HPE S6X55A#ABA 16-Port PoE+ 248W Managed Switch
Overview
The HPE Networking CW 2150 (S6X55A#ABA) is a 16-port managed access switch built for mid-size commercial deployments where PoE-heavy edge devices — IP cameras, access control readers, VoIP phones, and wireless APs — share the same wiring closet infrastructure. It delivers 248W of total PoE+ budget across all 16 downlink ports and backs those with four 1/10G SFP+ uplinks, giving you genuine fiber or DAC connectivity to your distribution layer without a separate media converter. This is a rack-mount, single-unit switch in the HPE Networking ClearPass/CW line — not a stackable chassis product, but it does support physical stacking up to 9 units for simplified management across a closet row.
Key Features
- 248W Total PoE+ Budget (16 Ports): At 248W across 16 ports, you have roughly 15.5W average per port — enough to run a full floor of 802.3at PoE+ cameras or access points simultaneously without load-shedding. That said, plan your worst-case port draw carefully: if you're mixing 802.3at APs (up to 30W each) with PTZ cameras that can peak near 25W, budget per-port rather than averaging. The 248W ceiling is real.
- 112 Gbps Non-Blocking Switching Fabric: With 16x 1G downlinks and 4x 10G uplinks, the theoretical max bidirectional demand is 48 Gbps — the 112 Gbps switching capacity means there's no internal bottleneck. Every port runs at wire speed simultaneously, which matters on a dense PoE switch where traffic bursts from multiple cameras during motion events.
- 83 Mpps Forwarding Rate: At 64-byte packet size, 83 million packets per second keeps latency in check even under VoIP and real-time video streams. Combined with sub-5µs latency on 1GE ports and sub-3µs on 10GE uplinks, this switch won't be the bottleneck in your VMS streaming chain.
- 4x 1/10G SFP+ Uplinks: The four SFP+ ports handle both 1G and 10G transceivers, so you can connect fiber runs to your core today at 1G and upgrade the transceivers to 10G later without replacing the switch. Useful for multi-building campus deployments where single-mode runs are already in the ceiling.
- Dual-Core ARM at 1.2 GHz with 1GB SDRAM / 512MB Flash: The control plane has enough headroom to run SNMP polling, REST API calls, and SmartMC management simultaneously without degrading data-plane performance. The 512MB flash stores multiple firmware images and full configuration backups without trimming logs.
- Physical Stacking — Up to 9 Units: If a single floor needs more than 16 PoE+ edge ports, stack up to nine S6X55A#ABA units and manage them as a single logical device. That's up to 144 PoE+ ports under one management pane — practical for large open-plan offices or multi-zone camera deployments managed from one NMS console.
- Operating Range –5°C to 50°C (23°F to 122°F): The thermal envelope covers standard conditioned wiring closets and light industrial spaces. The single-fan design keeps acoustics manageable in office-adjacent closets. At full PoE load (317W total system draw), heat dissipation reaches 1,982 BTU/h — verify your closet has adequate airflow before running all 16 ports at max draw.
- Out-of-Band Management (OOBM) Port: The dedicated OOBM port keeps management traffic isolated from production data — critical in security deployments where you need to reach the switch for firmware updates or config changes without touching the camera VLAN. Pair this with a management VLAN policy for a clean network hygiene posture.
- Dual Console Access (RJ-45 + USB-C): Both a traditional RJ-45 console and a USB-C console are onboard. The USB-C port is particularly useful during initial rack commissioning when a laptop without a serial adapter is the only tool in the bag.
- Multiple Management Planes — Web GUI, CLI, REST API, SNMP, SmartMC, AirWave, IMC: The switch integrates with HPE's full management stack. SmartMC handles small-site self-configuration; AirWave covers wireless/wired converged environments; IMC provides enterprise NMS visibility; the REST API supports automation scripts for large-scale provisioning workflows. You're not locked to a single tool.
