Overview
Provisioned with 176 Gbps of non-blocking switching bandwidth and a 131 Mpps wire-speed forwarding plane, HPE’s CW 2150 (S6X53A) addresses high-density edge connectivity through 48 Gigabit Ethernet PoE+ ports and four dedicated 10G SFP+ optical uplink cages. At the core of the platform, a dual-core 1.2 GHz ARM processor operates alongside 1 GB of SDRAM and 512 MB of flash memory to execute Layer 3 routing protocols, including static routing, RIP, and OSPF. Power distribution is centered on an internal AC supply supporting 90V to 264V inputs, delivering an aggregate 390W PoE budget with IEEE 802.3at Class 4 capability. Endpoint uptime is reinforced by Perpetual PoE and Fast PoE firmware routines that preserve power to connected devices through system reboots, supplemented by an autonomous PoE watchdog that monitors and power-cycles non-responsive network clients.
Constructed within a standard 1U rack-mountable steel chassis measuring 17.32 x 10.24 x 1.73 in (440 x 260 x 44 mm) and weighing 9.04 lbs (4.10 kg), the physical plant incorporates 6 kV surge suppression across all copper service ports to guard against transient spikes. Active cooling utilizes internal fans to maintain thermal equilibrium across an operating threshold of 23°F to 122°F (-5°C to 50°C). System power draw scales predictably with connected loads, registering 29W at idle and 54W under typical enterprise traffic, reaching a peak of 512W when the 390W PoE capacity is fully saturated. Acoustic emissions adhere to ISO 7779 test standards, generating 37.6 dBA during idle and light workloads before rising to 45.5 dBA under maximum thermal dissipation, mandating deployment inside wiring closets or enclosed network cabinets.
Software execution is powered by HPE’s Comware operating system, granting network administrators a comprehensive command-line interface, local web-based graphical console, SmartMC management, and REST APIs without imposing recurring software subscription fees. Intelligent Resilient Fabric (IRF) stacking consolidates up to nine physical CW 2150 switches into a single logical entity, enabling cross-switch link aggregation and distributed control. While the 1.5 MB shared packet buffer requires disciplined QoS traffic policing during heavy microburst congestion and the single fixed internal power supply precludes hardware-level AC redundancy, the CW 2150 (S6X53A) establishes a durable edge switching architecture supported by HPE’s limited lifetime warranty.
Technical Specifications
| Brand | HPE |
| Model | CW 2150 (S6X53A) |
| Form Factor | 1U Rackmount |
| Dimensions | 17.32 x 10.24 x 1.73 in (440 x 260 x 44 mm) |
| Weight | 9.04 lbs (4.10 kg) |
| Network Ports | 48x 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ45 PoE+ |
| Uplink Ports | 4x 1G/10G SFP+ cages |
| Switching Capacity | 176 Gbps (non-blocking) |
| Forwarding Rate | 131 Mpps |
| Packet Buffer | 1.5 MB |
| MAC Address Table | 16K entries |
| Processor | Dual-Core ARM @ 1.2 GHz |
| System Memory | 1 GB SDRAM |
| Flash Storage | 512 MB Flash |
| PoE Standard & Budget | IEEE 802.3at Class 4 (PoE+), 390W total budget |
| Stacking Technology | HPE IRF (up to 9 switches) |
| Surge Protection | 6 kV on RJ45 service ports |
| Cooling Type | Active internal fan assembly |
| Acoustic Noise (ISO 7779) | 37.6 dBA idle / 45.5 dBA maximum load |
| Idle Power Consumption | 29W |
| Typical Power Consumption | 54W |
| Maximum Power Consumption | 512W (including 390W PoE load) |
| Input Voltage Range | 90V – 264V AC (rated 100–240V AC, 50/60 Hz) |
| Operating Temperature | 23°F to 122°F (-5°C to 50°C) |
| Operating Humidity | 5% to 95% non-condensing |
| Operating System | HPE Comware |
| Warranty | HPE Limited Lifetime Warranty |
- Four dedicated 10G SFP+ optical uplinks deliver unconstrained 176 Gbps non-blocking backplane throughput
- Resilient 9-member IRF stacking enables single-IP unified control and distributed link aggregation
- Enterprise PoE suite includes 390W Class 4 budget, Perpetual PoE, Fast PoE, and an automated watchdog
- Integrated 6 kV transient surge protection safeguards all 48 copper RJ45 access ports
- Non-modular single internal power supply lacks redundant dual-feed or field-replaceable failover options
- Modest 1.5 MB packet buffer requires active queue shaping to prevent tail drops during high-volume burst traffic
- Audible 45.5 dBA acoustic noise under maximum load necessitates enclosed rack or server room deployment
Primary Sources & Audited Citations
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At a Glance
How reliable is the HPE CW 2150 (S6X53A) Review: Stackable Layer 3 Gigabit Convergence according to Mizex audits?
A compelling choice for branch and campus access requiring 48 PoE+ ports and 10G uplinks, provided deployments utilize dedicated equipment closets to buffer its 45.5 dBA fan curve and can tolerate a non-redundant internal power supply.
What are the known quirks or drawbacks of the HPE CW 2150 (S6X53A) Review: Stackable Layer 3 Gigabit Convergence?
Our reliability audit identified the following documented caveats:
- Non-modular single internal power supply lacks redundant dual-feed or field-replaceable failover options
- Modest 1.5 MB packet buffer requires active queue shaping to prevent tail drops during high-volume burst traffic
- Audible 45.5 dBA acoustic noise under maximum load necessitates enclosed rack or server room deployment
What are the key engineering highlights of the HPE CW 2150 (S6X53A) Review: Stackable Layer 3 Gigabit Convergence?
The top strengths recorded in our evaluation include:
- Four dedicated 10G SFP+ optical uplinks deliver unconstrained 176 Gbps non-blocking backplane throughput
- Resilient 9-member IRF stacking enables single-IP unified control and distributed link aggregation
- Enterprise PoE suite includes 390W Class 4 budget, Perpetual PoE, Fast PoE, and an automated watchdog
- Integrated 6 kV transient surge protection safeguards all 48 copper RJ45 access ports