EXTREME NETWORKS 5720-24MW – Layer 3 Universal Ethernet Switch

Overview

The EXTREME NETWORKS 5720-24MW is an enterprise-grade Multi-Gigabit universal access switch engineered for high-density corporate edge deployments, modern campus wiring closets, and NextGen IoT environments. This cloud-managed hardware platform eliminates the constraints of singular software ecosystems by providing a dual-persona architecture, enabling administrators to deploy either Switch Engine (EXOS) or Fabric Engine (VOSS) during initialization. It establishes line-rate operational readiness for heavy-utilization environments requiring multi-rate wire speeds alongside advanced terminal security.

The physical architecture centers on a 1RU fixed chassis featuring 24 multi-gigabit RJ-45 access ports that dynamically scale across 100Mb, 1Gb, 2.5Gb, and 5Gb Ethernet speeds. To meet the high-capacity draw of advanced hardware endpoints, every access interface supports IEEE 802.3bt Type 4 Power over Ethernet, supplying up to 90W of perpetual and fast PoE power per port. Upstream traffic routing and system stacking are decoupled; the rear panel features two dedicated 100Gb QSFP28 stacking bays that achieve a 400 Gbps aggregate ring bandwidth, while the front panel integrates a Versatile Interface Module (VIM) expansion slot supporting optional modular uplink variants.

Designed for automated network environments, the hardware interfaces natively with Extreme Platform ONE and ExtremeCloud IQ, enabling Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) and global template orchestration without local on-site console configuration. Security profiles are sustained in hardware using point-to-point IEEE 802.1AE MACsec encryption across both local access ports and modular uplinks to safeguard data integrity. Avoid deploying this hardware in high-frequency 10GbE copper access loops requiring native 10G Base-T infrastructure on every access port, or in multi-switch stacking arrays running Fabric Engine where native QSFP28 stacking capabilities are inactive.

Key Features

• Dual-persona boot options dynamically execute Switch Engine or Fabric Engine.

• 24 multi-gigabit access ports scale intelligently from 100 Mbps up to 5 Gbps.

• IEEE 802.3bt PoE++ compliance delivers up to 90W per edge interface.

• Dual built-in QSFP28 interfaces sustain a high-capacity 400Gb stacking loop.

• Integrated VIM slot accommodates modular 25Gb or 100Gb uplink cards.