Aruba CX 8325 vs CX 8360: Choosing the Right 25G/100G Data Center Switch

The Aruba CX 8325 and CX 8360 are both 1U fixed-form AOS-CX switches built for data center leaf, top-of-rack (ToR), and campus core roles, yet they target subtly different deployments. The 8325 is a high-throughput 25G/100G workhorse for dense fabric leaf and spine duty, while the 8360 v2 trades raw capacity for broader media flexibility, line-rate MACsec, and 50G support. This comparison breaks down where each switch wins for federal, SLED, healthcare, and enterprise buyers standardizing on AOS-CX.

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The short answer

Pick the Aruba CX 8325 when you want maximum 25G/100G leaf-and-spine throughput and the highest-density 100G ToR in a 1U box for EVPN-VXLAN fabrics. Choose the Aruba CX 8360 v2 when you need pervasive line-rate MACsec encryption, 10GBASE-T copper or 50G options, HPE Smart Rate, and more model variety to mix campus aggregation with data center leaf duty. Both run the same AOS-CX, VSX, and Aruba Fabric Composer stack, so most shops standardize on one and add the other only where the port mix or encryption requirement demands it.

Aruba CX 8325 vs Aruba CX 8360, head to head

Aruba CX 8325

Aruba CX 8360

Performance

6.4 Tbps capacity, ~2,000 Mpps; higher raw switching throughputadvantage

Up to 4.8 Tbps, ~2,678 Mpps; ample for leaf/aggregation

Scalability

Dense 32x100G or 48x25G+8x100G for large spine-leaf fabricsadvantage

More model variants but lower per-box 100G uplink count

Management / AIOps

AOS-CX, NAE, NetEdit, Aruba Fabric Composer, Central

Identical AOS-CX, NAE, NetEdit, Fabric Composer, Central

Security

AOS-CX hardened OS, RBAC, segmentation; limited MACsec

Broader line-rate MACsec across 10G/25G and 40/100G portsadvantage

Ecosystem / Lock-in

Open AOS-CX, standards-based EVPN-VXLAN, VSX

Same open AOS-CX and EVPN-VXLAN ecosystem

Support

Backed by HPE Aruba support, GreenLake, lifetime options

Same HPE Aruba support and lifecycle programs

Price / Value

Best $/100G for high-density fabric leaf and spine

Better value when copper, 50G, or MACsec is required

Federal / TAA

TAA-compliant SKUs available for federal procurement

Specifications side by side

Switching capacity: 6.4 Tbps; Up to 4.8 Tbps
Forwarding rate: ~2,000 Mpps; ~2,678 Mpps
Form factor: 1U fixed; 1U fixed
Flagship 25G model: 8325-48Y8C: 48x 25G SFP28 + 8x 100G QSFP28; 8360-48Y6C v2: 48x 25G SFP28 + 6x 100G QSFP28
High-density 100G model: 8325-32C: 32x 100G QSFP28; 8360-12C: 12x 100G QSFP28
Port speeds: 1/10/25G SFP, 40/100G QSFP; 1/10/25/40/50/100G plus Smart Rate 1/2.5/5G
10GBASE-T copper option: No; Yes (e.g., 8360-48XT4C)
50G port support: No; Yes (on 48Y6C / 32Y4C)
MACsec: Limited / select ports; Line-rate MACsec on 10G/25G and 40/100G ports
High availability: VSX dual-switch redundancy; VSX dual-switch redundancy
Fabric: EVPN-VXLAN, AOS-CX; EVPN-VXLAN, AOS-CX
Airflow / power: Front-to-back and back-to-front, dual hot-swap PSU; Front-to-back and back-to-front, dual hot-swap PSU

Where Aruba CX 8325 wins

Highest raw throughput at 6.4 Tbps for dense spine-leaf and ToR roles
32x 100G in 1U is ideal for high-radix data center spines
Strong $/100G value for large EVPN-VXLAN fabrics
Proven, widely deployed data center leaf/spine platform
Same AOS-CX automation (NAE, NetEdit, Fabric Composer) as the rest of the line

Where Aruba CX 8360 wins

Line-rate MACsec across 10G/25G and 40/100G for encrypted east-west and uplink traffic
10GBASE-T copper and 50G options for mixed media environments
HPE Smart Rate (1/2.5/5G) supports multigig where needed
Wider range of model variants to right-size port mix
Flexible enough to serve both campus aggregation and DC leaf roles

Which one should you buy?

