Aruba (HPE) Aruba CX 6200 vs Aruba (HPE) Aruba 8320: Specs & Price Comparison

Aruba (HPE) Aruba CX 6200

★ 4.2 Value Score

Switching Capacity: 128 Gbps (24-port models); 176 Gbps (48-port models)
Forwarding Rate: 95.2 Mpps (24-port models); 130.9 Mpps (48-port models)
Ports (breakdown): 24x or 48x 10/100/1000BASE-T (PoE+ on PoE SKUs) + 4x SFP/SFP+ uplinks (1GbE/10GbE); 6200M models add 4x SFP+ uplinks
PoE Budget: 370W Class 4 (24G and 48G 370W SKUs); 740W Class 4 (48-port 6200F PoE SKU); up to 1440W Class 6 (60W per port) on 6200M PoE SKUs. Varies by SKU
Layer: L2/L3 (Layer 3 static routing; dynamic routing depends on software license)
Stacking support: Yes, VSF virtual stacking up to 8 members (single logical device); VSX redundancy also supported

✔ Pros: Fixed-port, Layer 2/3 managed access switch in a compact 1U form factor; Wide range of PoE and non-PoE SKUs (370W, 740W, and 1440W class 6 PoE options) for IP phones, cameras, and APs; VSF stacking of up to 8 members simplifies management as one logical device; Full Aruba CX OS features with REST API, network analytics, and automation support via Aruba Central; Solid mid-range pricing compared with enterprise-class core switches; 10GbE SFP+ uplinks support aggregation and campus backbone links
✘ Cons: Model and SKU naming (6200F vs 6200M, 24G vs 48G, PoE vs non-PoE) is confusing and specs differ significantly between variants; Public spec sources conflict on some figures (for example, 6200F throughput and uplink types), so exact datasheet values should be verified per SKU; Dynamic routing and advanced L3 features require additional licensing; Power budget is limited on 370W and 740W SKUs, so high-draw PoE devices may not all be supported at full load; Pricing is in USD only for 6200F SKUs. European 6200M pricing was found only in EUR and GBP, and no official HPE list price was confirmed
Est. Price: $4,261 - $8,663

Aruba (HPE) Aruba 8320

★ 3.3 Value Score

Switching Capacity: 2.5 Tbps
Forwarding Rate: 1,905 Mpps
Ports: Model-dependent: JL479A = 48x 1/10G SFP+ + 6x 40G QSFP+; JL579A = 32x 40G QSFP+; JL581A = 48x 1/10GBASE-T + 6x 40G QSFP+
PoE Budget: N/A (no PoE support)
Layer: L3 (managed)
Stacking Support: No stacking; high availability via Aruba VSX (Virtual Switching Extension)
Form Factor: 1U rack-mountable
Packet Buffer: 16 MB
MAC Table Size: 98,304 entries (per HPE QuickSpecs; some resellers list 14K)
VLANs: 4,096 (802.1Q; reseller-listed, not confirmed in official datasheet)
Power Supplies: Dual redundant PSUs (listed as 2x 400W on JL579A bundle)
Operating System: AOS-CX

✔ Pros: 2.5 Tbps switching capacity and 1,905 Mpps forwarding for core/aggregation use; Layer 3 managed switching in a compact 1U chassis; VSX active-active high availability without stacking; Dense 40G QSFP+ uplink options (6x on the 48-port SKUs, 32x on JL579A); 16 MB packet buffer and 98K MAC table suitable for busy campus or data center aggregation; AOS-CX automation and API-driven management; Redundant power supply options for uptime
✘ Cons: No PoE, so it cannot power access points or cameras directly; No stacking support (VSX is required for HA, which adds design complexity); Priced at the high end of enterprise aggregation switches, roughly $20K to $28K per unit at advertised retail; Some SKUs and resellers list it as end-of-life, so confirm current availability with HPE before specifying; Conflicting MAC table and VLAN figures across listings, so verify against the current HPE datasheet before purchase; Price data is from undated or sold-out retailer listings, not verified street pricing
Est. Price: $20,506 - $27,690

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