Arista Networks 7280R & 7320X Fixed Spine Maintenance
side by side.
TechCare TPM vs. A-Care. Cost range, EOSL advantages, migration path and DACH compliance at a glance — for IT leadership and procurement.
Cost comparison
Example Arista 7050X3 switch with 4-year A-Care 24×7×4: TechCare TPM roughly 35–53% below the OEM price.
Active EOSL lines
- 7280SR / 7280R (legacy fixed Spine) · EOSL 2025-06-30
- 7280R3 / 7280R3-SU (aktuelle fixed Spine) · EOSL 2029-12-31
- 7170 / 7170-32C (legacy 100G fixed) · EOSL 2024-06-30
Which fixed spine models we service
- 7280R · carrier-class spine (1st gen)
- 7280SR-48 · 7280QR-C36 · 7280CR2-60 · all 1G/10G/40G variants
- 7280R2 · carrier-class spine (2nd gen)
- 7280CR2-60 · 7280QR-C36 · 25/100G aggregation
- 7280R3 · carrier-class spine (current)
- 7280CR3-32 · 7280CR3K-32 · 7280DR3-24 · 100/400G
- 7320X · compact spine
- 7320X-32C · 7320X-32C-LC (32x100G in 1 RU)
- Components & optics
- Power supplies · fan trays · 1/10/25/40/100/400G optics · QSFP28/QSFP-DD
EOSL status of fixed spine generations
| Generation | Released | End of vendor support | TechCare TPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7280R (1. Generation) | 2014–2016 | 2022–2024 | Recommended |
| 7280R2 | 2016–2018 | 2024–2026 | Supported |
| 7280R3 | 2019+ | ca. 2027+ | Supported |
| 7320X / 7320X-LC | 2018+ | ca. 2026+ | Supported |
Why TPM maintenance for 7280R & 7320X
7280R maintenance is positioned high-end — carrier-class hardware with deep buffer costs accordingly with Arista A-Care — even a single 7280CR3 with 24×7×4 is a significant cost item. In service provider and WAN edge configurations with 4-12 7280R switches, this adds up to significant budgets quickly. TPM reduces this to 35-50 percent — the hardware architecture (single box, single ASIC with deep buffer) is manageable from a maintenance perspective, the value lies in component inventory and SLA response time, not in proprietary maintenance complexity.
We service 7280R and 7320X with OEM power supplies, fan trays and optics from our own warehouse. For 7280R, the three generations (R, R2, R3) are hardware-wise completely different — components are not interchangeable across generations, power supplies and fan trays have different specifications. We stock all three generations. EOS software, deep buffer configuration, BGP/MPLS/Segment Routing and all carrier-class features stay functionally unchanged — TPM only affects the hardware layer.
OEM vs. TechCare — where the switch pays off
The full OEM-vs-TPM matrix (spare parts, SLA tiers, language, sub-outsourcing, compliance docs, reporting) is the same for every Arista Networks line — see the Arista Networks battle card.
Stays with Arista Networks
- EOS software licenses + major updates
- CloudVision subscription
- Arista TAC software tickets
Moves to TechCare
- Hardware defects (memory, disk, PSU, mainboard, modules)
- 24×7×4 on-site SLA with German-speaking field service
- Spare-parts logistics DACH + global hub network
- Fixed-price contract in 48 h, one inventory — one contract
DACH compliance by design.
BAIT/MaRisk documentation package, DORA Art. 28 contract template, ISO 27001 and GDPR-compliant media handling apply identically to every Arista Networks line — details on the Arista Networks battle card.
Migration path from first contact to hand-over.
Same four steps for every Arista Networks line: inventory → fixed-price quote in 48 h → contract (BAIT/MaRisk/DORA hooks) → hand-over with spare-parts provisioning. Details on the Arista Networks battle card.
FAQ on 7280R & 7320X maintenance
- Which fixed spine models do you service?
- Complete fixed spine family: 7280R series all three generations (7280SR-48, 7280QR-C36, 7280CR2-60, 7280CR3-32, 7280CR3K-32, 7280DR3-24 and all 1G/10G/25G/40G/100G/400G variants) and 7320X series (7320X-32C, 7320X-32C-LC for 32x100G compact spine). Including all power supplies, fan trays and optics modules.
- What does TPM cost for 7280R compared to A-Care?
- 30 to 60 percent savings. For a 7280CR3-32 with 24×7×4, TechCare is roughly 55–60% below the Arista price. For the 7280R2 and the 7320X-32C, TechCare is roughly 55% below Arista A-Care each. For service provider configurations with 8-16 7280R switches, the percentage savings apply to every switch — a noticeable annual lever.
- What about deep buffer functionality on 7280R?
- Deep buffer is a hardware property of the 7280R platform, not a software license. Several gigabytes of buffer per port group are implemented in the switch ASIC and available independently of the maintenance source. EOS configuration for buffer profiles (lossless queuing, RED/WRED, burst absorption) remains unchanged. TPM has no impact on deep buffer performance — the hardware stays carrier-class as from factory.
- Can you service EOSL 7280R first generation?
- Yes. 7280R first generation (released 2014-2016, EOSL from 2022-2024) is still productive in DACH service provider and WAN edge fleets — typically in stable carrier aggregation roles that don't necessarily need refresh. We stock switches, power supplies, fan trays and optics for 7280R first generation. EOS on older 7280R continues to work — code updates to newer EOS versions require an Arista contract.
- Which SLA levels do you recommend for fixed spine?
- 7280R in service provider, WAN edge or internet peering roles: 24×7×4 with German-speaking onsite engineer is standard — outage affects carrier backbone or internet connectivity. 7320X as compact spine in medium data center fabrics: 24×7×4 or 5×9 NBD depending on redundancy concept. For spine pairs with MLAG, a spine failure can be absorbed by the partner — 5×9 NBD saves budget.
- Can we have 7280R/7320X and modular spine (7500R/7800R) in the same contract?
- Yes. Multi-class contracts are our strength — 7280R/7320X as fixed spine, 7500R/7800R as modular spine, 7050X/7060X as leaf — all in one contract, one point of contact, one SLA report set. For service provider customers with mixed fleets, this is the standard configuration. Plus all other vendors in the same construct.