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QFX10008 Power Planning


Use the information to calculate the power consumption for the QFX10008 and plan your configuration’s power requirements.

Power Requirements for QFX10000 Components

Table 1 lists the power requirements for different hardware components of a QFX10008 and QFX10016 under typical voltage conditions. For power requirements for chassis configurations, see Calculating Power Requirements for a QFX10008 and Calculating Power Requirements for a QFX10016.

Table 1: Power Requirements for QFX10000 Components



Power Requirements (Watts)

Typical Power

Maximum Power


QFX10008 SIB

170 W

225 W


QFX10016 SIB

510 W

675 W


QFX10008 standard fan tray

225 W at 77° F (25° C)

475 W at maximum fan speed


QFX10016 fan tray

475 W at 77° F (25° C)

975 W at maximum fan speed


QFX10000 Routing and Control Board

50 W

125 W


QFX10000 30-port QSFP28 line card

890 W

1150 W


QFX10000 30-port MACsec QSSP28 line card

950 W

1250 W


QFX10000 36-port QSFP+ line card

520 W

675 W


QFX10000 60-port SFP+ and 6-port QSFP+ line card

365 W

455 W


QFX10000 Coherent line card

900 W

1050 W

Calculating Power Requirements for a QFX10008

Use the information in this topic to calculate power requirements of your QFX10008 configuration and the number of power supplies required for different QFX10008 switch configurations.


To ensure adequate power and to avoid raising a power alarm, you must maintain a redundant power supply in your device at all times. This additional power supply provides for the recommended n +1 redundancy.

Replace failed power supplies immediately to prevent unexpected failures.

If a new line card is installed in an operational switch, power management does not power on the line card if the increased power demand exceeds the total available power, including redundant power. If redundant power is used to power on the line card, a minor alarm is raised, which becomes a major alarm in five minutes if the condition is not corrected.


The calculations in this topic represent the maximum power requirements that you need to budget for your QFX10008 modular switch configuration. The actual power consumption of your switch will be less than the calculated results shown here and will vary based on the hardware and software configuration of your switch, the amount of traffic passing through the line cards, and environmental variables such as room temperature.

Before you begin these calculations:

This topic describes these tasks:

  1. How to Calculate the Power Consumption of Your QFX10008

  2. How to Calculate the Number of Power Supplies Required for Your QFX10008

How to Calculate the Power Consumption of Your QFX10008

Use the following procedure to determine the maximum power you need to supply to the switch. To calculate maximum system power consumption, you first determine the combined maximum internal power requirements of all the switch components and then divide this result by the power supply output power.

To calculate maximum system power consumption:

  1. Determine the maximum power consumption of the base chassis components (that is, the components other than the line cards). Use Table 2 if your switch is configured as either one of the base or redundant configurations.

    Table 2: Chassis Power Consumption for Standard Configurations

    Chassis Component

    Base Configuration or Base HVAC/HVDC Configuration

    Redundant Configuration or HVAC/HVDC Configuration


    950 W

    950 W


    125 W

    250 W


    1125 W

    1350 W


    2220 W

    2550 W

  2. Calculate the maximum internal power consumption of the entire switch by adding in the power requirements of each line card. See Table 3 for a chart of the power needed for line cards.

    Table 3: Line Card Power Consumption

    Number of Line Cards







    675 W

    1150 W

    1250 W

    455 W

    1050 W


    1350 W

    2300 W

    2500 W

    910 W

    2100 W


    2025 W

    3450 W

    3750 W

    1365 W

    3150 W


    2700 W

    4600 W

    5000 W

    1820 W

    4200 W


    3375 W

    5750 W

    6250 W

    2275 W


    4050 W

    6900 W

    7500 W

    2730 W


    4725 W

    8050 W

    8750 W

    3185 W


    5400 W

    9200 W

    10000 W

    3640 W


    The QFX10000-12C-DWDM line card is designed to comply with NEBS regulations on the QFX10000 line of modular switch chassis when these switches are used in typical configurations. In a typical configuration, a QFX10008 switch supports up to eight line cards, with up to four QFX10000-12C-DWDM in any of the eight slots.

    To comply with EMC regulations, you must also install front panel on the QFX10008 chassis. See QFX10000 EMI Front Panel.

    For example, for a QFX10008 with five QFX10000-36Q line cards and three QFX10000-30C, the maximum power consumption is:

    = 5 (power consumed by QFX10000-36Q in watts) + 3 (power consumed by QFX10000-30C line cards in watts)

    = 5 (675 W) + 3 (1150 W)

    = (3375 W + 3450 W)

    = 6825 W

  3. Add the power consumption from Step 1 and the total line card consumption from Step 2.

    To continue from the previous example, add the wattage from five QFX10000-36Q and three QFX10000-30C cards to a redundant configuration.

