Product identity
Manufacturer SKU, MPN, and model information
Use the manufacturer’s SKU, MPN, model identifier, or configuration code to match the exact equipment and variant.
HPE Aruba Networking CX 6000 24-port Class 4 PoE 370W Switch (R8N87B)
- Manufacturer identifier
- R8N87B
- Variant
- 24-port 10/100/1000 Class 4 PoE; four 1G SFP uplinks; 370W
- Region
- US
- Verified
- Official source
- Manufacturer verification
The access role is deliberately modest
R8N87B provides 24 gigabit access ports with Class 4 PoE and four gigabit SFP uplinks. VLANs, access controls, traffic prioritization and static routing give it the functions needed for a defined access layer. It is a reasonable candidate where a firewall or another upstream device carries the more demanding routing role.
The value is in selecting the required functions without paying for an architecture the office will not use. That does not make the switch interchangeable with every higher CX model. Port speed, routing scale, power arrangements and management features remain model-specific even when the operating-system family is familiar.
The uplinks determine how much traffic can leave the closet
The SFP uplinks are 1G, rather than the SFP+ connections on CX 6100 models. Combining several links can distribute independent flows in a suitable aggregation design, but it does not normally turn a single flow into a multi-gigabit connection.
This matters most when the switch serves many clients that communicate beyond it. Large software deployments, backups or concentrated AP traffic can make the uplink boundary more important than the downlink count. For a lightly loaded office, the same limitation may have little practical consequence. Cartennas would decide between CX 6000 and CX 6100 from the traffic crossing that boundary, rather than treating the series increment as an automatic upgrade in user experience.
The shared PoE budget must match the endpoint mix
The published PoE budget is 370W. An illustrative allocation of ten 30W devices consumes 300W and leaves 70W for the remaining powered endpoints. Twenty-four maximum Class 4 allocations would exceed the budget even though all access ports support that power class.
The calculation is a planning example, not a measurement of the devices in an actual office. Its purpose is to separate a port’s capability from the chassis’s aggregate electrical capacity. Phones and other lower-draw devices can produce a comfortable mix, while a smaller number of higher-draw endpoints can approach the limit much earlier.
Familiar branding does not eliminate the management transition
Firsthand accounts from administrators moving to AOS-CX describe a learning curve from earlier ArubaOS-Switch commands. They also distinguish local CLI operation from historical frustrations with Central’s switch-management workflows. Those observations concern different management surfaces, rather than proving that the underlying R8N87B forwarding hardware is poor.
The practical implication is to evaluate the method the team will actually use. Local management and separately licensed centralized management are different operating choices. A simple access requirement can still become unnecessarily difficult if the chosen configuration process does not fit the team. This model works best when its modest hardware role and its management arrangement are equally clear.
Onsite installation support
Need help installing or replacing the HPE Aruba Networking CX 6000 24-port Class 4 PoE 370W Switch (R8N87B)?
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Choose R8N87B for a modest access layer with a stable gigabit uplink requirement. Prefer a CX 6100 or another faster-uplink platform when aggregated traffic is likely to grow. The deciding factor is the office’s actual upstream demand, followed by the power mix and management process it can support.
Cartennas analysis of manufacturer specifications, applicable technical documentation and available firsthand operating evidence. Review methodology. Cartennas provides product procurement and onsite services. Product review terms.
Official manufacturer information
Confirm the exact model, specifications, licensing, warranty, and support terms directly with the manufacturer.
Product information was checked on September 5, 2026. Specifications, licensing, warranty, availability, and pricing can change.
