HPE FlexFabric 5940 48XGT 6QSFP28 Switch

The HPE FlexFabric 5940 Switch Series delivers high-performance, low-latency ToR (top-of-rack) switching designed to power modern data centers, cloud environments, and virtualization workloads. This model, the 48XGT 6QSFP28 configuration, combines dense 10/100/1000BASE-T access ports with high-capacity 40/100 GbE uplinks to create a flexible, scalable fabric that supports the most demanding applications. Built on the HPE FlexNetwork architecture, it enables seamless integration with other FlexFabric and Hybrid IT components, delivering consistent performance, robust security, and efficient management across the data center spine and leaf layers. Ideal for virtualization, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and mixed-workload deployments, this switch helps you optimize both latency and throughput while simplifying operational workflows.

• 48 x 10/100/1000BASE-T ports provide dense, accessible server and edge connectivity, enabling easy integration of virtualization hosts, storage nodes, and edge devices into a single, manageable network fabric.
• 6 x QSFP28 uplink ports for 40/100 GbE connectivity deliver scalable, high-bandwidth access to core and aggregation layers, supporting large-scale fabrics and high-speed interconnects.
• Low-latency performance with line-rate switching supports demanding workloads such as virtualization, VDI, AI inference at the edge, and high-transaction databases without introducing bottlenecks.
• Rich feature set including Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching, QoS and traffic shaping, ACLs, VRF support, and advanced security to ensure compliant, predictable traffic handling and isolation between tenants or workloads.
• Designed for reliability and efficiency with hot-swappable components, redundant power options, fan redundancy, and energy-conscious hardware design to reduce operational costs in dense data-center environments.

Technical Details of HPE FlexFabric 5940 48XGT 6QSFP28 Switch

• Model overview: HPE FlexFabric 5940 48XGT 6QSFP28 Switch, a high-density ToR switch designed for data-center deployments with flexible access and uplink options.
• Ports: 48 x 10/100/1000BASE-T interfaces and 6 x QSFP28 uplink ports for 40/100 GbE connectivity.
• Fabric and performance: Built to deliver robust, scalable performance in a compact form factor suitable for modern leaf-spine or consolidated ToR deployments.
• Features: Includes essential L2/L3 switching, QoS, ACLs, VRF-like capabilities, and standard management interfaces for integration into existing networks and automation workflows.
• Power and management: Supports redundant power options and standard management tooling (CLI, web GUI, SNMP) for reliable operation and streamlined administration.

How to install HPE FlexFabric 5940 48XGT 6QSFP28 Switch

Plan your deployment as a ToR device within a standard 19-inch rack, ensuring proper airflow and cooling in a data-center or server room environment. Install the switch in the rack with compatible mounting hardware and verify the chassis stabilizes securely. Connect power supplies according to your data-center’s redundancy requirements, and ensure that both power inputs (if using dual PSUs) are connected to separate circuits to maximize availability. Physically connect the 48 x 10/100/1000BASE-T ports to servers, storage devices, or edge devices, and link the 6 x QSFP28 uplinks to your core or aggregation switches to establish the throughput backbone for your fabric. Power on the device and access the management interface to apply initial configurations. Configure management IP, basic VLANs, and a secure admin account, then define any required VRFs, QoS policies, and ACLs to meet your security and traffic engineering goals. Validate connectivity by testing server reachability, performing basic latency checks, and confirming uplink stability. For ongoing operations, enable monitoring, set alert thresholds for port utilization and temperature, and implement automation scripts to streamline routine provisioning and changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the primary role of the HPE FlexFabric 5940 48XGT 6QSFP28 Switch?

A: It serves as a high-density Top-of-Rack (ToR) switch that provides dense 10/100/1000BASE-T access ports with high-capacity 40/100 GbE uplinks, ideal for building scalable, low-latency data-center fabrics and supporting virtualization, cloud, and AI workloads.

Q: What uplink options does this model offer?

A: It offers 6 QSFP28 uplink ports, allowing 40 GbE or 100 GbE connections to the core or aggregation layers, enabling flexible, scalable fabric architectures.

Q: Which features help with network agility and security?

A: The switch includes Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching capabilities, quality of service (QoS) controls, access control lists (ACLs), and virtualization-related features such as VRF-like segmentation to isolate tenant or workload traffic while maintaining high-throughput performance.

Q: How is reliability and availability achieved?

A: Reliability is supported through options for redundant power supplies and cooling, hot-swappable components, and robust management interfaces (CLI, web UI, SNMP) to monitor health and automate routine tasks, contributing to stable operation in dense data-center environments.