HPE R9Y03B#ABA 48-Port Class 4 PoE Gigabit Switch with 4-Port 1G SFP Uplinks

Overview

The HPE Aruba Networking CX 6000 R9Y03B#ABA is a 48-port access-layer switch built around a 740W PoE power budget — enough headroom to run a full floor of IP cameras, VoIP handsets, and wireless access points without a supplemental injector in sight. Part of the HPE Aruba networking line, the CX 6000 targets enterprise access deployments where manageability, PoE density, and uplink flexibility are non-negotiable. All 48 copper ports operate at 10M/100M/1G with Class 4 PoE, and four 1G SFP slots handle uplinks to your core or distribution layer.

If you're deploying a PoE network switch for a physical security infrastructure — particularly camera-heavy environments — the arithmetic here matters: 48 × Class 4 PoE ports at up to 30W each would theoretically require 1,440W; the 740W shared budget means realistic camera loads (typically 10–15W per unit) give you comfortable margin across all 48 ports without power arbitration concerns dominating your design sessions.

Key Features

• 48-Port 10/100/1000Base-T with Class 4 PoE: Every access port auto-negotiates to the connected device's speed — 10Mb legacy devices, 100Mb IP phones, and full-gigabit cameras all work without manual configuration. Class 4 PoE (802.3at, up to 30W per port) covers the full range of mainstream IP cameras, PTZ units, and wireless APs without requiring higher-wattage injectors or mid-spans.
• 740W Total PoE Budget: At roughly 15W average per powered device, this budget comfortably supports all 48 ports simultaneously — a meaningful advantage over switches with 370W or 480W budgets that force you to plan around power allocation spreadsheets. For a 48-camera deployment using 12–15W units, you'll have substantial overhead for future additions.
• 4x 1G SFP Uplinks: Fiber uplinks to distribution or core switches protect your structured cabling investment and keep camera video traffic off the copper backbone. SFP slots let you choose the correct fiber type (single-mode, multi-mode) and reach for your facility — you're not locked into a specific transceiver. Pair these with a managed core switch for a clean two-tier access/distribution design.
• Aruba CX 6000 Series Platform: The CX 6000 line runs Aruba's AOS-CX operating system, which means REST API access, event-driven automation hooks, and consistent CLI syntax across the Aruba portfolio. For teams already running Aruba Central or AirWave, this switch integrates without a management silo.
• US English (ABA) SKU: The #ABA suffix designates the US English localized configuration — correct power cord, regulatory markings, and documentation for North American deployments. Ordering the correct regional variant avoids compatibility issues at commissioning time.
• Commercial-Grade Construction: At 16.57 lbs, the CX 6000 is rack-dense and built for standard 1U data closet installations. Manufactured in Vietnam under HPE's global supply chain, it carries the build consistency you expect from a major infrastructure vendor.

Integration & Compatibility

The R9Y03B#ABA integrates natively with managed switch deployments running Aruba Central for cloud management or on-premises AirWave. AOS-CX supports standard L2 features (802.1Q VLANs, RSTP/MSTP, LACP) and L3 capabilities depending on license tier — verify your required feature set against Aruba's AOS-CX datasheet before ordering if you need inter-VLAN routing at the access layer.

For surveillance integrators, this switch pairs directly with NVRs, VMS servers, and IP cameras from any manufacturer using standard 802.3at PoE. The 4x SFP uplinks support integration with existing fiber backbone runs, making it a clean fit for retrofits in commercial buildings where copper backbone runs don't extend to every IDF closet. See our PoE switch selection guide for uplink planning considerations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the total PoE power budget on the R9Y03B#ABA?

A: The R9Y03B#ABA provides a 740W total PoE power budget shared across all 48 access ports. Each port supports Class 4 PoE (802.3at), delivering up to 30W per port. In a typical IP camera deployment averaging 12–15W per device, the 740W budget supports all 48 ports running simultaneously with margin to spare.

Q: Does the R9Y03B#ABA support fiber uplinks?

A: Yes. The switch includes four 1G SFP uplink ports. You can install SFP transceivers appropriate for your fiber type and run distance — both single-mode and multi-mode options are available from HPE Aruba and compatible vendors.

Q: What PoE standard does the R9Y03B#ABA use?

A: All 48 access ports support Class 4 PoE, which corresponds to the 802.3at (PoE+) standard — up to 30W per port. This covers virtually all mainstream IP cameras, PTZ cameras, access control readers, wireless APs, and VoIP phones currently on the market.

Q: Is the R9Y03B#ABA a managed switch?

A: Yes. The CX 6000 series runs HPE Aruba's AOS-CX operating system, which provides full management via CLI, REST API, and integration with Aruba Central (cloud) or AirWave (on-premises). This is not an unmanaged or smart-managed device.

Q: What does the #ABA suffix on R9Y03B#ABA indicate?

A: The #ABA suffix designates the US English regional configuration — correct power cord, North American regulatory compliance markings, and English documentation. Always specify the correct regional variant when ordering to avoid compliance or hardware mismatch issues at installation.

Q: How heavy is the R9Y03B#ABA and what rack space does it require?

A: The switch weighs 16.57 lbs. It is a standard 1U rack-mount unit designed for data closet or server room installation in a standard 19-inch rack.

Karl Wilson

When a customer drops the R9Y03B#ABA into their BOM, the first thing I look at is that 740W PoE budget against their camera count and wattage profile. On a 48-port switch, 740W works out to roughly 15.4W average per port — which puts you comfortably inside budget for a full floor of 12–15W dome cameras, but you'll want to account for any PTZ units (typically 20–25W) or PoE++ access control hardware that could skew the average upward.

Technical Highlights:

• Class 4 PoE (802.3at) on all 48 ports: 30W per-port ceiling means no mid-span injectors for mainstream cameras, APs, or readers — cleaner installs, fewer SKUs in the closet.
• 740W shared PoE budget: Sized for full-port utilization at realistic camera wattages; materially larger than the 480W budgets common on competing 48-port switches in this class.
• 4x 1G SFP uplinks: Fiber uplinks decouple the access-layer copper from the backbone — a clean hand-off to your distribution switch and no bandwidth bottleneck on a fully-loaded 48-camera segment pushing full-stream H.265.

Deployment Considerations:

• The CX 6000 runs AOS-CX, so if you're dropping this into an existing Cisco or Extreme environment, budget time for CLI re-training or lean on the REST API for automation — the syntax is different enough to matter for your ops team.
• The #ABA SKU is US English only — do not order this variant for international deployments; specify the correct regional code for your target country to avoid regulatory non-compliance at commissioning.

This switch earns its place in a 48-camera access-layer design — particularly in commercial buildings with fiber backbone runs where the SFP uplinks let you terminate cleanly at the IDF without pulling copper all the way to the MDF.