HPE R8N85B#ABA 48-Port Class 4 PoE Gigabit Switch with 4x SFP Uplinks

Overview

The HPE Aruba Networking CX 6000 R8N85B#ABA is a 48-port access-layer switch built for IP surveillance, unified communications, and enterprise edge deployments where PoE density and a robust uplink path matter. All 48 downlink ports deliver 10/100/1000Base-T speeds with Class 4 PoE — meaning each port can supply up to 30W, enough to drive PTZ cameras, multi-radio APs, and VoIP endpoints without a secondary power injector. The 370W system-wide PoE budget keeps that promise across a fully loaded port count without forcing you to oversubscribe or chase port-by-port power math on most typical mixed-device floors. Four 1G SFP uplink ports give you fiber or copper connectivity to your distribution layer, separating access-layer traffic from backbone links.

Part of the HPE Aruba Networking switch catalog, the CX 6000 series targets cost-conscious enterprise edge and branch deployments where you need genuine managed PoE density without stepping up to a higher-tier chassis. The R8N85B#ABA is the US English variant, manufactured in Vietnam and shipping factory-new from channel-direct inventory.

Key Features

• 48x 10/100/1000Base-T PoE Ports (Class 4): Every downlink port supports Class 4 PoE — up to 30W per port — covering the full range of IP surveillance cameras, 802.11ac/ax APs, desk phones, and IoT endpoints. You won't need a separate injector shelf for standard PoE+ devices.
• 370W PoE Power Budget: At 370W total, this switch comfortably drives 24–28 simultaneous Class 4 devices at full draw, or a mixed floor of 40+ lower-draw devices. Plan your port-by-port budget before deployment — 48 ports at 30W each would require 1,440W, so device mix dictates real capacity. This budget is realistic for a typical SMB or branch surveillance + VoIP combined floor.
• 4x 1G SFP Uplinks: Dedicated fiber or copper uplinks keep your access-layer traffic off the PoE downlink ports. Use multimode fiber runs to your distribution switch in a wiring-closet stack, or copper SFP modules for short inter-switch connections — the flexibility matters in retrofit environments where conduit paths are already fixed.
• CX 6000 Series Platform: The Aruba CX 6000 line is designed for simple, consistent management. If your environment already uses Aruba Central or ArubaOS-CX, this switch drops in without a separate management learning curve — you configure PoE policies, VLANs, and QoS from the same dashboard you're already using for the rest of the access layer.
• Class 4 PoE Per Port: Class 4 (IEEE 802.3at, PoE+) is the standard for most modern IP cameras including dome, bullet, and fisheye form factors. Verify that any 802.3bt (PoE++) Class 6 or Class 8 devices — such as pan-tilt-zoom cameras with integrated heaters or high-density APs — are within the 30W per-port ceiling before deploying on this switch.
• 15.6 lb Form Factor: At 15.6 lbs, the R8N85B#ABA is a standard 1U rack-mount weight. Plan for adequate airflow and rack rail support — a fully loaded PoE switch generates meaningful heat, and side-by-side rack density should account for exhaust clearance.
• US English Variant (#ABA Suffix): The #ABA designation confirms this is the US market configuration — correct power cord, documentation locale, and regional compliance. Do not substitute #ABB or other regional variants if you need US regulatory compliance.

Integration & Compatibility

The CX 6000 R8N85B#ABA integrates into Aruba Central cloud management and supports ArubaOS-CX, HPE's modern network OS with a REST API and Python scripting environment. This matters if your team already manages network switches through an orchestration layer — ArubaOS-CX supports automation workflows that older ProCurve or legacy Aruba OS platforms do not. The 4x SFP uplinks are compatible with standard SFP transceivers (sold separately); verify HPE-validated optics for full support coverage. For surveillance-specific deployments, the switch pairs naturally with a network video recorder on the uplink side and IP cameras across the PoE downlinks — VLAN segmentation between surveillance and corporate traffic is straightforward on the CX platform. Consult your PoE switch selection guide to confirm budget headroom before commissioning a full camera floor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many PoE devices can the R8N85B#ABA power simultaneously at full 30W draw?

