HPE R0X38C 48-Port 1GbE Class 4 PoE v2 Line Module
Overview
The HPE Aruba Networking CX 6400 48-port 1GbE Class 4 PoE v2 Module (R0X38C) is a line card designed for the HPE Aruba CX 6400 modular chassis, extending it with 48 copper Gigabit Ethernet ports capable of delivering IEEE 802.3at Class 4 PoE. If your 6400 deployment needs a dense block of PoE-capable access ports — for IP cameras, access control readers, VoIP phones, or wireless APs — this module slots in and delivers without requiring a separate access-layer switch.
All 48 interfaces are 1000BASE-T (RJ-45), meaning standard Cat5e or Cat6 cabling reaches devices up to 100 meters away. Class 4 PoE v2 sets the per-port power ceiling at up to 30W, which covers the bulk of single-stream IP cameras, 802.11ax APs, and modern access control panels without needing 802.3bt (PoE++) headroom. If you're sizing a camera network on the 6400, this module handles the edge device side of that PoE planning conversation.
Key Features
- 48× 1000BASE-T (RJ-45) ports: A full 48-port block of copper Gigabit in a single module slot — dense enough to cover a full floor or building wing without chaining access switches. Standard RJ-45 means no SFP transceivers to stock or swap.
- Class 4 PoE v2 per port: Up to 30W available per port under Class 4 PoE v2, sufficient for PTZ cameras, dual-radio APs, and most IP intercoms. Devices drawing less than 15.4W (802.3af) negotiate down automatically — you're not locked into a higher power tier.
- Module form factor for the CX 6400 chassis: Designed as a field-installable line card for the Aruba CX 6400 switch family, so chassis resources (management plane, uplinks, power supply redundancy) are shared across all installed modules — simpler to manage than a stack of standalone switches.
- 3 kg module weight: At 3 kg, this module is within standard two-person rack-work ergonomics for hot-swap installation without chassis removal. Relevant when planning maintenance windows in live environments.
Integration & Compatibility
The R0X38C is a line module for the HPE Aruba CX 6400 chassis — it requires a compatible 6400 chassis and supervisor module to operate. It does not function as a standalone switch. Before ordering, confirm your chassis model, available module slots, and aggregate PoE power supply capacity against your planned port-power budget. For camera deployment planning, factor total PoE wattage across all modules against the chassis power supply configuration — Class 4 at scale adds up quickly. Consult the HPE Aruba CX 6400 installation guide for per-slot and per-chassis power envelope specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What chassis does the R0X38C require?
A: The R0X38C is a line module for the HPE Aruba CX 6400 modular chassis. It does not operate as a standalone switch — a compatible 6400 chassis and supervisor module are required.
Q: What is the PoE class supported on the R0X38C?
A: The R0X38C supports Class 4 PoE v2 per port, with a per-port ceiling of up to 30W. This is compatible with 802.3at devices; devices requiring 802.3bt (PoE++) exceed this module's per-port budget.
Q: How many ports does the R0X38C provide?
A: The R0X38C provides 48 ports, all 1000BASE-T (RJ-45) copper Gigabit Ethernet interfaces.
Q: Can the R0X38C power IP security cameras?
A: Yes — Class 4 PoE v2 covers the power requirements of most IP cameras, including PTZ models that draw under 30W. Verify the specific camera's power draw against the module's per-port budget before deployment at scale.
Q: What is the weight of the R0X38C module?
A: The R0X38C weighs 3 kg (approximately 6.6 lbs).
The R0X38C comes up frequently in enterprise camera deployments where the site already runs an Aruba CX 6400 chassis for core or distribution switching — the appeal is obvious: 48 Class 4 PoE ports without adding a separate access-layer switch to manage. That's a legitimate architectural win, but the Class 4 ceiling matters more than people realize when they're populating all 48 ports.
Technical Highlights:
- 48× 1000BASE-T ports: A full Gigabit copper block per module slot — more than enough bandwidth headroom for IP camera streams, which rarely push past 10–20 Mbps per channel even at high resolution.
- Class 4 PoE v2 (up to 30W per port): Covers fixed IP cameras and most PTZ units comfortably. The v2 designation indicates improved power management negotiation compared to first-generation PoE implementations.
- 3 kg module weight: Light enough for a single installer to hot-swap in a populated chassis — relevant when you're doing phased rollouts or adding capacity to a live environment.
Deployment Considerations:
- The aggregate PoE budget across all modules is governed by the chassis power supply configuration, not this module alone — plan your PSU configuration before committing 48 ports to high-draw PTZ cameras running at or near 30W each.
- This module does not support 802.3bt (PoE++) — devices requiring more than 30W per port, such as some multi-sensor panoramic cameras or dual-radio Wi-Fi 6E APs at full power, will need a different module or a local injector.
The R0X38C makes the most sense in a campus or enterprise building where the CX 6400 is already the distribution or core switch and the team wants to collapse the access layer — provisioning 48 camera or AP ports from a module the network team already manages, rather than standing up a separate PoE access switch fleet.
