Juniper's QFX5110 and QFX5200 are fixed 1U data center switches a generation apart in port speed. This guide sets them side by side and covers the Juniper optics they run: 1000Base-SX SFPs, 40GE QSFP+ SR4 and 100GBASE-LR4 QSFP28. Every figure comes from Juniper's datasheets, compatibility tool and end of life pages, listed under Sources.
The short answer
The QFX5110-48S is a 10GbE SFP+ switch with 100GbE QSFP28 uplinks and up to 1.76 Tbps of bidirectional switching capacity. The QFX5200 comes in two shapes: the 32C with 32 QSFP28 ports and up to 6.4 Tbps for 100GbE, and the 48Y with 48 10/25GbE ports and 6 40/100GbE ports for 25GbE servers. Pick the QFX5110 for a 10GbE rack, the QFX5200-48Y for 25GbE, and the QFX5200-32C for an all 100GbE layer.
The models side by side
| Model | Ports | Switching capacity | Forwarding | Buffer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QFX5110-48S | 48 x SFP+, 4 x QSFP28 | Up to 1.76 Tbps | 1.32 Bpps | 16 MB |
| QFX5200-32C | 32 x QSFP28 | Up to 6.4 Tbps | 3.2 Bpps | 16 MB |
| QFX5200-48Y | 48 x 10/25GbE SFP+/SFP28, 6 x 40/100GbE QSFP+/QSFP28 | 3.6 Tbps | 4.2 Bpps | 22 MB |
QFX5110-48S
The QFX5110-48S is 1 U with 48 SFP+ ports and 4 QSFP28 ports, up to 1.76 Tbps of bidirectional switching capacity, 1.32 Bpps of forwarding and a 16 MB packet buffer. Its CPU is a 1.8 GHz quad-core Intel with 16 GB of memory and a 64 GB SSD, and it draws 167 W typical and 226 W at most on AC. It runs on dual redundant (1+1), hot-pluggable AC power supplies. AFO models move air front to back and AFI models back to front, so the switch can face either aisle. The Air In model takes JPSU-650W-AC-AFI supplies and QFX5110-48S-FANAFI fan modules, the Air Out model JPSU-650W-AC-AFO supplies and QFX5110-48S-FANAFO fans, and Juniper warns against mixing supplies of different airflow in one switch.
QFX5200-32C and QFX5200-48Y
The QFX5200-32C has 32 QSFP28 ports in 1 U, up to 6.4 Tbps of bidirectional capacity, 3.2 Bpps and a 16 MB buffer. It runs on 850 W AC or DC supplies, 1+1 and hot-pluggable, and its CPU is an Intel quad core Ivy Bridge at 1.8 GHz with 16 GB of SDRAM and a 64 GB SSD.
The QFX5200-48Y has 48 10/25GbE SFP+/SFP28 ports and 6 40/100GbE QSFP+/QSFP28 ports, 3.6 Tbps, 4.2 Bpps and a 22 MB buffer. It runs on 2 650 W supplies, 1+1, and its CPU is an Intel quad core Broadwell-DE at 2.3 GHz with 16 GB of SDRAM and a 32 GB SSD.
The optics
Juniper's 1000Base-SX SFPs, the EX-SFP-1GE-SX and the SRX-SFP-1GE-SX, run at 850 nm with 550 m of reach on multimode fiber, a duplex LC connector and 1 W of power. The QSFPP-40GBASE-SR4 is a 40GE QSFP+ SR4 module at 840 to 860 nm with up to 150 m on multimode fiber over an MPO-12 connector. The QSFP-100GBASE-LR4 is a 100GBASE-LR4 QSFP28 module with 10 km of reach on single-mode fiber and a duplex LC connector. The two QSFP modules draw 3.5 W each. Juniper's compatibility tool lists the QSFP-100GBASE-LR4 for the MX204, MX240, MX304, MX480, MX960, PTX10001-36MR, SRX4600, EX4400 and QFX10008 among others, and the EX-SFP-1GE-SX for the MX, SRX, EX and QFX lines.
What to check before you buy
- The airflow suffix on a QFX: AFO for front to back, AFI for back to front.
- The power supply on a QFX5200: the 32C runs on 850 W supplies, the 48Y on 650 W supplies.
- The fiber under an optic: the SR4 and SX modules need multimode fiber, the LR4 single-mode, and the SR4 takes an MPO-12 cable.
- The port the optic goes in: QSFP+ for 40GE and QSFP28 for 100GbE.
- The management ports: the QFX5110-48S has 2, either 2 SFP fiber ports or 1 RJ-45 and 1 copper SFP port, plus 1 RS-232 console port and 1 USB 2.0 port.
- The room: Juniper gives the QFX5110-48S an operating range of 32 to 104 F (0 to 40 C) up to 2,000 ft (610 m).
Lifecycle: what the dates mean
Juniper gives October 15, 2021 as the end of sale date for the QFX5200-48Y-AFI-1, QFX5200-48Y-AFI-2 and QFX5200-48Y-DC-AFI, and October 15, 2026 as their end of support. A switch past those dates keeps forwarding traffic; what stops is ordering it new and opening support cases, so a spare of the same part number is the way to keep a rack matched.
Where to look
Each model has its own page listing what is in stock: the QFX5110, the QFX5200 and Juniper transceivers. Pages in stock today include the QFX5200-32C AFO, the QFX5110-48S AFO, the QSFP-100GBASE-LR4 and the QSFPP-40GBASE-SR4. For the QFX5100, read Juniper QFX5100 end of support; for the whole maker, the Juniper guide. Request a quote for a part that is not listed, or sell the switches you retire.
