Arista Networks introduced its next-generation R4 Series platforms—7800R4, 7280R4, and 7020R4—designed to power large-scale AI clusters, data center fabrics, and routed cloud backbones with 800G performance and full-stack security. The R4 portfolio extends across modular, fixed, and edge form factors, all unified under the Arista EOS operating system for consistent automation, observability, and programmability.
The flagship 7800R4 modular router scales up to 460 Tbps of system capacity (920 Tbps full duplex), supporting 576 ports of 800GbE and introducing 3.2 Tbps HyperPorts for interconnecting data centers at petabit scale. The fixed 7280R4 delivers 25.6 Tbps throughput and 32 x 800GbE density for AI and cloud spines, while the compact 7020R4offers flexible 1G–100G options for edge or leaf deployments. All models share common design pillars: deep buffering, lossless VOQ forwarding, multi-layer TunnelSec™ encryption, and precise timing synchronization.
Key Highlights of the Arista R4 Series:
- Unified design across modular and fixed systems with Arista EOSⓇ and CloudVision® for real-time telemetry and automation.
- Support for modern data center architectures including EVPN, VXLAN, MPLS, SR/SRv6, and Segment Routing-TE.
- Lossless packet transport via deep-buffer VOQ architecture (up to 32 GB per line card).
- Multi-layer encryption with TunnelSec™, enabling MACsec, IPsec, and VXLANsec at wire speed.
- Deterministic latency under 4 µs and low power consumption with >93% efficient power supplies.
- Integrated AI-centric features such as Cluster Load Balancing (CLB) and HyperPort for high-bandwidth, scale-across AI workloads.
- Precision Time Protocol (IEEE 1588v2) and Synchronous Ethernet for distributed timing.
- Full in-service software upgrades and stateful fault containment with EOS modular architecture.
Arista 7800R4 – Modular Universal Spine Router
- System capacity: Up to 460 Tbps (920 Tbps FDX) fabric
- Port density: Up to 576 × 800G, 1152 × 400G, or 4608 × 100G
- Line cards: 36-port 800G OSFP; supports HyperPort (3.2 Tbps) links
- Per-slot bandwidth: 28.8 Tbps
- Packet buffer: 32 GB per line card
- Throughput: 173 Bpps (billion packets per second)
- Latency: <4 µs (64-byte frame)
- Encryption: Full TunnelSec (MACsec, IPsec, VXLANsec) on all ports
- Power draw: 6.8–28 kW (depending on chassis and optics)
- Form factors: 4-slot (10RU), 8-slot (16RU), 12-slot (23RU), 16-slot (32RU)
- Fabric design: Fully scheduled, cell-spraying VOQ architecture for lossless AI traffic
- Notable feature: HyperPort single-port 3.2 Tbps clear channel—up to 44% faster AI job completion
- Use cases: AI training interconnects, DCI, large routed backbones, carrier cores
Arista 7280R4 – Fixed High-Density 800G System
- Models: 32-port 800G (OSFP/QSFP-DD) and hybrid 64×100G + 10×800G variants
- Throughput: Up to 25.6 Tbps (51.2 Tbps FDX)
- Packet rate: 9.6 Bpps
- Packet buffer: Up to 32 GB
- CPU subsystem: 8-core x86, 64 GB DRAM, 480 GB SSD
- Encryption: TunnelSec with line-rate MACsec, IPsec, VXLANsec
- Cluster Load Balancing (CLB): Optimized for RDMA and AI job completion efficiency
- Optical support: 400G/800G ZR and ZR+ DWDM; integrated ZR Line System
- Algorithmic ACLs: >400K rules for scalable policy enforcement
- Timing: Precision IEEE 1588 PTP and SyncE with OCXO and PPS inputs
- Use cases: AI spine, DC interconnect, large-scale routing, metro aggregation
Arista 7020R4 – Compact Edge and Leaf Switch Router
- Throughput: Up to 2 Tbps / 1 Bpps
- Ports: 48×1G/10G/25G (SFP or RJ45) with 4 or 8×100G uplinks
- Latency: 3.8 µs
- Packet buffer: 2–4 GB
- CPU subsystem: 4-core x86, up to 32 GB DRAM, 120 GB SSD
- Encryption: TunnelSec (AES-256-GCM) at wire speed
- Routing scale: Up to 2.5M routes using FlexRoute™ engine
- Timing: IEEE 1588 PTP and SyncE
- Power: 500 W PSU with >93% efficiency
- Use cases: Secure data center leaf, edge compute, 5G MEC, enterprise aggregation
“We’re excited to see what amazing new networks can be built with these new R4 products,” said Martin Hull, VP and GM for Cloud and AI Platforms at Arista Networks.
🌐 Analysis:
Arista’s R4 family cements its leadership in 800G, deep-buffer, lossless AI networking. The modular 7800R4 challenges Cisco’s Nexus 9800, Juniper’s PTX10000, and Nokia’s 7750 SR-3 Universal Router—particularly in AI interconnect and hyper-dense 800G architectures. The addition of HyperPort and TunnelSec reflects a shift toward AI-native network design emphasizing secure, deterministic transport. Arista’s unified EOS software stack and power-efficient designs align closely with hyperscaler trends toward “scale-across” Ethernet for AI clusters and cloud-scale fabrics.