Allied Telesis AT-GS980MX/18HSM-10 – Multi-Rate PoE++ Layer 3 Stackable Switch

Product Overview

The Allied Telesis GS980MX multi-rate PoE+ Layer 3 switch (AT-GS980MX/18HSM-10) delivers 16 ports of 100M/1G/2.5G/5G multi-rate PoE++ connectivity with 2 x 10G SFP+ uplinks in a compact 1U form factor. Designed for enterprise campus wiring closets supporting Wi-Fi 6 access points and high-power PoE devices, the GS980MX/18HSM provides up to 90W per port (IEEE 802.3bt PoE++) and a total PoE budget of 720W. Network engineers deploying high-density wireless infrastructure or IP surveillance systems requiring multi-gigabit access and deep Layer 3 management will find this switch the ideal edge aggregation platform for modern enterprise networks.

Product Description

The Allied Telesis CentreCOM GS980MX/18HSM is part of the GS980MX Series of stackable Layer 3 Lite switches, engineered for high-performance multi-gigabit connectivity at the network edge. The 18HSM model provides 16 x 100M/1G/2.5G/5G multi-rate RJ-45 ports with IEEE 802.3bt PoE++ capability — delivering up to 90W per port to support power-hungry devices such as high-resolution PTZ cameras with integrated heaters, multi-radio Wi-Fi 6E access points, and advanced IP intercoms. With a total PoE budget of 720W, the switch can sustain full-power delivery across the port count simultaneously. The 2 x 10GBase-X SFP+ uplink ports enable high-bandwidth aggregation to distribution or core layers via fiber or 10G DAC cables. Multi-rate auto-negotiation on all access ports allows the switch to operate at 100Mbps, 1G, 2.5G, or 5G per port, supporting Wi-Fi 6 APs over existing Cat5e/Cat6 cabling without requiring re-cabling. Up to 4 units can be stacked using VCStack, with VCStack LD support for long-distance fiber stacking across buildings. The switch runs AlliedWare Plus with Autonomous Management Framework (AMF) Plus support as an edge node, enabling zero-touch provisioning, centralized configuration management, and integration with Vista Manager EX for graphical single-pane-of-glass network visibility. AMF-Security integration allows the GS980MX/18HSM to participate in automated threat response, isolating suspect endpoints without manual intervention. The switch supports 4094 VLANs, 16K MAC addresses, ECMP routing, static and RIP routing for IPv4, IPv6 Ready certification, and comprehensive QoS and ACL policy enforcement for enterprise-grade traffic management.

Key Features

• 16x 100M/1G/2.5G/5G Multi-Rate PoE++ Ports — Auto-negotiating multi-rate access ports deliver up to 5G over existing Cat5e/Cat6 cabling for Wi-Fi 6 AP aggregation.
• Up to 90W PoE++ Per Port (IEEE 802.3bt) — Powers high-demand devices including PTZ cameras with heaters, multi-radio APs, and advanced IP devices.
• 720W Total PoE Budget — Sufficient PoE capacity for full-density high-power device deployments without budget constraints.
• 2x 10GBase-X SFP+ Uplinks — 10G fiber or DAC uplinks for high-throughput aggregation to distribution or core switches.
• VCStack up to 4 Units — Stack up to 4 GS980MX switches for increased port density and simplified management as a single logical device.
• AlliedWare Plus Enterprise OS — Feature-rich operating system with industry-standard CLI, advanced routing, security, and QoS capabilities.
• AMF Plus Edge Node — Autonomous Management Framework enables zero-touch provisioning, automatic backup/recovery, and network-wide management.
• AMF-Security Compatible — Automated endpoint quarantine and self-defending network integration for proactive threat containment.
• Vista Manager EX Integration — Graphical management dashboard for AMF wired networks, wireless (AWC), and third-party SNMP devices.
• Layer 3 Routing — Static routing, RIPv1/v2, ECMP, and IPv6 static routing with SNMPv6, SSHv6 management.
• Active Fiber Monitoring (AFM) — Detects tampering and eavesdropping on optical uplink connections.
• Comprehensive Diagnostics — TDR cable fault locator, DDM optical monitoring, UDLD, port mirroring, and automatic link flap protection.

Typical Applications

• Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E access point aggregation requiring multi-gigabit PoE++ over existing copper cabling
• Enterprise campus wiring closets with high-power PoE device requirements
• IP video surveillance deployments with PTZ cameras and outdoor heated enclosures requiring 60–90W PoE++
• Healthcare, education, and hospitality networks requiring dense multi-rate wireless backhaul
• Multi-building deployments using VCStack LD long-distance fiber stacking
• Enterprise networks requiring automated AMF-based provisioning and security response

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between the GS980MX HSM and PSM models?

The HSM (High-Speed Multi-rate) models support up to 90W PoE++ (IEEE 802.3bt) per port and include 2.5G/5G multi-rate ports for high-power device support. The PSM models support IEEE 802.3at PoE+ (30W per port) at 2.5G/5G rates. Choose HSM for PTZ cameras, high-wattage APs, or any device requiring more than 30W per port.

Q: Can the GS980MX/18HSM power Wi-Fi 6 access points over existing Cat5e cabling?

Yes. The multi-rate 2.5G/5G ports auto-negotiate with Wi-Fi 6 APs over existing Cat5e and Cat6 cabling, eliminating the need to re-cable for multi-gigabit backhaul. This is one of the primary design advantages of the HSM model for wireless infrastructure upgrades.

Q: How many units can be stacked and how?

Up to 4 GS980MX units can be stacked using VCStack via the dedicated stacking ports. VCStack LD extends stacking across long-distance fiber links for distributed campus or multi-building deployments.

Q: What routing protocols are supported?

The GS980MX/18HSM supports static routing and RIPv1/v2 for IPv4, static routing for IPv6, and ECMP (Equal Cost Multi-Path) routing. OSPF and BGP are not available on this model.

Q: What is the total PoE wattage available for connected devices?

The GS980MX/18HSM provides a 720W PoE budget across all 16 ports. Individual ports support up to 90W (PoE++), 60W, 30W (PoE+), or 15W (PoE) depending on the connected device negotiation.

Q: Is the switch compatible with Vista Manager EX?

Yes. The GS980MX/18HSM operates as an AMF Plus edge node and is fully compatible with Vista Manager EX, providing graphical monitoring and management for AMF wired networks, Autonomous Wave Control wireless, and third-party SNMP devices.

Q: Where can I purchase the AT-GS980MX/18HSM-10?

The AT-GS980MX/18HSM-10 is available from Creation Networks. Visit creationnetworks.net for current pricing, availability, and volume quote requests.