HPE R0X41C 48-Port Smart Rate Multi-Gig PoE Switch Module
Overview
The HPE R0X41C is a 52-port line module for the Aruba CX 6400 chassis that solves a specific density problem: you need multi-gigabit PoE at scale without ripping out your copper plant. Each of the 48 access ports auto-negotiates 1, 2.5, or 5 GbE over standard Cat6A, and all 48 are Class 6 PoE-capable — the kind of port budget that lets you fill a floor of high-density Wi-Fi 6E APs, multi-gig IP cameras, or powered edge devices without rationing power or running fiber everywhere. Four SFP56 uplinks at 50G each handle the upstream aggregation load without becoming a bottleneck. Explore the full HPE networking catalog for chassis options and compatible line cards.
Key Features
- 48x 5GBASE-T Smart Rate Copper Ports: Each port steps through 1/2.5/5 GbE automatically based on the connected device and cable plant. Practical effect: you get multi-gig throughput on existing Cat6A runs without replacing infrastructure — the single biggest cost concern in mid-density refreshes.
- Class 6 PoE on All 48 Ports: IEEE 802.3bt Class 6 delivers up to 60W per port, which covers the full range of multi-gig APs, PTZ cameras with heaters, and other power-hungry edge devices. No separate injectors, no partial-port PoE restrictions hiding in the spec sheet.
- 4x SFP56 50G Uplinks: 50GBASE-X uplinks aggregate 48 multi-gig access ports with room to spare. For a fully-loaded deployment pushing 5G on every port simultaneously, four 50G uplinks provide the headroom to avoid upstream congestion without oversubscription anxiety.
- Module Form Factor — Chassis Flexibility: Dropping this into an Aruba CX 6400 chassis means you share supervisor, power, and fabric resources across all line cards. Scale density by slot rather than stacking discrete switches — cleaner cable management, single management plane, centralized redundancy.
- 52 Total Interfaces in One Module: At 3.5 kg, this is a dense module — factor that into your chassis rail and power supply sizing before ordering. Each slot filled with an R0X41C adds meaningful weight and PoE load to the chassis power budget.
- v2 Hardware Revision: The v2 designation indicates a refreshed revision of the module within the CX 6400 family — verify chassis firmware compatibility with the Aruba support matrix before deploying in an existing chassis running older line cards.
Integration & Compatibility
The R0X41C slots into the Aruba CX 6400 modular switch chassis and is managed through ArubaOS-CX, which supports REST API, Ansible, and NAE (Network Analytics Engine) for automated operations. For security deployments, the multi-gig PoE density pairs directly with high-bandwidth IP camera systems and Wi-Fi 6E access layers where 1G ports are already a ceiling. Review your PoE switch planning guide to confirm chassis power supply capacity before loading all 48 ports at Class 6 draw. The SFP56 uplinks require compatible 50G DAC cables or transceivers — confirm optic compatibility in the Aruba transceiver matrix for your specific fiber plant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What PoE class does the R0X41C support, and what is the per-port wattage?
A: The R0X41C supports IEEE 802.3bt Class 6 PoE on all 48 copper ports, enabling up to 60W per port — sufficient for high-draw devices like PTZ cameras with integrated heaters or Wi-Fi 6E access points.
Q: What chassis does the R0X41C install into?
A: The R0X41C is a line module designed for the HPE Aruba CX 6400 modular chassis. It is not a standalone switch.
Q: What speeds do the 48 copper ports support?
A: All 48 access ports are 5GBASE-T Smart Rate, auto-negotiating at 1, 2.5, or 5 GbE depending on the connected device and cable plant — no manual speed configuration required.
Q: What are the 4 uplink ports on the R0X41C?
A: The four uplink ports are SFP56 running 50GBASE-X (50G each), suitable for high-capacity aggregation uplinks to a core or distribution layer.
Q: How much does the R0X41C module weigh?
A: The module weighs 3.5 kg. Factor this into chassis rack loading calculations when populating multiple slots.
The R0X41C is the module I reach for when a customer needs to push multi-gig PoE at real density in a structured chassis deployment — 48 ports of Class 6 on 5GBASE-T copper is a meaningful step beyond what most modular platforms offered even two years ago, and the four 50G SFP56 uplinks keep the aggregation side honest at scale.
Technical Highlights:
- Class 6 PoE All-Port Coverage: 60W available on every one of the 48 copper ports simultaneously — no per-port rationing, no surprise limits buried in the datasheet. Critical for deployments mixing APs and high-draw cameras on the same module.
- 5GBASE-T Auto-Negotiation: Ports drop to 2.5G or 1G without manual intervention, which matters in mixed-speed environments where some runs are Cat5e and others are Cat6A. You don't repatch or reconfigure — the port adapts.
- 50G SFP56 Uplinks: Four 50G uplinks on a 48-port multi-gig access module is the right ratio. At full 5G utilization across all ports, 200G of uplink capacity keeps oversubscription in a defensible range for most enterprise access tiers.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm CX 6400 chassis power supply capacity before fully populating slots with R0X41C modules — Class 6 at full port load is a significant power draw; the chassis power budget must be sized accordingly before you commit to the module count.
- Verify ArubaOS-CX firmware compatibility between this v2 module and any existing v1 line cards in the same chassis before mixing generations mid-deployment.
This module is the right call for a high-density campus access layer or a security operations environment where multi-gig IP cameras and Wi-Fi 6E infrastructure share the same copper plant and need Class 6 PoE without compromise.
