CX 8325, CX 8100, and CX 8360 differ within HPE Aruba Core Switching?

The CX 8320 handles traffic between the access layer and the rest of the network at 10/40GbE speeds — a standard campus core role. The CX 8325 adds a non-blocking architecture, meaning no port ever waits for another under full load. The CX 8100 connects servers directly, either in a campus aggregation role or at the top of a data centre rack. The CX 8360 covers both campus core and data centre environments and supports the highest port speeds and densities in this category.

Does HPE Aruba Core Switching require cloud management, or can it operate under on-premises control?

Neither is required — both are supported. All series can be managed locally via CLI, web interface, or API, with no dependency on an external cloud service. HPE Aruba Networking Central adds cloud-based visibility and monitoring if that fits the team’s operations model. For data centre environments, HPE Aruba Networking Fabric Composer allows the network to be provisioned through software rather than switch-by-switch configuration.

What port speeds and densities are available across HPE Aruba Core Switching?

The category covers 10GbE, 25GbE, 40GbE, and 100GbE depending on the series. The CX 8320 includes a copper Base-T model, which connects directly to servers without optical transceivers. The CX 8325 is non-blocking at 25/100GbE, suited to environments where core uplink speed is the constraint. The CX 8360 reaches up to 4.8 Tbps and supports port breakout, allowing a single 100G port to be split into four 25G connections where finer-grained connectivity is needed.

How does HPE Aruba Core Switching deliver high availability at the core layer?

VSX (Virtual Switching Extension) pairs two physical switches so they act as one, but each keeps its own independent control plane. If one fails, the other continues running without interruption — traffic does not drop while a device recovers. This is different from stacking, where all units share a single control plane and a failure can affect the whole group. VSX is available on the CX 8320, CX 8325, and CX 8360. All models also have hot-swappable power supplies and fans.

How is traffic security managed across HPE Aruba Core Switching?

Select CX 8360 models support MACsec, which encrypts traffic on the wire between switches — useful where cables run through areas outside the organisation’s physical control. All series support Dynamic Segmentation, which enforces access policies based on who or what is connected, rather than relying solely on which port or VLAN a device is on. The built-in Network Analytics Engine can detect unusual traffic patterns and quarantine affected devices automatically.

Which HPE Aruba Core Switching models are suited to data centre environments rather than campus cores?

The CX 8360 and CX 8100 both support data centre deployments. The CX 8360 includes airflow configurations for standard hot-aisle/cold-aisle rack layouts and a system profile designed for spine-layer routing at scale. The CX 8100 is suited to top-of-rack server connectivity — sitting directly above a group of servers in a rack and aggregating their traffic upward. The CX 8320 and CX 8325 are designed for campus core and aggregation rather than data centre use.

Need a different solution?

If these options aren’t the right fit for your environment, we provide a wide portfolio of product series and solutions that may better suit your infrastructure. Explore below, or speak to our team and we’ll help you find the right match.

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Whether you know exactly what you need or you’re still evaluating options, our team is available for a no-obligation conversation.

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