QFX10002-36Q-CHAS-E vs QFX5120-48Y-AFO2: Which Juniper Switch Reigns Supreme for Your Network?

May 20 , 2025 24

1. Product Overview

QFX10002-36Q-CHAS-E

• Ports: 36x 40G QSFP+ (expandable to 144x 10G via breakout cables)

• Switching Capacity: 7.68 Tbps

• Forwarding Rate: 23.04 Bpps

• ASIC: Juniper Trio 48T (next-gen forwarding engine)

• Latency: <800ns @ 40G ports

• Key Features: Advanced telemetry, IPsec offloading, 400G upgrade path

• Best For: Hyperscale data centers, multi-tenant environments, high-density 400G deployments

QFX5120-48Y-AFO2

• Ports: 48x 25G SFP28 + 6x 100G QSFP28 (breakout to 4x25G or 4x10G)

• Switching Capacity: 2.88 Tbps

• Forwarding Rate: 960 Mpps

• ASIC: Juniper Trio 24T

• Latency: <400ns @ 25G ports

• Key Features: VXLAN routing, inline analytics, AI-driven optimization

• Best For: Mid-sized campuses, cloud edge, SDN-enabled networks

2. Performance Showdown

3. Feature Breakdown

4. Design & Aesthetics

• QFX10002-36Q-CHAS-E:

• Rack-mountable 13RU chassis with redundant power buses

• Front-to-back airflow for hot aisle containment

• LED indicators for port status and system health

• QFX5120-48Y-AFO2:

• Fixed configuration 1U form factor

• Compact design for space-constrained environments

• Fanless option available for silent operation

5. User Experience

• QFX10002-36Q-CHAS-E:

• Steep learning curve for Junos CLI but unmatched customization

• Ideal for engineers with advanced networking expertise

• QFX5120-48Y-AFO2:

• Intuitive GUI via Juniper vManage

• Streamlined workflows for rapid deployment

6. Pricing

• QFX10002-36Q-CHAS-E:

• List price: ~$25,000-$35,000 (depending on configuration)

• Justified for mission-critical DC environments

• QFX5120-48Y-AFO2:

• List price: ~$8,000-$12,000

• Cost-effective for mid-market adoption

7. Use Cases

• QFX10002-36Q-CHAS-E:

• Hyper-scale DC core/aggregation layer

• 400G backbone for financial trading platforms

• QFX5120-48Y-AFO2:

• Campus core/edge with Wi-Fi 6 integration

• Branch office consolidation with SD-WAN

8. Compatibility Matrix

9. Final Verdict

• Choose QFX10002-36Q-CHAS-E If:
  You need a future-proof DC fabric with 400G scalability and uncompromised performance.

• Choose QFX5120-48Y-AFO2 If:
  You seek a balance of speed, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness for campus/edge deployments.

Google-Proof Angle: While both switches leverage Juniper’s robust Junos OS, the QFX10002-36Q-CHAS-E’s modular architecture positions it as a 5-year investment for DC modernization, whereas the QFX5120-48Y-AFO2’s AI-driven analytics make it a strong contender for IoT-heavy environments.