A: With a 370W PoE budget and a maximum of 30W per Class 4 port, the switch can sustain approximately 12 devices at full 30W draw. In practice, most IP cameras and VoIP phones draw 8–15W, so a mixed deployment of 30–40 devices is typical. Always calculate your per-port draw totals before deployment.

Q: Does the R8N85B#ABA support PoE++ (802.3bt) devices?

A: No. The CX 6000 R8N85B#ABA is rated for Class 4 PoE (IEEE 802.3at, maximum 30W per port). It does not supply 802.3bt (PoE++) power levels required by Class 6 or Class 8 devices such as high-wattage PTZ cameras with integrated heaters or multi-radio Wi-Fi 6E APs. For those devices, select a switch with 802.3bt PoE++ ports.

Q: What uplink options does the R8N85B#ABA provide?

A: The switch includes 4 dedicated 1G SFP uplink ports. These accept standard SFP transceivers — use multimode or single-mode fiber modules for longer runs, or copper SFP for short inter-switch connections. SFP transceivers are not included and must be purchased separately.

Q: Is the R8N85B#ABA managed or unmanaged?

A: The CX 6000 series is a managed switch platform running ArubaOS-CX, supporting VLAN configuration, QoS, PoE power policies, and integration with Aruba Central cloud management. It is not an unmanaged or smart-managed device.

Q: What is the weight of the R8N85B#ABA and how does it mount?

A: The switch weighs 15.6 lbs. It is a standard 1U rack-mount form factor. Verify that your rack rails support the unit before installation; rack-mount ears and rail hardware should be confirmed against the product's accessory list as ears may or may not be included depending on the sales configuration.

Q: What country is the R8N85B#ABA manufactured in?

A: The R8N85B#ABA is manufactured in Vietnam. If your project requires TAA (Trade Agreements Act) compliance, verify TAA status directly with HPE or your procurement channel before purchasing, as country of origin alone does not confirm TAA designation.

Marty Allison

The R8N85B#ABA lands in a specific sweet spot: 48 Class 4 PoE ports with a 370W budget on a managed ArubaOS-CX platform. That 370W figure is the number I tell integrators to anchor their design around — it is honest headroom for a mixed surveillance and VoIP floor, not a paper spec that evaporates when you fully populate the chassis.

Technical Highlights:

• 370W PoE Budget Across 48 Ports: Enough to run 30–40 typical-draw devices (8–15W each) simultaneously without throttling. Budget math matters: do not assume 48 × 30W is available — 370W is the system ceiling and should be engineered to 80% utilization for thermal headroom.
• 4x 1G SFP Uplinks: Dedicated uplink ports keep backbone traffic separated from PoE device traffic. Fiber SFP modules let you pull long runs to the distribution layer without copper distance limits — critical in large-footprint facilities where IDF-to-MDF runs exceed 100m.
• Class 4 PoE (802.3at) Per Port: Covers virtually every IP camera shipping today, plus standard APs and VoIP phones. The ceiling is 30W per port — enough for a multi-megapixel dome with IR, but not for a 90W PTZ with a heater. Know your device power draw before finalizing the BOM.

Deployment Considerations:

• The CX 6000 runs ArubaOS-CX — if you are migrating from legacy Aruba OS or ProCurve, plan for a CLI/config learning curve. The REST API and automation hooks are genuinely useful, but the config syntax is not backward compatible with older HPE switch generations.
• Manufactured in Vietnam. If your project has TAA compliance requirements in the RFP, confirm TAA designation with HPE procurement before you specify this SKU — country of origin alone does not certify TAA status.

This switch is the right call for a wiring-closet deployment combining IP camera runs and unified communications endpoints — specifically where you need 40+ PoE ports on a single managed chassis and your team is already in the Aruba ecosystem. It is not the pick for pure 802.3bt heavy-hitter devices or environments that need 10G uplinks to the distribution layer.