A Comparison of JL261A, JL262A, JL355A and JL357A Switches

If you are looking for a stackable Layer 3 switch series that provides performance and ease of use for enterprises, small and medium-sized businesses, and branch office networks, you may want to consider the Aruba 2930F Switch Series1. This series offers various models with different port configurations, uplink options, and PoE capabilities. In this article, we will compare four models from this series: JL261A, JL262A, JL355A and JL357A.

Port Configuration

The first difference among these four models is the number and type of ports they offer. Here is a summary of their port configuration:

• JL261A: 24 RJ-45 autosensing 10/100/1000 PoE+ ports + 4 SFP 1GbE ports12
• JL262A: 48 RJ-45 autosensing 10/100/1000 PoE+ ports + 4 SFP 1GbE ports1
• JL355A: 24 RJ-45 autosensing 10/100/1000 ports + 4 SFP+ 1/10GbE ports1
• JL357A: 48 RJ-45 autosensing 10/100/1000 ports + 4 SFP+ 1/10GbE ports1

As you can see, the main difference is the number of RJ-45 ports, whether they support PoE+, and the type of SFP ports. PoE+ stands for Power over Ethernet Plus, which means that the switch can provide power to connected devices such as access points, IP phones, and cameras over the same cable that carries data. This can simplify the network deployment and reduce the need for power outlets and adapters.

SFP stands for Small Form-factor Pluggable, which is a standard for transceivers that can support speeds up to 1 Gbps. SFP+ stands for Small Form-factor Pluggable Plus, which is a standard for transceivers that can support speeds up to 10 Gbps. You can use different types of transceivers depending on the distance and media type of your uplink connection. For example, you can use a J4858D transceiver for a short-range connection over multimode fiber optic cable, or a J4859D transceiver for a long-range connection over single-mode fiber optic cable.

Depending on your network size and power requirements, you can choose the model that best suits your needs. For example, if you have a small network with less than 24 devices that need PoE+, you can choose the JL261A model. If you have a larger network with more than 24 devices that need PoE+, you can choose the JL262A model. If you need higher uplink speeds than 1 Gbps, you can choose either the JL355A or the JL357A model, depending on whether you need 24 or 48 RJ-45 ports.

Performance

The second difference among these four models is their performance metrics, such as throughput, switching capacity, latency, routing table size, and MAC address table size. Here is a summary of their performance metrics:

JL261A: Throughput: up to 95.2 Mpps; Switching capacity: 128 Gbps; Latency: <2.9 µs; Routing table size: 10000 entries (IPv4), 5000 entries (IPv6); MAC address table size: 32768 entries

JL262A: Throughput: up to 112 Mpps; Switching capacity: 176 Gbps; Latency: <2.9 µs; Routing table size: 10000 entries (IPv4), 5000 entries (IPv6); MAC address table size: 32768 entries

JL355A: Throughput: up to 95.2 Mpps; Switching capacity: 128 Gbps; Latency: <2.9 µs; Routing table size: 10000 entries (IPv4), 5000 entries (IPv6); MAC address table size: 32768 entries

JL357A: Throughput: up to 112 Mpps; Switching capacity: 176 Gbps; Latency: <2.9 µs; Routing table size: 10000 entries (IPv4), 5000 entries (IPv6); MAC address table size: 32768 entries

As you can see, the main difference is the throughput and switching capacity, which are higher for the models with 48 RJ-45 ports than the models with 24 RJ-45 ports. Throughput is the rate at which the switch can process packets, measured in millions of packets per second (Mpps). Switching capacity is the total bandwidth of the switch, measured in gigabits per second (Gbps). Higher throughput and switching capacity mean that the switch can handle more traffic and avoid congestion.

The latency, routing table size, and MAC address table size are the same for all four models. Latency is the time it takes for a packet to travel from one port to another, measured in microseconds (µs). Routing table size is the number of entries that the switch can store for routing decisions, based on IP addresses. MAC address table size is the number of entries that the switch can store for switching decisions, based on MAC addresses. These metrics affect the speed and efficiency of the switch’s operations.

PoE Budget

The third difference among these four models is their PoE budget, which is the total amount of power that the switch can provide to PoE+ devices. Here is a summary of their PoE budget:

• JL261A: 370 W PoE budget
• JL262A: 740 W PoE budget
• JL355A: No PoE budget
• JL357A: No PoE budget

As you can see, only the models with PoE+ ports have a PoE budget, and the model with 48 PoE+ ports has a higher PoE budget than the model with 24 PoE+ ports. The PoE budget determines how many and what types of PoE+ devices you can connect to the switch. For example, if you have a JL261A model with a 370 W PoE budget, you can connect up to 24 devices that consume up to 15.4 W each, or up to 12 devices that consume up to 30 W each1. If you have a JL262A model with a 740 W PoE budget, you can connect up to 48 devices that consume up to 15.4 W each, or up to 24 devices that consume up to 30 W each1.

Conclusion

In conclusion, JL261A, JL262A, JL355A and JL357A are four models from the Aruba 2930F Switch Series that differ in their port configuration, performance metrics, and PoE budget. Depending on your network size, power requirements, and traffic volume, you can choose the model that best suits your needs. All four models share some common features, such as:

Stackable Layer 3 access switches with enterprise-grade feature set

Easy to deploy and manage with Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager, Aruba AirWave and cloud-based Aruba Central

Support for RIP routing, Access OSPF, IPv6, ACLs, sFlow, QoS and SDN optimizations

No software licensing required

If you want to learn more about these models or other products from the Aruba 2930F Switch Series, you can visit this website.