Building a high-density 100G data center spine in 1U

Pick Aruba CX 8325. The 8325-32C delivers 32 line-rate 100G ports and 6.4 Tbps, giving you the highest-radix spine in the pair for a growing EVPN-VXLAN fabric.

Leaf switch that must encrypt all east-west and uplink traffic with MACsec

Pick Aruba CX 8360. The 8360 v2 offers line-rate MACsec across 10G/25G and 40/100G ports, meeting strict encryption-in-transit mandates common in federal and healthcare.

Top-of-rack for 25G servers with 100G uplinks at best $/port

Pick Aruba CX 8325. The 8325-48Y8C pairs 48x 25G with eight 100G uplinks and higher throughput, making it an efficient, cost-effective ToR for dense server racks.

Mixed environment needing 10GBASE-T copper or 50G alongside fiber

Pick Aruba CX 8360. Only the 8360 family offers 10GBASE-T copper variants, 50G ports, and Smart Rate, so it adapts to legacy copper and multigig requirements.

One platform spanning campus aggregation and small DC leaf

Pick Aruba CX 8360. Its broader model lineup and media flexibility let a single SKU family cover campus distribution and modest data center leaf duty.

Frequently asked

What is the main difference between the Aruba CX 8325 and CX 8360?

The CX 8325 prioritizes raw throughput (6.4 Tbps) and high-density 100G for data center spine-leaf and ToR roles, while the CX 8360 v2 emphasizes media flexibility, line-rate MACsec, 50G, and 10GBASE-T copper options. The 8325 is the denser fabric switch; the 8360 is the more versatile, encryption-focused one.

Which Aruba CX switch is better for a data center leaf-spine fabric?

For pure leaf-and-spine 25G/100G fabrics where throughput and 100G port density matter most, the CX 8325 is usually the better fit, especially the 32x 100G 8325-32C as a spine. The 8360 works well as a leaf when you need MACsec or mixed media on the access side.

Do both the CX 8325 and CX 8360 support EVPN-VXLAN and VSX?

Yes. Both run AOS-CX and support standards-based EVPN-VXLAN overlays and VSX (Virtual Switching Extension) for active-active dual-switch redundancy. They share the same automation tooling, including the Network Analytics Engine, NetEdit, and Aruba Fabric Composer.

Which switch supports MACsec encryption?

The CX 8360 v2 provides broader line-rate MACsec, including across its 10G/25G ports and select 40/100G uplinks, which is why it is favored where encryption in transit is mandated. The 8325 has more limited MACsec coverage, so verify the exact port requirements before standardizing.

Does the Aruba CX 8360 support 10GBASE-T copper or 50G?

Yes. The 8360 family includes 10GBASE-T copper variants (such as the 8360-48XT4C) and 50G port support on models like the 8360-48Y6C and 8360-32Y4C, plus HPE Smart Rate multigig. The 8325 is fiber-oriented with 1/10/25G SFP and 40/100G QSFP only.

Are the Aruba CX 8325 and CX 8360 TAA-compliant for federal buyers?

TAA-compliant SKUs are available for both switch families. As an authorized HPE Aruba Networking reseller, we can source TAA-compliant 8325 and 8360 configurations and quote them through federal and SLED vehicles such as GPC, SAP, and FAR, plus GreenLake consumption where applicable.

Can I mix CX 8325 and CX 8360 switches in the same fabric?

Yes. Because both run AOS-CX and support EVPN-VXLAN, you can mix them in one fabric, for example using 8325-32C spines with 8360 leaves where MACsec or copper is required. Note that VSX pairs must use identical models, so plan redundant pairs accordingly.

Which Aruba CX switch offers better price and value?

For dense 100G fabric and ToR roles, the 8325 typically delivers the best $/100G. The 8360 is the better value when you specifically need MACsec, 50G, copper, or a flexible model mix. We can model both against your port count, encryption needs, and roadmap to recommend the lowest total cost.

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