Juniper Networks QFX5230-64CD vs Aruba (HPE) Aruba CX 6200: Specs & Price Comparison

Juniper Networks QFX5230-64CD

★ 3.2 Value Score

Switching Capacity: 25.6 Tbps unidirectional (51.2 Tbps bidirectional)
Forwarding Rate: 10.53 Bpps
Ports (breakdown): 64 x 400GbE QSFP56-DD (channelizable to 128 x 200GbE, 256 x 100GbE, or lower speeds); 2 x SFP+; 1 x RJ-45 console; 1 x RJ-45 management; 1 x USB Type A; 10 MHz and PPS timing ports
PoE Budget: N/A (no PoE support)
Layer: L2/L3
Stacking support: Not listed in Juniper specifications; Virtual Chassis support not confirmed
Packet Buffer: 112 MB
Jumbo Frame: 9,216 bytes
Form Factor: Fixed 2U chassis, 17.4 x 3.43 x 25.6 in
Power Supplies: 2 x hot-swappable 1+1 redundant (3000W AC or 2400W DC variants)
Power Draw: Average approx. 487-498 W; maximum approx. 1,396-1,446 W
Cooling: 4 hot-swappable fan modules; back-to-front (AFI) or front-to-back (AFO) airflow
Operating Temperature: 0 to 40 C
Weight: 55 lb (24.94 kg) fully loaded
Operating System: Junos OS Evolved

✔ Pros: Dense 64 x 400GbE QSFP56-DD in a 2U fixed chassis; Up to 25.6 Tbps unidirectional switching capacity and 10.53 Bpps forwarding for spine and super-spine roles; Port channelization allows 100G/200G breakout from 400G ports; 112 MB packet buffer and 9,216-byte jumbo frame support; Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching with EVPN-VXLAN fabric support on Junos OS Evolved; Redundant 1+1 hot-swappable power supplies and fan modules; AC and DC power and airflow variants for flexible data center deployment
✘ Cons: No PoE support, so it is unsuitable for access-layer powered devices; Virtual Chassis or stacking support is not confirmed in Juniper's specifications; Premium price of roughly $55,000 to $63,000 per unit based on the reseller listings found; Average power draw near 500 W and maximum near 1.4 kW require substantial power and cooling planning; Only 2 SFP+ ports limit legacy 1G/10G connectivity; AFO variants are rated for altitudes up to 6,000 ft and use different airflow than AFI variants, which complicates procurement; Price range is based on only two US reseller listings and may not reflect Juniper list pricing
Est. Price: $54,635 - $63,300

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

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