QFX5100-24Q-3AFI Juniper QF5100 24x40GBE QSFP+ Switch, Back to Front Airflow
Juniper QFX5100-24Q-3AFI 24-Port 40GbE QSFP+ Switch
High-Performance 40GbE Fabric Switch with Back-to-Front Airflow
The Juniper Networks QFX5100-24Q-3AFI Data Center Switch is a high-performance, low-latency 40GbE switching platform designed for leaf, spine, and aggregation deployments in modern cloud and enterprise data centers. With 24 fixed QSFP+ 40GbE ports and two expansion slots, this compact 1RU switch delivers exceptional scalability, flexibility, and throughput for high-density network environments.
Engineered for performance-critical applications, the QFX5100-24Q-3AFI offers an impressive 2.56 Tbps switching capacity and 1.44 Bpps forwarding rate, ensuring wire-speed packet processing across all ports. Its cut-through switching architecture provides sub-microsecond latency (<550 ns), making it ideal for high-frequency trading, big data analytics, and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.
The switch supports advanced data center architectures including EVPN-VXLAN, Virtual Chassis, Virtual Chassis Fabric (VCF), and QFabric, enabling seamless scalability and simplified network operations. With hardware-based VXLAN L2/L3 gateway capabilities, it integrates effortlessly into software-defined networking (SDN) and virtualized environments such as VMware NSX and OpenContrail.
Designed specifically for hot aisle containment environments, the AFI (Airflow In) configuration draws cool air from the rear (power supply side) and exhausts it through the port side, ensuring optimal thermal efficiency in structured data center layouts.
The two expansion slots provide modular scalability, allowing the addition of 10GbE or 40GbE modules, and supporting up to 104 × 10GbE ports via breakout configurations. This flexibility makes it ideal for evolving network requirements and mixed-speed deployments.
Built for high availability, the QFX5100-24Q-3AFI includes dual hot-swappable power supplies, N+1 redundant fans, and Unified In-Service Software Upgrade (ISSU) for zero-downtime maintenance. It also supports advanced automation with Python scripting, Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP), and integration with Ansible, Puppet, and Chef, enabling efficient network provisioning and orchestration.
With its combination of high density, ultra-low latency, advanced automation, and flexible airflow design, the Juniper QFX5100-24Q-3AFI is a powerful and future-ready solution for next-generation data center networks.
Product Specifications – Juniper Networks QFX5100-24Q-3AFI 24-Port 40GbE Data Center Switch (Back-to-Front Airflow)
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| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Juniper Networks QFX5100-24Q-3AFI Data Center Switch |
| Manufacturer | Juniper Networks |
| Part Number | QFX5100-24Q-3AFI |
| Product Type | Fixed-Configuration Data Center Switch |
| Switch Series | Juniper QFX5100 Series |
| Deployment Type | Data Center Leaf, Spine, Aggregation |
| Fixed Ports | 24 × 40 Gigabit Ethernet (40GbE QSFP+) |
| Expansion Slots | 2 × Expansion Module Slots |
| Expansion Options | 4 × 40GbE or 8 × 10GbE modules |
| Maximum 10GbE Density | Up to 104 ports (via breakout cables) |
| Switching Capacity | Up to 2.56 Tbps |
| Forwarding Rate | Up to 1.44 Billion Packets per Second (Bpps) |
| Latency | < 550 nanoseconds (sub-microsecond latency) |
| Switching Architecture | Cut-through switching |
| Operating System | Junos OS |
| Virtual Chassis Support | Yes |
| Virtual Chassis Fabric (VCF) | Supported |
| EVPN-VXLAN Support | Yes (L2 and L3 gateway) |
| QFabric Support | Yes |
| VXLAN Capability | Hardware-based VXLAN L2/L3 gateway |
| Routing Protocols | BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, Static Routing |
| Multicast Support | IGMP, PIM-SM, PIM-SSM |
| QoS Support | Advanced QoS with traffic classification and scheduling |
| Security Features | ACLs, MACsec support, DHCP Snooping, ARP Inspection |
| Redundancy | Dual hot-swappable AC or DC power supplies |
| Cooling System | N+1 redundant fan trays |
| Airflow Direction | Back-to-Front (AFI – Airflow In / FRU-to-Port) |
| High Availability | Unified ISSU (In-Service Software Upgrade) |
| Automation Support | Python, Ansible, Puppet, Chef, ZTP (Zero Touch Provisioning) |
| Network Virtualization | VMware NSX, OpenContrail integration |
| Jumbo Frame Support | Up to 9,216 bytes |
| Form Factor | 1U Rack Mount |
| Rack Mounting | Standard 19-inch rack |
| Power Consumption | ~400–500 W (depending on configuration) |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C to 70°C |
| Deployment Scenarios | Cloud data centers, virtualization environments, HPC, enterprise networks |
| Use Cases | Leaf-spine architectures, SDN deployments, high-performance switching |
FAQs:
Q1. How does the AFI airflow differ from AFO?
In an AFI (Airflow In) model, the air intake is at the rear (FRU side) and exhaust is at the front (Port side). In an AFO (Airflow Out) model, the air flows from the ports to the FRUs. Blue handles typically signify AFI, while gold/red handles signify AFO.
Q2. Can I use 10GbE SFP+ optics in the QSFP+ ports?
Not directly. You must use a QSFP+ to SFP+ adapter (QSA) or a QSFP+ to 4x10G SFP+ breakout cable to connect to 10GbE devices.
Q3. Does this switch support Virtual Chassis?
Yes. The QFX5100-24Q can be part of a Virtual Chassis or Virtual Chassis Fabric (VCF), allowing it to be managed alongside other QFX5100 or EX4300 switches as a single unit.
Q4. What is the power consumption of this model?
Typical power consumption is approximately 161W, though this can vary based on the number of active ports and the type of transceivers (SR4 vs. LR4) used.
Q5. Is the QFX5100-24Q-3AFI compatible with DC power?
Yes, but you must ensure you have the correct DC power supply modules (JPSU-650W-DC-AFI) that match the Back-to-Front airflow direction.