Integration and Compatibility
The S6X55A#ABA is US English configuration (hence the #ABA suffix) and ships with a fixed single AC power supply rated 90–264V — compatible with standard North American 100–240V circuits. It requires no external power brick. The four SFP+ slots accept standard 1G and 10G SFP+ transceivers; HPE-branded or third-party transceivers may require compatibility verification depending on firmware version and vendor lock-out policy. The switch integrates natively with HPE AirWave for wireless LAN management and HPE IMC for enterprise NMS — both require separate licensing. The REST API enables integration with third-party orchestration tools and VMS platforms that support network device provisioning. For physical installation, the unit measures 14.96 × 21.65 × 5.24 inches and weighs 10.1 lbs — a standard 1U rack footprint. Plan for a minimum 21.65-inch chassis depth in your rack; shallower telecom racks may not accommodate this unit without a cable management shelf. Review your structured cabling and rack depth before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the total PoE power budget on the S6X55A#ABA, and how is it distributed across ports?
A: The S6X55A#ABA provides 248W of total PoE+ budget shared across all 16 downlink ports. The switch uses 802.3at PoE+, supporting up to 30W per port, but the 248W pool is shared — simultaneous full-draw on all 16 ports would exceed the budget. Plan actual per-port draw based on your connected devices and the total will not exceed 248W.
Q: Can the S6X55A#ABA be stacked with other HPE CW 2150 units?
A: Yes. The CW 2150 supports physical stacking of up to 9 units. When stacked, the group is managed as a single logical device through SmartMC or CLI, simplifying configuration across multiple closet-row switches without a separate aggregation switch.
Q: What uplink options does the S6X55A#ABA support?
A: The switch includes 4 SFP+ ports that support both 1G and 10G transceivers (1/10GBASE-X). This allows fiber or DAC cable uplinks to a distribution or core switch. The specific transceivers supported depend on firmware and compatibility; verify with HPE's transceiver compatibility matrix for your firmware version.
Q: What management interfaces are available on the S6X55A#ABA?
A: The S6X55A#ABA supports Web GUI, CLI (via RJ-45 console or USB-C console), SNMP, REST API, HPE SmartMC, HPE AirWave, and HPE IMC. There is also a dedicated out-of-band management (OOBM) port for isolated management-plane access.
Q: What are the power consumption figures for the S6X55A#ABA?
A: Idle power draw is 25W; typical operating draw is 38W (excluding PoE output). At full PoE load, total system power consumption reaches 317W. Heat dissipation at full load is 1,982 BTU/h. Ensure your rack PDU and UPS are sized accordingly.
Q: What is the operating temperature range of the S6X55A#ABA?
A: The S6X55A#ABA operates between –5°C and 50°C (23°F to 122°F). This covers conditioned wiring closets and light industrial environments, but it is not rated for outdoor or uncontrolled ambient installations.
The spec I keep coming back to on the S6X55A#ABA is the 248W PoE+ budget against a 16-port count — that's a meaningful ratio for a 1U access switch, and it's the number that determines whether this unit fits your floor plan or whether you need to split edge devices across two smaller switches. I've seen plenty of deployments where someone speced a switch on port count alone and hit the PoE ceiling on day one when the cameras came online.
Technical Highlights:
- 112 Gbps Switching Capacity: At just under double the theoretical max demand of the installed ports (16x 1G + 4x 10G = 56 Gbps full duplex), the fabric runs non-blocking under any realistic edge load — no internal queuing artifacts on your camera streams.
- Sub-3µs Latency on 10GE Uplinks: For deployments running real-time video analytics at the edge, latency from the camera to the VMS matters more than most people budget for. Under 3 microseconds on the 10G uplink paths keeps this switch transparent to your analytics pipeline.
- Dual Console Ports (RJ-45 + USB-C): The USB-C console is a small thing that pays off on every commissioning visit — no serial adapter needed, no digging through the cable bag. HPE including both interfaces on a wiring-closet switch shows attention to real installation workflows.
Deployment Considerations:
- The chassis is 21.65 inches deep. Verify your rack's usable depth before ordering — two-post open-frame racks and some telecom racks will need a rear support shelf or will not accommodate this unit at all.
- At full PoE load, the S6X55A#ABA draws 317W total and dissipates 1,982 BTU/h. If your wiring closet is not actively cooled, plan for this heat output before deploying all 16 ports at max PoE draw simultaneously — particularly relevant in summer months in un-conditioned IDF closets.
This switch is the right fit for a mid-size corporate campus IDF or a multi-floor commercial building camera deployment where you need a single managed access layer switch with real 10G uplink capacity and enough PoE headroom to handle a full zone of cameras and APs without a second power injector in the rack.
