Allied Telesis AT-X230-18GP-R-90 – 16-Port PoE+ Managed Switch, Reverse Airflow

Product Overview

The Allied Telesis x230 16-port PoE+ reverse-airflow switch (AT-X230-18GP-R-90) delivers 16 ports of IEEE 802.3at PoE+ Gigabit Ethernet and 2 SFP uplinks in a 1U rackmount form factor with right-to-left (port-side exhaust) airflow, specifically engineered for hot-aisle/cold-aisle data center rack deployments. This AT-X230-18GP-R reverse airflow PoE+ managed switch addresses the airflow requirements of data center environments where standard front-to-back airflow switches create hot-spot problems in optimized cooling architectures. With a 247W PoE power budget, 36 Gbps switching fabric, and full AlliedWare Plus management including AMF+ and OpenFlow v1.3 support, the x230-18GP-R is a purpose-built 16-port Gigabit PoE+ access switch for airflow-sensitive rack environments in enterprise and campus network deployments.

Product Description

The AT-X230-18GP-R-90 is the reverse-airflow variant of the x230-18GP, sharing the same feature set as the standard model while directing cooling air from right to left (port-side to PSU-side). This airflow direction aligns with hot-aisle containment architectures used in data centers and high-density network equipment rooms, preventing recirculation of hot exhaust air into cold aisles and maintaining ambient temperature stability. All 16 copper RJ45 ports support PoE+ (IEEE 802.3at) at up to 30W per port, with a 247W maximum PoE budget enabling up to 16 simultaneous 15W devices or 8 devices at full 30W. The 2 SFP uplink slots accept 100/1000X SFPs for fiber connectivity to distribution or core switches. The switch operates on AlliedWare Plus, Allied Telesis’ enterprise-grade OS, providing a standard CLI, web GUI, and SNMP management interface consistent across all x230 and AlliedWare Plus platforms. AMF+ (Autonomous Management Framework Plus) integrates this switch into a unified management domain with zero-touch provisioning, automated configuration backup, and centralized network topology visualization through Vista Manager EX. Security features include IEEE 802.1X port-based authentication with dynamic VLAN assignment, tri-authentication, DHCP snooping, STP root guard, BPDU protection, and comprehensive ACLs for Layer 2 and Layer 3 traffic filtering. Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) reduces per-port power consumption during idle periods, contributing to lower PUE in data center environments. The 36 Gbps non-blocking switching fabric ensures wire-rate performance across all 18 ports simultaneously. Loop detection and thrash limiting prevent broadcast storms from propagating through the access layer. The x230-18GP-R is TAA compliant, qualifying for US Government procurement, and carries IPv6 Ready certification for forward compatibility.

Key Features

• Right-to-Left (Reverse) Airflow — Port-side exhaust airflow aligns with hot-aisle containment architectures, preventing thermal recirculation in data center racks.
• 16x PoE+ Gigabit Copper Ports — IEEE 802.3at on all 16 RJ45 ports at up to 30W per port, with a 247W total PoE budget.
• 2x SFP Uplink Slots — Accept 100/1000X SFPs for fiber uplinks to distribution switches at variable distances.
• 36 Gbps Switching Fabric — Non-blocking wire-rate forwarding at 26.8 Mpps across all 18 ports.
• AlliedWare Plus OS — Full-featured enterprise OS with CLI, web GUI, SNMP, consistent across all AlliedWare Plus platforms.
• AMF+ Integration — Zero-touch provisioning, automated configuration backup, and centralized single-pane management via Vista Manager EX.
• IEEE 802.1X with Dynamic VLAN — Port-based authentication enforces access policy with dynamic VLAN assignment for compliant and non-compliant users.
• Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) — Reduces port-level power draw during low-traffic periods to lower total rack power consumption.
• OpenFlow v1.3 SDN Ready — Supports OpenFlow v1.3 with optional license for SDN controller integration.
• Active Fiber Monitoring (AFM) — Real-time detection of fiber faults and unauthorized physical access on SFP uplinks.
• TAA Compliant — Meets Trade Agreements Act requirements for US Government and federal procurement.
• Loop Detection and Thrash Limiting — Immediate response to accidental cabling loops to prevent access-layer broadcast storms.

Typical Applications

• Data center access-layer deployments using hot-aisle/cold-aisle containment where reverse-airflow switches are required to align with rack cooling architecture.
• Network equipment rooms and IDF closets with directional airflow management where standard front-to-back switches cause thermal issues.
• Enterprise campus wiring closets requiring PoE+ for wireless APs, IP cameras, and VoIP with precise rack thermal management.
• US Government and federal agency deployments requiring TAA-compliant Gigabit PoE+ access switching in controlled environments.

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does right-to-left airflow mean, and why does it matter?

Right-to-left airflow means cooling air enters from the right (PSU) side and exits from the left (port) side. In hot-aisle/cold-aisle data center designs, racks face alternating directions so that hot exhaust from one row does not feed into the cold-air intake of the adjacent row. The -R model’s airflow direction ensures compatibility with this thermal architecture, preventing hot spots and maintaining PUE targets.

Q: What is the difference between the AT-X230-18GP and the AT-X230-18GP-R?

The AT-X230-18GP-R is functionally identical to the AT-X230-18GP in terms of ports, PoE budget, switching performance, and software features. The sole difference is airflow direction: the standard model uses front-to-back (left-to-right) airflow, while the -R model uses reverse right-to-left (port-side exhaust) airflow for data center hot-aisle compatibility.

Q: What is the total PoE power budget on the x230-18GP-R?

The x230-18GP has a maximum PoE power budget of 247W across all 16 PoE+ ports. It supports up to 16 ports at 15W (IEEE 802.3af) or up to 8 ports at 30W (IEEE 802.3at PoE+) simultaneously.

Q: Is the AT-X230-18GP-R-90 TAA compliant?

Yes. The AT-X230-18GP-R-90 carries Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance, qualifying it for US Government procurement under applicable GSA schedules and federal acquisition regulations.

Q: What rack mounting hardware is included?

The AT-X230-18GP-R-90 ships with rack mounting hardware for installation in standard 19-inch equipment racks. The AT-RKMT-J13 rack mount kit is compatible with this model.

Q: Does this switch support stacking or virtual chassis?

The x230 series supports Allied Telesis AMF for logical network management across multiple switches as a single virtual domain. Hardware stacking via dedicated stack cables is not supported on the x230 platform.

Q: Where can I purchase the AT-X230-18GP-R-90?

The Allied Telesis AT-X230-18GP-R-90 is available through Creation Networks at creationnetworks.net. Contact our team for pricing, TAA documentation, and rack thermal planning assistance.