HPE Aruba Networking 2930M JL324A 24-Port mGig PoE+ Switch with 1 Modular Uplink Slot
- Managed, Rack-mountable, 24 x 1G/2.5G/5G PoE+ ports, 4 x 1G SFP Uplinks, PoE+ (1440W), Layer 3
Overview
The HPE Aruba Networking 2930M Series is an access-layer switch family that HPE positions for smart digital workplaces with integrated wired and wireless policy through ClearPass Policy Manager and dynamic segmentation. The JL324A is the all-multigigabit configuration: every one of its 24 access ports is an HPE Smart Rate port, so a closet built around high-speed wireless access points can exceed 1GbE per port without recabling. Its single uplink slot lets backhaul move to 40GbE by changing the module rather than the switch, and its routing is built for routed access rather than core routing.
Technical Details
The HPE Aruba Networking 2930M JL324A is a Layer 2+ managed 1U switch with 24 HPE Smart Rate PoE+ ports running 100M to 5GBASE-T and one modular uplink slot. Switching capacity is 320 Gbps and forwarding rate is 112 Mpps. Ports deliver IEEE 802.3at PoE+ at up to 30 W each, and HPE rates PoE Power (Max Possible) at 840 W, depending on the power supplies installed (none included). It supports VSF backplane stacking of up to 10 members at 100 Gbps per switch. It powers high-speed wireless access points and multigigabit IoT devices over existing copper in campus closets.
Best For
The JL324A suits campus and branch closets built around high-speed wireless access points and multigigabit IoT, where every port benefits from Smart Rate speeds up to 5GBASE-T. An 840 W maximum PoE power rating is suitable for mixed powered-device deployments; actual device counts depend on each device's draw and on the power supplies installed.
Not suitable if:
- you need 10GBASE-T on the access ports, since these Smart Rate ports top out at 5GBASE-T
- you need SFP ports on the switch itself, since it has no combo SFP ports and fiber comes only from the uplink module
- you need an operating range above 45 °C, since this model is rated 0 to 45 °C up to 5000 ft
- you need BGP or multi-area OSPF, because routing is limited to static, RIP and single-area Access OSPF
- you need IEEE 1588v2 PTP timing, since HPE lists this model as not supporting it
JL324A Specifications
| Class & Licensing | |
|---|---|
| License Tier | None (no feature license tiers published) |
| License Detail / MTBF | None (no feature license tiers; HPE Aruba Networking Central Foundation/Advanced subscriptions listed as software options); MTBF not published |
| Ports & Uplinks | |
| PoE Budget | 840 W max possible (802.3at PoE+, up to 30 W per port); depends on installed JL086A 680W / JL087A 1050W PSUs (not included); budget per PSU configuration not published |
| Port Speed | Multigigabit (24 HPE Smart Rate 100M/1/2.5/5GBASE-T; no 10GBASE-T) |
| Uplink Configuration | 1 uplink module slot, module not included: JL083A 4-port 100M/1G/10G SFP+ MACsec, JL081A 4-port 1/2.5/5/10GbE HPE Smart Rate (PoE+ up to 30 W per port on this switch), or JL078A 1-port 40GbE QSFP+; no combo SFP ports |
| Performance & Scale | |
| Stacking | VSF (Virtual Switching Framework) backplane stacking; requires JL325A 2-port Stacking Module (not included) |
| Switching Capacity | 320 Gbps |
| Forwarding Rate | 112 Mpps |
| MAC Table | 32,768 entries |
| Stacking Bandwidth | 100 Gbps per switch (up to 25 Gbps in each direction per port, 2-port stacking module) |
| Max Stack Members | 10 (ring or chain topology) |
| Hardware & Memory | |
| DRAM | 1 GB DDR3 SDRAM |
| ASIC | HPE Aruba Networking ProVision ASIC |
| Flash | 4 GB eMMC |
| Power & Thermal | |
| Power Input / PSU | JL086A X372 54VDC 680W 100-240VAC or JL087A X372 54VDC 1050W 110-240VAC PSU, not included; 1 required, max 2 |
| Redundant PSU | Optional (2 hot-swappable PSU slots; second PSU adds redundancy and PoE power) |
| Cooling | Port to Power airflow; fan details not published |
| Physical & Environmental | |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 1.73 x 17.42 x 12.77 in (4.39 x 44.25 x 32.43 cm) |
| Weight | 9.92 lbs (4.50 kg) |
| Operating Temperature | 32 to 113 °F (0 to 45 °C) up to 5000 ft, 32 to 104 °F (0 to 40 °C); derate -1 °C for every 1000 ft from 5000 ft to 10,000 ft |
| Software | |
| Operating System | Not published |
FAQ
What speeds do the HPE Smart Rate ports on the HPE Aruba Networking 2930M JL324A support?
