Extreme Networks 5520 24-port SFP+ Switch

The Extreme Networks 5520 24-port SFP+ Switch delivers a powerful, flexible solution for mid‑sized data centers, campus networks, and edge deployments. With 24 SFP+ ports supporting both 1 Gb and 10 Gb Ethernet, it provides dense, scalable connectivity for servers, storage, virtualization clusters, and high‑density uplinks. Its design emphasizes reliability, ease of deployment, and future‑proofing, allowing IT teams to grow their network without complete hardware refreshes. This switch is built to handle mixed workloads with predictable latency and solid throughput, making it a dependable backbone for today’s demanding applications while offering a clear upgrade path as traffic patterns evolve. Whether you’re consolidating workloads, extending your fabric to the edge, or creating a resilient core for a campus environment, the 5520 gives you the performance headroom and flexibility you need to stay ahead.

• 24 x SFP+ ports with flexible 1 Gb/10 Gb connectivity — Dense port count in a compact footprint enables scalable access to servers, storage, and virtualization resources. The mixed‑speed capability lets you deploy cost‑effective 1 Gb links where appropriate while reserving high‑bandwidth 10 Gb links for performance‑critical paths. This combination helps you optimize cabling, reduce switch sprawl, and simplify network tiering across data centers or campus deployments.
• 2‑unit stacking with QSFP28 uplink capability — Designed for growth, the 5520 supports stacking to create a single management plane across multiple units, simplifying administration, provisioning, and failure recovery. The QSFP28 uplink option provides high‑density aggregation to the core or distribution layer, enabling scalable bandwidth up to 40 Gb per uplink and beyond as your fabric expands. This pairing of stacking and high‑density uplinks gives you a robust, adaptable backbone for evolving traffic patterns.
• Ideal for data centers, virtualization, and campus networks — Built to handle diverse workloads with low latency and steady throughput, the 5520 is well suited for virtualization clusters, database access layers, high‑IO storage replication, and edge deployments. Its design emphasizes reliable performance under mixed traffic mixes, helping to minimize jitter and maximize application responsiveness across virtual machines, containers, and traditional workloads.
• 1 unpopulated slot for future expansion — The presence of an unpopulated expansion slot provides a clear upgrade path without needing a full platform replacement. As your network grows, you can introduce additional modules or adapters to extend capacity, improve resilience, or tailor the switch to new connectors and distance requirements, protecting your investment and accelerating time to value.
• Enterprise‑grade reliability with scalable management and operation — The 5520 is engineered for uptime, predictable performance, and straightforward maintenance in enterprise deployments. It supports centralized management workflows, clear status visibility, and streamlined configuration for fast deployment, hospitalities of policy enforcement, and consistent network behavior across multiple devices in a fabric.

Technical Details of Extreme Networks 5520 24-port SFP+ Switch

• Ports: 24 x SFP+ ports supporting 1 Gb and 10 Gb Ethernet connectivity for flexible deployment options across servers, storage, and edge devices.
• Stacking capability: 2‑unit stacking to create a single management plane and simplified failover in a compact footprint.
• Upstream/Uplink options: QSFP28 compatibility enables high‑bandwidth uplinks to core or distribution switches for scalable data center fabrics.
• Expansion: 1 unpopulated slot reserved for future growth or module expansion.
• Target environments: Suited for mid‑range data centers, virtualization clusters, campus networks, and edge deployments that require dense, flexible, and resilient Ethernet switching.

How to install Extreme Networks 5520 24-port SFP+ Switch

Installing the Extreme Networks 5520 is designed to be straightforward, with a focus on quick deployment, minimal downtime, and scalable growth. Start by preparing a standard 19‑inch rack and ensuring adequate cooling in the equipment room. Position the switch securely in the rack and mount it using the included hardware. Connect the required SFP+ optics or direct‑attach cables to each of the 24 ports, choosing 1 Gb or 10 Gb transceivers based on your traffic profile and distance needs. If you plan to use stacking, install the second switch in the same rack or a nearby rack, and connect the stacking cables as specified by your deployment design. Power up the device and perform the initial boot configuration, which typically includes basic management IP configuration and establishing the stacking relationship if you are deploying multiple units. Once the switch is reachable, adopt a consistent naming and addressing scheme for VLANs, access control lists, and QoS policies to enable seamless traffic segregation and performance guarantees. Finally, verify that the uplink paths, trunk configurations, and any required routing or Layer 3 features are properly in place, and run basic connectivity tests across server NICs, storage interfaces, and user devices to confirm end‑to‑end reachability.

• Step 1: Mount the switch in a well‑ventilated rack, ensuring proper airflow and clearance for front‑to‑back cooling.
• Step 2: Install 1 Gb or 10 Gb SFP+ transceivers or DAC/ATO cables as required for each port, considering distance and link budget.
• Step 3: If using stacking, install the second switch in the same rack or a neighboring rack and connect stacking cables per the vendor’s guidance, then power on the devices.
• Step 4: Access the management interface, assign IP addresses, configure basic management security, and enable stacking if applicable.
• Step 5: Create initial VLANs, configure uplinks as trunks or aggregated links, and apply quality of service policies to protect latency for critical workloads.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What connectivity does the Extreme Networks 5520 provide? A: It offers 24 x SFP+ ports capable of 1 Gb and 10 Gb Ethernet, with stacking support and QSFP28 uplink options for high‑density aggregation.
• Q: Can this switch be stacked with another unit? A: Yes. It supports 2‑unit stacking to unify management and improve redundancy.
• Q: Is there room for expansion? A: The switch includes 1 unpopulated slot to accommodate future modules or expansion needs.
• Q: What environments is it best suited for? A: It is ideal for mid‑sized data centers, virtualization clusters, campus backbones, and edge deployments requiring dense, flexible 1 Gb/10 Gb connectivity and scalable uplinks.
• Q: What considerations are there for deployment? A: Plan for appropriate cooling, cabling distance, transceiver type, stacking topology, VLAN segmentation, and QoS to ensure optimal performance and reliability for your workloads.