Huawei S5720 vs CE6850: Campus or Data Center Switching

Aug 10 , 2026 3

TL;DR: The S5720 and CE6850 serve different layers: the S5720 is Huawei's campus access and aggregation line (VRP, PoE models), and the CE6850 is the data center switching platform (CloudEngine, 40G uplinks, low latency). They are not competitors — they are two halves of the same network. Pick S5720 for access, CE6850 for the server-facing layer.

Two Platforms, Two Jobs

Huawei splits its switching portfolio by network role. The S-series (S5720 and siblings) runs VRP and carries campus access, PoE and aggregation duties. The CloudEngine 6800 series (CE6850 and siblings) is built for data centers: high density, low latency, deep buffers and features like VXLAN. Comparing them head-to-head without a role in mind produces confusion; comparing them by role produces a clean architecture.

Head-to-Head Table

The S5720 for Campus Access

The S5720-52P-LI and the S5720-32X-EI-AC cover the classic access and aggregation roles: 10G uplinks on EI models, PoE on PWR models, and mature VRP features for VLANs, QoS and security. The S5720-52P-SI-AC is the volume workhorse for basic access. This is the family to standardize on for any campus build.

The CE6850 for the Data Center

The CE6850-48T6Q-HI packs 48 x 10G ports plus 6 x 40G QSFP+ uplinks in 1U — the standard ToR recipe for server racks. Its sibling S6720-26Q-SI-24S is the S-series aggregation bridge with 40G uplinks for smaller data center edges. For server-facing switching, the CE6850's buffer depth and latency profile are the reason it exists.

Designing a Mixed Network

1. Access: S5720 (PoE where phones, APs and cameras hang off it).
2. Aggregation: S5720 EI or S6720 with 10G/40G uplinks.
3. Data center: CE6850 for ToR, trunking into the core.
4. Management: one VRP domain for campus, CloudEngine management for the DC layer — standard practice.

Lifecycle and Used Buying

Lifecycle status drives used value more than anything else on Huawei gear. The S5720 and CE6850 families remain broadly in support, but sub-models age at different rates — check the exact SKU on Huawei's support portal before purchase, and use our Huawei EOL equipment list as a quick reference. Used buying rules for both families: verify the SKU's firmware support, test every port including uplinks, and buy with a warranty.

Looking for reliable used network equipment at a fair price? Send us the model list and we will reply with availability and pricing within 24 hours.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between Huawei S5720 and CE6850?

A: The S5720 is the campus access and aggregation line running VRP; the CE6850 is a data center switching platform running CloudEngine software with higher density, lower latency and deeper buffers. They are built for different parts of the network.

Q: Is the Huawei S5720 still supported?

A: The S5720 family remains in wide production use with active support for most SKUs, though older sub-models are approaching end of sale. Confirm the exact model on the Huawei support portal.

Q: Can CE6850 switches run campus features like the S5720?

A: CloudEngine switches focus on data center features (VXLAN, large-scale ECMP, low latency). Campus access features such as PoE are not part of the CE6850's role — use S-series for access.

Q: Which is better for a small campus: S5720 or CE6850?

A: The S5720. It is the correct tool for access and aggregation in a campus, with PoE models and mature VRP features. The CE6850 belongs in data centers and server-facing racks.

Q: Do S5720 and CE6850 work together in one network?

A: Yes, commonly: S5720 at the access layer, CE6850 at the data center or server aggregation layer. They interoperate over standard Ethernet and VLAN/VXLAN setups.

Q: Which used Huawei switch holds value better?

A: Active-support platforms hold value better than EOL ones. The S5720 and CE6850 are both widely traded; check each SKU's lifecycle status, because EOL announcements change used pricing quickly.

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