All 24 access ports on the HPE Aruba Networking 2930M JL324A are HPE Smart Rate ports that autonegotiate 100M, 1G, 2.5G and 5GBASE-T over existing copper and deliver PoE+. They do not run 10GBASE-T, so the access-port ceiling is 5G; 10GbE comes from the uplink module. The JL324A has no combo SFP ports, and HPE lists IEEE 1588v2 PTP as not supported on this model.
How much PoE does the JL324A provide?
The JL324A delivers IEEE 802.3at PoE+ at up to 30 W per port on all 24 Smart Rate ports. HPE rates its PoE Power (Max Possible) at 840 W. The available budget depends on the power supplies installed, either the JL086A X372 680W or the JL087A X372 1050W, and none are included; HPE does not publish a figure for each power-supply combination. A second power supply adds both redundancy and PoE power. Actual device counts depend on each powered device's draw.
What uplink modules and transceivers does the JL324A use?
The JL324A has one uplink slot that holds one module at a time: the JL083A 4-port 100M/1G/10G SFP+ MACsec module, the JL081A 4-port 1/2.5/5/10GbE HPE Smart Rate module (PoE+ up to 30 W per port on this switch), or the JL078A 1-port 40GbE QSFP+ module. The slot ships empty. The JL324A has no combo SFP ports, so all fiber and SFP+ connectivity comes from the uplink module. HPE lists the supported optics in the 2930M QuickSpecs. Transceivers are sold separately.
Can the JL324A be stacked?
Yes. The JL324A supports HPE Aruba Networking Virtual Switching Framework (VSF) backplane stacking of up to 10 switches in a ring or chain topology, and the stacked switches act as a single chassis. Stacking throughput is up to 100 Gbps per switch, with each port of the 2-port stacking module carrying up to 25 Gbps in each direction. Each member needs the JL325A 2-port Stacking Module and stacking cables (J9734A 0.5 m, J9735A 1 m or J9736A 3 m), which are sold separately.
Does the JL324A support BGP or full OSPF?
No. The JL324A does not support BGP. Its Layer 3 feature set is static routing with ECMP, RIPv1, RIPv2 and RIPng, Access OSPF (OSPFv2 and OSPFv3 limited to one OSPF area and up to eight interfaces), policy-based routing limited to 16 next-hop routes, VRRP, and PIM sparse and dense mode multicast routing. That makes it suited to routed access toward the next layer of the LAN rather than to core or multi-area routing.
What is the difference between the JL324A and the JL323A?
Both are Smart Rate PoE+ 2930M switches with 320 Gbps of switching capacity, a 112 Mpps forwarding rate, one uplink slot and VSF stacking. Differences documented by HPE include: the JL324A has 24 Smart Rate ports up to 5GBASE-T, an 840 W PoE Power (Max Possible) rating, no combo SFP ports and a 0 to 45 °C operating range (up to 5000 ft); the JL323A has 40 Gigabit plus 8 Smart Rate ports up to 10GBASE-T, 1440 W and a 0 to 55 °C range (up to 5000 ft). Choose the JL324A when every port should be multigigabit.
What condition is the JL324A sold in, and what warranty applies?
The JL324A is sold new and factory-sealed. It is covered by the Network Devices Inc. 1-year warranty and a 30-day return policy.
