HPE Aruba Networking 2930F JL261A 24-Port PoE+ 370 W Switch with 4x 1G SFP
- Managed, Rack-mountable, 24 x 1G PoE+ ports, 4 x 1G SFP Uplinks, PoE+ (370W), Layer 3
Overview
The HPE Aruba Networking 2930F series is HPE's access switch line for smart digital workplaces with an integrated wired and wireless approach, pairing built-in uplinks and VSF stacking with an HPE Aruba Networking ProVision ASIC and a feature set HPE describes as requiring no software licensing. The JL261A is the 24-port PoE+ configuration with four 1G SFP uplinks, pairing a 370 W PoE+ budget for access points, phones and cameras with 1-Gigabit uplinks to the distribution layer. HPE markets the series as Layer 3, but its OSPF is Access OSPF, limited to one area and 8 interfaces, so the JL261A fits routed access at the network edge rather than a routed core. It can be managed from cloud-based HPE Aruba Networking Central or on-premises AirWave, and HPE supports moving between the two without replacing the switch.
Technical Details
The HPE Aruba Networking 2930F JL261A (2930F 24G PoE+ 4SFP Switch) is a Layer 2+ managed 1U rackmount switch with 24 Gigabit PoE+ access ports and 4x 1G SFP uplinks, running HPE Aruba Networking OS-Switch. Unicast routing is limited to static, RIP and single-area Access OSPF (up to 8 interfaces). Switching capacity is 56 Gbps and forwarding rate is 41.7 Mpps. The PoE+ budget is 370 W (IEEE 802.3at, up to 30 W per port); HPE publishes no higher figure with added power supplies. It supports Virtual Switching Framework (VSF) stacking of up to 8 switches; HPE publishes no VSF bandwidth. It powers wireless access points, IP phones and IP cameras in campus and branch wiring closets.
Best For
The JL261A suits campus and branch wiring closets that power wireless access points, IP phones and IP cameras and use 1-Gigabit SFP uplinks. A 370 W PoE+ budget is suitable for mixed deployments of these devices; actual device counts depend on each powered device's power draw.
Not suitable if:
- you need 10-Gigabit uplinks, since the four uplinks are 1G SFP slots
- you need more than 370 W of total PoE power, since that is this model's published budget
- you need more than 30 W on a port, since the ports are IEEE 802.3at PoE+
- you need more than 24 access ports, since this model has 24
- you need multi-area OSPF or other full dynamic routing, since Access OSPF is limited to one area and up to 8 interfaces
- you need multigigabit access ports, since all access ports are 10/100/1000
JL261A Specifications
| Class & Licensing | |
|---|---|
| License Tier | None (no software licensing required) |
| License Detail / MTBF | None (no software licensing required); MTBF not published |
| Ports & Uplinks | |
| PoE Budget | 370 W |
| Port Speed | Gigabit |
| Uplink Configuration | 4x 1G SFP (fixed) |
| Performance & Scale | |
| Stacking | Virtual Switching Framework (VSF) |
| Switching Capacity | 56 Gbps |
| Forwarding Rate | 41.7 Mpps |
| MAC Table | 32,768 entries |
| Max Stack Members | 8 |
| Hardware & Memory | |
| DRAM | 1 GB DDR3 SDRAM |
| ASIC | HPE Aruba Networking ProVision ASIC |
| Flash | 4 GB eMMC |
| Power & Thermal | |
| Power Input / PSU | AC, 100-127 / 200-240 VAC rated, 50/60 Hz; maximum power rating 445 W |
| Redundant PSU | Not published |
| Cooling | Side-to-side airflow |
| Physical & Environmental | |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 1.73 x 17.42 x 11.98 in (4.39 x 44.25 x 30.42 cm) |
| Weight | 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) |
| Operating Temperature | 32 to 113 °F (0 to 45 °C), up to 5,000 ft; 32 to 104 °F (0 to 40 °C) up to 10,000 ft |
| Software | |
| Operating System | HPE Aruba Networking OS-Switch |
FAQ
Does the HPE Aruba Networking 2930F JL261A support PoE+, and what is its power budget?
Yes. All 24 Gigabit access ports on the HPE Aruba Networking 2930F JL261A support IEEE 802.3at PoE+ at up to 30 W per port, for devices such as wireless access points, IP phones and IP cameras. The total PoE+ budget is 370 W, shared across all ports, so the budget rather than the port count limits how many devices draw full power. HPE publishes no second-power-supply option or higher PoE figure for this model.
What uplinks and transceivers does the JL261A use?
The JL261A has four fixed SFP uplink ports that run at up to 1 Gigabit. HPE lists 1G SFP optics for them (SX, LX, LH and a 1G RJ45 copper SFP) plus a 100M FX SFP. They are not SFP+ ports, so 10G SFP+ optics are not supported on this model; the 10-Gigabit option in the series is the SFP+ uplink models. Transceivers are sold separately.
How many JL261A switches can you stack?
Up to eight. The JL261A supports HPE Aruba Networking Virtual Switching Framework (VSF), front-plane stacking that joins up to 8 switches in a ring or chain topology into one virtual switch managed as a single chassis, with link aggregation across stack members. HPE notes that VSF requires HPE Aruba Networking OS-Switch 16.06 software. HPE does not publish a VSF stacking bandwidth or a cross-series stacking statement for the 2930F.
What is the difference between the JL261A and the JL255A?
Both are 24-port PoE+ 2930F switches with a 370 W PoE+ budget and the same published dimensions and weight. Differences documented by HPE include the uplinks and capacity: the JL261A has four 1G SFP uplinks, 56 Gbps of switching capacity and 41.7 Mpps forwarding, while the JL255A has four 1G/10G SFP+ uplinks, 128 Gbps and 95.2 Mpps. Choose the JL261A when 1-Gigabit uplinks are enough.
Is the JL261A a Layer 3 switch, and what routing does it support?
It supports limited routing. HPE markets the 2930F as a Layer 3 series, but the JL261A's routing is static IP routing with ECMP (256 static routes), RIPv1, RIPv2 and RIPng (10,000 RIP routes), and Access OSPF: OSPFv2 and OSPFv3 between the access layer and the next layer, limited to one OSPF area and up to 8 interfaces. It also offers policy-based routing (up to 16 next-hop routes), PIM Sparse and Dense mode (up to 16 interfaces) and VRRP (up to 128 virtual routers). It is not suited to multi-area OSPF designs or a routed core.
How is the JL261A managed?
The JL261A is a fully managed switch running HPE Aruba Networking OS-Switch. HPE lists command-line, web browser, configuration menu and SNMP management, plus cloud-based HPE Aruba Networking Central and on-premises AirWave, with no hardware change needed to move between them. Zero Touch Provisioning and a built-in REST API support automated deployment, and a dual-personality console port (RJ-45 or USB micro-B) provides local serial access. HPE states that the 2930F feature set requires no software licensing.
What condition is the JL261A sold in, and what warranty applies?
The JL261A is sold new and factory-sealed. It is covered by the Network Devices Inc. 1-year warranty and a 30-day return policy.
