Arista 7280R3 Model Selection Guide: SR3, CR3, DR3, PR3, TR3 & the K/A Variants
Published September 2026. Port, buffer, and route-scale figures are taken from Arista’s 7280R3 Series data sheet; lifecycle dates from Arista’s end-of-sale notices. For the full three-generation history of the 7280R family, see our Arista 7280R in-depth guide.
The Arista 7280R3 is the current generation of Arista’s deep-buffer switch router line, built on the Broadcom Jericho2 silicon family. The series runs from a 40-port 10GBASE-T model to 24-port 400G systems, and every model comes in two or three routing-scale tiers, which is where most of the buying confusion happens. This page is a model-by-model selection guide: what each 7280R3 model is, what the K, A, E, and M suffixes mean, which models are end-of-sale, and which one fits a given role.
The 7280R3 Model Table
All figures per Arista’s 7280R3 data sheet. Every model is available in -F (front-to-rear) and -R (rear-to-front) airflow; the links go to the -F version in our catalog.
| Model | Ports | Packet buffer | Max IPv4 routes | Typical role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7280TR3-40C6 | 40 x 10GBASE-T RJ45 + 6 x 100G QSFP | 2 GB | 1.1M | Copper 10G leaf with deep buffers |
| 7280SR3-40YC6 | 40 x 25G SFP + 6 x 100G QSFP | 2 GB | 1.1M | Compact 25G leaf |
| 7280SR3E-40YC6-M | 40 x 25G SFP + 6 x 100G QSFP | 2 GB | 1.1M | Same as SR3-40YC6 with SyncE and expanded memory |
| 7280SR3-48YC8 | 48 x 25G SFP + 8 x 100G QSFP | 4 GB | 1.85M | The standard 25G deep-buffer leaf |
| 7280SR3K-48YC8 / -48YC8A | 48 x 25G SFP + 8 x 100G QSFP | 4 GB | 2.85M | 25G leaf or border leaf with full internet tables |
| 7280CR3-36S | 36 x 100G QSFP, 2 of them 400G-capable | 4 GB | 1.85M | 100G spine or aggregation |
| 7280CR3K-36S / -36A | 36 x 100G QSFP, 2 of them 400G-capable | 4 GB | 2.85M | 100G spine or peering with full tables |
| 7280CR3-32P4 / -32D4 | 32 x 100G QSFP + 4 x 400G (OSFP on P4, QSFP-DD on D4) | 8 GB | 1.45M | 100G spine with 400G uplinks |
| 7280CR3K-32P4 / -32D4 (and -32P4A / -32D4A) | 32 x 100G QSFP + 4 x 400G | 8 GB | 2.25M | Large-scale spine, DCI, peering |
| 7280CR3-96 / 7280CR3K-96 | 96 x 100G QSFP | 16 GB | 1.45M / 2.25M | High-density 100G spine |
| 7280DR3-24 / 7280DR3K-24 | 24 x 400G QSFP-DD | 16 GB | 1.45M / 2.25M | 400G spine, DCI, peering |
| 7280PR3-24 / 7280PR3K-24 | 24 x 400G OSFP | 16 GB | 1.45M / 2.25M | Same as DR3 with OSFP optics |
What the Suffixes Mean
K models carry the larger routing tables (2.25M or 2.85M IPv4 routes in Arista’s data sheet versus 1.1M to 1.85M on the standard models). If the box will hold full internet tables in more than one VRF, or you want headroom for years of table growth, buy the K.
A-suffix models (7280SR3K-48YC8A, 7280CR3K-36A, 7280CR3K-32P4A, 7280CR3K-32D4A) are revisions of the K models with the same ports, buffers, and route scale; the data sheet lists them with an eight-core control-plane CPU and more system memory. They are the replacements Arista names in its April 2026 end-of-sale notices, so a used K and a new A are interchangeable in the fabric. Do not confuse them with the separate 7280R3A Series (7280DR3A, 7280CR3A, 7280SR3A), which is a newer 400G product line covered in our full 7280R guide.
E on the 7280SR3E-40YC6 denotes the SyncE and expanded-memory variant of the SR3-40YC6 (offered with and without an -M suffix). P versus D in a model name is only the 400G optic form factor: P is OSFP, D is QSFP-DD.
Lifecycle Status (September 2026)
On April 10, 2026, Arista announced end of sale for the K-series models 7280SR3K-48YC8, 7280CR3K-36S, 7280CR3K-32P4, 7280CR3K-32D4, and 7280CR3MK-32P4, with a last day to order of October 10, 2026. For the SR3K-48YC8 and CR3K-36S, Arista’s notices set end of life (last day of support) at October 10, 2031 and name the A revisions as replacements. The standard (non-K) 7280R3 models were not part of those notices and remain orderable. Under Arista’s five-year policy, a refurbished K model bought today still has manufacturer support available until October 2031. See our Arista end of life list for dates by part number.
Choosing a 7280R3 Model
- 25G server racks that need deep buffers (storage, NVMe/TCP, bursty east-west traffic): 7280SR3-48YC8. Step up to the SR3K if the leaf also terminates internet routes.
- Copper 10G access with 100G uplinks: 7280TR3-40C6, the only RJ45 model in the series.
- 100G spine for a 25G fabric: 7280CR3-36S or CR3K-36S; the two 400G-capable ports give you a path to 400G spine links later.
- 100G spine that will add 400G uplinks or DCI: 7280CR3-32P4/32D4 (8 GB buffers) or the K versions for full tables.
- Maximum 100G density in 2U: 7280CR3-96 or CR3K-96.
- 400G spine, DCI, or peering: 7280DR3-24 (QSFP-DD) or 7280PR3-24 (OSFP), K versions for full tables.
BrightStar stocks the 7280R3 models listed above in both airflow directions, including the A revisions. Every unit is tested on our 9-point process and ships with our 1-year in-house warranty for end users. Request a quote with the model and airflow you need, or browse the Arista 7280 Series category.