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Juniper QFX Series | The Backbone of Modern Data Center Networks
Juniper QFX5100, QFX5120 and QFX5200 compared: ports, throughput, Virtual Chassis limits and Juniper's end-of-sale and end-of-support dates.
In the catalog: QFX5100-48S-AFO
Model pages: Juniper QFX5100, Juniper QFX5200
Juniper's QFX Series covers data center switches from 10GbE and 40GbE up to 100GbE, and the models differ in port type, throughput and how many can be joined in a Virtual Chassis. This page compares the QFX models that Townsend lists, using Juniper's hardware guides for the QFX5100, the QFX5120 and the QFX5200. It also gives each family's lifecycle dates, because they decide how long a purchase stays supported.
The QFX5120 and QFX5200 are both in Juniper's QFX Series, and the Juniper QFX Series page lists the QFX models Townsend carries.
The models side by side
| Model | Ports | Throughput | Virtual Chassis |
|---|---|---|---|
| QFX5100-48S | 48 SFP+ (10GbE, also 1GbE) and 6 QSFP+ (40GbE) | 1.44 Tbps full duplex | up to 10 QFX switches |
| QFX5120-48Y | 48 SFP28 (25GbE, 10GbE, 1GbE) and 8 QSFP28 (100GbE, 40GbE) | 4 Tbps (bidirectional) | up to 2 |
| QFX5200-32C | 32 QSFP28 (100GbE by default, 50, 40, 25 or 10GbE) | line rate on all 32 ports | up to 3, all QFX5200-32C |
| QFX5200-48Y | 48 SFP28 (10GbE or 25GbE) and 6 QSFP28 (40GbE or 100GbE) | 3.6 Tbps (full duplex) | not stated in the guide |
Every model above is a one-rack-unit switch, and none of them runs a port faster than 100GbE.
QFX5100: 10GbE access with 40GbE uplinks
Juniper describes the QFX5100 line as 10/40GbE switches with low latency and a rich set of Layer 2 and Layer 3 features. The QFX5100-48S is a top-of-rack switch where each SFP+ port runs at 10GbE with 10G optics, or at 1GbE with 1G optics. Its six QSFP+ ports work as uplinks or access ports, and four of them can split into four 10GbE ports each. Townsend lists the QFX5100-48S with AC or DC power and either airflow direction. The Juniper QFX5100 page has the full set.
QFX5120: 25GbE servers, 100GbE uplinks
The QFX5120 line builds IP fabrics with EVPN-VXLAN overlays. Juniper lists four models, the QFX5120-32C, 48T, 48Y and 48YM, and says the QFX5120 supports Python, Ansible, YANG, Chef and zero-touch provisioning for automation. The 48Y suits racks of servers with 25GbE network cards, and the QFX5120-48Y switch post covers it in detail.
QFX5200: 100GbE leaf and spine
Juniper calls the QFX5200 line line-rate, low-latency 10/25/40/50/100GbE switches for large IP fabrics, and an optimal choice for spine-and-leaf deployments and metro use. The QFX5200-32C has 32 QSFP28 sockets that you can set per port, and the QFX5200-48Y adds native 25GbE on SFP28 ports in groups of four. See the Juniper QFX5200 page. The optics side of the QFX5200 and its neighbour is in QFX5110 vs QFX5200 and their optics.
Lifecycle dates
- QFX5100 (24Q, 48S and 48T models): announced April 30, 2021, end of sale July 1, 2022, end of support July 1, 2027. See Juniper QFX5100 end of support.
- QFX5200-48Y: announced April 15, 2021, end of sale October 15, 2021, end of support October 15, 2026.
- QFX5120-48Y and QFX5200-32C: listed under SKU transformation notices with end of sale on October 4, 2021. Juniper gives no end of support date for these part numbers.
The source for every row is Juniper's QFX Series dates page.
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