Allied Telesis AT-GS980MX/28-10 – 24-Port Layer 3 Stackable Gigabit Switch

Product Overview

The Allied Telesis AT-GS980MX/28-10 is an enterprise-class Layer 3 stackable gigabit switch delivering 24 x 10/100/1000T copper ports and 4 x SFP+ 10G uplinks in a 1U rack-mount form factor. Powered by the AlliedWare Plus operating system, the Allied Telesis GS980MX 24-port Layer 3 stackable switch provides advanced routing, VCStack virtual chassis stacking, and hardware-based EPSRing resilience for demanding enterprise and campus network deployments. Network architects requiring a scalable Layer 3 stackable switch with a low 39W power consumption profile will find this platform cost-effective for wiring closet and distribution layer roles. Available from Creation Networks, an authorized Allied Telesis partner at https://creationnetworks.net.

Product Description

The CentreCOM GS980MX/28 is a feature-rich, manageable Layer 3 Lite switch from Allied Telesis, built for enterprise campus, mid-size data center edge, and service provider access deployments. The 24 auto-negotiating 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 ports serve end-user devices, IP phones, and access layer switches, while the four 10GBase-X SFP+ expansion slots provide high-speed uplinks to distribution or core infrastructure. Running AlliedWare Plus, the switch supports static and dynamic routing (RIP, OSPF), advanced QoS, and comprehensive security features including 802.1X port-based authentication and ACLs. VCStack technology allows up to four GS980MX units to be stacked locally or across distance into a single logical switch, simplifying management and delivering high-availability active-active redundancy without spanning tree complexity. The Ethernet Protection Switched Ring (EPSRing) protocol enables sub-50ms ring recovery for fault-tolerant ring topologies used in campus and industrial networks. Active Fiber Monitoring adds a security layer by detecting unauthorized access to fiber links. With a power consumption of just 39W and support for rack or wall mounting, the GS980MX/28 is efficient and installation-flexible. The modular SFP+ expansion architecture allows operators to choose fiber or direct-attach copper uplink media types as needed.

Key Features

• AlliedWare Plus Operating System — Enterprise-grade CLI and feature set with full routing protocol support.
• 24 x 10/100/1000Base-T Ports — Auto-negotiating Gigabit copper ports for high-density access layer connectivity.
• 4 x SFP+ 10G Uplink Slots — Flexible 10 Gigabit uplinks supporting fiber and DAC cable options.
• Layer 3 Routing (L3 Lite) — Static routing plus RIP and OSPF for distributed campus network architectures.
• VCStack Stacking (up to 4 units) — Virtual chassis stacking locally or over distance for simplified management and redundancy.
• EPSRing Resilience — Sub-50ms ring failover for high-availability ring topologies.
• Active Fiber Monitoring — Detects unauthorized fiber taps or disconnections to secure optical links.
• Low 39W Power Consumption — Energy-efficient design reduces operating costs in multi-switch deployments.
• Rack and Wall Mountable — Flexible physical installation for IDF closets and compact equipment rooms.
• 802.1X Port Authentication and ACLs — Enterprise security for controlling network access at the edge.

Typical Applications

• Enterprise campus wiring closet and access layer switching
• Mid-size data center edge and aggregation layer deployments
• Multi-site VCStack virtual chassis for simplified network management
• Service provider access and aggregation platforms
• Ring topology networks requiring fast EPSRing failover
• Industrial and utility network distribution switching

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many units can be stacked using VCStack on the GS980MX/28?

Up to four GS980MX units can be stacked using VCStack, either locally or over distance, creating a single logical switch with unified management, increased port density, and active-active redundancy.

Q: What Layer 3 routing protocols does the AT-GS980MX/28-10 support?

The switch runs AlliedWare Plus and supports static routing, RIPv1/v2, and OSPFv2 for IPv4 routing in campus and enterprise network deployments, as well as IPv6 routing protocols in its L3 Lite feature set.

Q: What are the SFP+ uplink options for the GS980MX/28?

The four SFP+ slots support any Allied Telesis 10G SFP+ transceiver, including SR (multimode), LR (single-mode), and direct-attach copper (DAC) cables, allowing flexible uplink media selection based on distance requirements.

Q: What is EPSRing and why is it important?

Ethernet Protection Switched Ring (EPSRing) is an Allied Telesis proprietary ring resilience protocol that provides sub-50ms failover for ring topologies, ensuring near-instantaneous recovery from a single link or node failure without spanning tree recalculation delays.

Q: Is the AT-GS980MX/28-10 suitable for SMB and enterprise deployments?

Yes. The GS980MX/28 is purpose-built for enterprise campus, mid-size data centers, and service provider access deployments. Its AlliedWare Plus feature set, VCStack stacking, and advanced security make it appropriate for both SMB and large enterprise edge roles.

Q: What security features does the GS980MX/28 include?

The switch supports 802.1X port-based network access control, MAC address-based authentication, ACLs for traffic filtering, DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection, IP source guard, and Active Fiber Monitoring for physical optical link security.

Q: Where can I purchase the AT-GS980MX/28-10?

The AT-GS980MX/28-10 is available from Creation Networks at https://creationnetworks.net. Creation Networks is an authorized Allied Telesis reseller providing competitive pricing and pre/post-sales technical support.