    (6825 W) + (2550 W)

    = 9375 W required

How to Calculate the Number of Power Supplies Required for Your QFX10008

Use this procedure to calculate the number of power supplies required by your switch configuration. The minimum power configuration for QFX10008 switches is three power supplies. However, using the calculated minimum power configuration does not prevent the system from raising a power alarm. To ensure you do not log power alarms, you must configure your router for n+1 power supplies.

To calculate the number of power supplies required for your minimum switch configuration:

  1. Determine the power available from the power supplies. Table 4 shows the power available for installed power supplies.Note

    DC systems are only supported in the redundant configuration.

    Table 4: Total Power Available

    Power Supply Module Models

    With Three Power Supplies

    With Four Power Supplies

    With Five Power Supplies


    8100 W

    10,800 W

    13,500 W

    JNP10K-PWR-AC2 dual feed, high power (30-A) setting

    16,500 W

    22,000 W

    27,500 W

    JNP10K-PWR-AC2 single feed, high power (20-A) setting

    15,000 W

    20,000 W

    25,000 W


    12,500 W

    JNP10K-PWR-DC2 dual feed, high power (80-A) setting

    27,500 W

    JNP10K-PWR-DC2 dual feed, low power (60-A) setting

    22,000 W

    JNP10K-PWR-DC2 single feed, high power (80-A) setting

    13,750 W

    JNP10K-PWR-DC2 single feed, low power (60-A) setting

    11,000 W


    The HVAC/HVDC power supply, JNP10K-PWR-AC2, has a set of DIP switches on the faceplate that allows you to configure the power supply for either high power (30 A) or low power (20 A) input mode. If any JNP10K-PWR-AC2.power supply is set to 20 A, then the power budget for all power supplies installed in the system becomes 20 A, regardless if other power supplies are set at 30 A. This design is to prevent overloading of the power supply that is set to 20 A. See Power Input and Output Voltages for JNP10K-PWR-AC2 Power Supplies for details on setting the DIP switches.

  2. Determine the total power required for your configuration with line cards installed. The total power available to the chassis is calculated by dividing the wattage needed by the power rating, then rounding up.

    In the previous examples, we calculated that a QFX10008 AC system would require 9385 W with five QFX10000-36Q and three QFX10000-30C line cards. In this example, we calculate the total power available for this configuration:

    = (9375 W) / (2700 W)

    = 3.47

    Round up the result to 4 AC power supplies, which is the minimum number without a redundant power supply (RPS). Add one more power supply for a n+1 redundancy. In this example, a total of five power supplies are needed.

QFX10008 and QFX100016 Grounding Cable and Lug Specifications

You must install the switch in a restricted-access location and ensure it is adequately grounded at all times. Proper grounding ensures your switch is operating correctly and that it meets safety and electromagnetic interference (EMI) requirements. A QFX modular chassis, has a 2-hole protective grounding terminal on the rear of the chassis beneath the power supplies for grounding.

For AC powered systems, you must also use the grounding wire in the AC power cord along with the 2-hole lug ground connection. This tested system meets or exceeds all applicable EMC regulatory requirements with the 2-hole protective grounding terminal.


To comply with GR-1089 requirements, all intra-building copper cabling used for SFP+, QSFP+, and QSFP28 ports must be shielded and grounded at both ends.


Before switch installation begins, a licensed electrician must attach a cable lug to the grounding cable that you supply. See Connect the QFX10008 or QFX10016 to Earth Ground. A cable with an incorrectly attached lug can damage the switch.

Before connecting the switch to earth ground, review the following information:

  • Two threaded inserts (PEM nuts) are provided on the lower rear of the chassis for connecting the switch to earth ground. The grounding points are spaced at 0.63  in. (16 mm) centers.

  • The grounding lug required is a Panduit LCD6-10A-L or equivalent (provided). The grounding lug accommodates 6 AWG (13.3 mm²) stranded wire. If one or more JNP10K-PWR-DC2 power supplies are installed in the chassis and set for high input (80-A), use the Panduit LCD4-14A-L or equivalent (provided). This lug accommodates 4 AWG (21.1mm²) stranded wire.

  • The grounding cable that you provide for a QFX10016 must be the same size or heavier than the input wire of each power supply. Minimum recommendations are 6 AWG (13.3 mm²) stranded copper wire, Class B; 90° C wire, or as permitted by local code.