Allied Telesis AT-SBX81XLEM/XS8 – 8-Port 10G SFP+ Line Card for SwitchBlade x8100

Product Overview

The Allied Telesis SBX81XLEM/XS8 is an expansion module — specifically an Allied Telesis SwitchBlade x8100 8-port SFP+ line card — that installs into the SBX8100 modular chassis to add 8x 1/10G SFP+ fiber interfaces. This is not a standalone switch; it requires a compatible SwitchBlade x8100 series chassis (AT-SBX8106 or AT-SBX8112). Compared to the SBX81GS24A (24x 1G SFP line card), the XS8 delivers 10G per port for high-bandwidth core and aggregation applications in enterprise data centers and service provider networks. Up to multiple XS8 modules can populate an x8100 chassis to build a high-density 10G switching fabric.

Product Description

The AT-SBX81XLEM/XS8 expansion module slots into the SwitchBlade x8100 chassis line card bay, immediately extending the chassis with 8 ports of 1/10GBase-X via SFP+ transceivers. Each port auto-negotiates between 1G and 10G, providing compatibility with existing 1G SFP infrastructure while delivering 10G capacity for new high-bandwidth connections. The module supports all SFP+ form factor transceivers including short-range (SR), long-range (LR), direct-attach copper (DAC), and active optical cables (AOC), giving network engineers full flexibility in distance and media selection. As part of the SwitchBlade x8100 platform, the XS8 participates in the chassis high-availability architecture: control card redundancy and fabric redundancy protect the module against card failures without disrupting traffic. The x8100 chassis delivers non-blocking Layer 2 and Layer 3 switching across all installed line cards, with the XS8 contributing up to 160 Gbps of 10G bandwidth to the backplane fabric. This module complements other x8100 line cards such as the SBX81GS24A (24x 1G SFP) in mixed-density deployments requiring both access-density and high-speed uplink capacity.

Key Features

• 8x 1/10G SFP+ Ports — Dual-rate 1G/10G auto-negotiation on every port for maximum deployment flexibility.
• SwitchBlade x8100 Chassis Compatible — Installs into AT-SBX8106 (6-slot) and AT-SBX8112 (12-slot) chassis as a hot-swappable line card.
• All SFP+ Transceiver Types Supported — SR, LR, ER, DAC, and AOC for any distance or media requirement.
• Up to 160 Gbps per Module — Full 10G line-rate on all 8 ports with non-blocking backplane connectivity.
• Chassis High-Availability — Benefits from x8100 control and fabric card redundancy for carrier-grade uptime.
• Optical Fiber Media — Single-mode and multi-mode fiber support for intra-datacenter and inter-building connectivity.

Typical Applications

• Data center core and aggregation — high-density 10G server and storage connectivity within the SBX8100 chassis
• Enterprise backbone — 10G inter-switch links between distribution and core layers
• Service provider aggregation — 10G subscriber aggregation and uplink capacity expansion
• High-density 10G fiber uplinks — complementing GbE line cards in mixed-speed x8100 chassis deployments

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does the AT-SBX81XLEM/XS8 work as a standalone switch?

No. The AT-SBX81XLEM/XS8 is an expansion line card that must be installed into a SwitchBlade x8100 chassis (AT-SBX8106 or AT-SBX8112). It does not function independently.

Q: Which SwitchBlade x8100 chassis models accept the XS8 module?

The XS8 is compatible with both the AT-SBX8106 (6-slot chassis) and AT-SBX8112 (12-slot chassis), populating any available line card slot.

Q: What SFP+ transceivers are compatible with the XS8 module?

The module supports all standard SFP+ form factor transceivers including 10G SR (short reach), LR (long reach), ER (extended reach), direct-attach copper (DAC) cables, and active optical cables (AOC).

Q: Can the XS8 operate at 1G as well as 10G?

Yes. Each port auto-negotiates between 1G and 10G, allowing the module to connect to existing 1G SFP infrastructure alongside new 10G devices in the same chassis.

Q: How does the XS8 compare to the SBX81GS24A line card?

The SBX81GS24A provides 24x 1G SFP ports for high-density Gigabit access. The XS8 provides 8x 10G SFP+ ports for high-bandwidth aggregation or core connectivity. Both can coexist in the same x8100 chassis.

Q: Where can I purchase the AT-SBX81XLEM/XS8?

The AT-SBX81XLEM/XS8 is available through Creation Networks at creationnetworks.net, an authorized Allied Telesis reseller.