Allied Telesis AT-SBX908GEN2-B05 – SwitchBlade x908 Gen2 Modular Chassis Switch 5-Year NCP

Product Overview

The Allied Telesis SwitchBlade x8100 Gen2 modular chassis switch (AT-SBX908GEN2-B05) is engineered for service provider cores, enterprise data center aggregation, and federal network backbones where continuous uptime and scalable throughput are non-negotiable. Unlike fixed-configuration alternatives, the AT-SBX908GEN2-B05 delivers a fully modular, hot-swap architecture that supports incremental capacity growth without scheduled downtime. This bundle includes a 5-year Allied Telesis Net Cover Premium (NCP) support contract, making it ideal for long-horizon infrastructure investments requiring vendor-backed SLAs. Procurement teams operating under TAA and federal acquisition standards will find the SBX908 Gen2 a compliant, high-value platform for next-generation modular Layer 3+ deployments.

Product Description

The AT-SBX908GEN2-B05 is a 3U rack-mountable, Layer 3+ modular chassis switch built on the SwitchBlade x908 Gen2 platform — Allied Telesis's highest-capacity modular switching architecture for enterprise core and service provider edge environments. The chassis provides 8 expansion slots that accept a broad range of XEM line cards, including the SBX81GS24A 24-port Gigabit module, enabling administrators to right-size port density as traffic demands grow. All line cards, power supply units, and fan modules are hot-swappable, ensuring that hardware maintenance never requires a scheduled outage window. Dual internal PSUs provide redundancy without requiring an external RPS unit, recovering valuable rack space. The platform runs AlliedWare Plus, Allied Telesis's enterprise-class network operating system, delivering comprehensive Layer 2/3 switching, routing (OSPF, BGP, RIP), and policy-based forwarding capabilities. The SwitchBlade x908 Gen2 supports VCStack Virtual Chassis Stacking, allowing two physical units to operate as a single logical device with dedicated high-speed stacking links for sub-second failover. Front-to-back airflow design aligns with standard hot-aisle/cold-aisle data center cooling architectures. The chassis has achieved MEF 9 and MEF 14 Carrier Ethernet certification, validating suitability for E-Line, E-LAN, and E-Tree service delivery in metro Ethernet networks. Allied Telesis Autonomous Management Framework (AMF) enables zero-touch node recovery, centralized configuration management across the entire network, and encrypted management traffic via AMF Secure mode. EPSRing and G.8032 Ethernet Ring Protection provide fast-failover ring topologies for resilient campus and service provider distribution rings. The B05 suffix designates inclusion of Allied Telesis Net Cover Premium support for 5 years — covering advance hardware replacement, software updates, and technical support access — reducing total cost of ownership for organizations managing multi-year budget cycles.

Key Features

• 8-Slot Modular Chassis — Accepts XEM line cards (e.g., SBX81GS24A) for customized port configurations; scale capacity without chassis replacement.
• Hot-Swap PSUs, Fans, and Line Cards — All field-replaceable units are hot-swappable; perform maintenance without impacting network uptime.
• Layer 3+ AlliedWare Plus OS — Full IPv4/IPv6 routing suite including OSPF, BGP4, RIPng, PIM multicast, and VRF-Lite for network segmentation.
• VCStack Virtual Chassis Stacking — Two SBX908 Gen2 units stack as a single logical device, eliminating single points of failure at the network core.
• MEF 9 & MEF 14 Carrier Ethernet Certified — Validated for E-Line and E-LAN service delivery; meets service provider Carrier Ethernet standards.
• Dual Internal Redundant PSUs — Built-in PSU redundancy eliminates the need for an external RPS, conserving rack units and cabling overhead.
• AMF Network Automation — Zero-touch node recovery, plug-and-play network expansion, and single-pane-of-glass management across the entire AMF domain.
• EPSRing and G.8032 ERPS — Sub-50ms failover ring protection for campus distribution and service provider aggregation topologies.
• Front-to-Back Airflow — Data center optimized cooling direction; compatible with hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment deployments.
• 5-Year NCP Bundle (B05) — Allied Telesis Net Cover Premium support included for 5 years; advance replacement, software updates, and 24/7 technical assistance.

Typical Applications

• Service provider metro Ethernet core and aggregation layer
• Enterprise data center core switch replacing end-of-life fixed-port chassis
• Federal and government network backbone requiring TAA-aligned, MEF-certified hardware
• Campus network aggregation with modular future-proofing via XEM line cards
• Distributed enterprise core using VCStack for dual-chassis resiliency
• Carrier Ethernet service delivery (E-Line, E-LAN, E-Tree) in metro networks

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What line cards are compatible with the AT-SBX908GEN2-B05?

The SBX908 Gen2 chassis accepts Allied Telesis SBx8100 series XEM line cards, including the SBX81GS24A (24-port Gigabit), SBX81XS6 (6-port 10G SFP+), and additional modules for 10G, 40G, and specialized interfaces. All 8 slots can be independently populated based on capacity requirements.

Q: What does the B05 suffix mean in AT-SBX908GEN2-B05?

The B05 suffix indicates that this SKU includes a bundled 5-year Allied Telesis Net Cover Premium (NCP) support contract. NCP provides advance hardware replacement, access to AlliedWare Plus software updates, and priority technical support. The base chassis without support is the AT-SBX908GEN2.

Q: Does the SBX908GEN2 support VCStack for chassis redundancy?

Yes. Two AT-SBX908GEN2 units can be configured as a VCStack virtual chassis using dedicated stacking ports. The stack operates as a single logical device, providing sub-second failover, distributed link aggregation across both units, and simplified single-node management.

Q: Can power supplies and fans be replaced without downtime?

Yes. All PSUs, fan modules, and line cards in the SBX908 Gen2 are hot-swappable. Replacement can be performed during live network operation. With dual PSUs installed, removing one for replacement does not interrupt service.

Q: Is the AT-SBX908GEN2-B05 suitable for federal government procurement?

Allied Telesis x908 Gen2 platforms are designed to meet enterprise and government network requirements. For federal TAA compliance verification, contact your Creation Networks account representative, as compliance status should be confirmed for the specific configuration at time of purchase.

Q: What routing protocols does the SBX908GEN2 support?

Running AlliedWare Plus, the SBX908GEN2 supports OSPF (OSPFv2 and OSPFv3), BGP4 and BGP4+, RIP and RIPng, PIM-SM/DM/SSM multicast routing, VRF-Lite for network segmentation, and static routing. Premium feature licenses unlock extended route table sizes.

Q: What does MEF 9 and MEF 14 certification mean for service providers?

MEF 9 and MEF 14 certifications confirm the SBX908 meets the Metro Ethernet Forum's strict Carrier Ethernet performance and service attribute requirements for E-Line (point-to-point) and E-LAN (multipoint) service delivery. This is essential for SPs building wholesale or retail Carrier Ethernet services.

Q: Where can I purchase or get a quote for the AT-SBX908GEN2-B05?

The AT-SBX908GEN2-B05 is available directly through Creation Networks at creationnetworks.net. Contact our team for volume pricing, configuration assistance, and trade-in options.