Layer 2 HP 4210-48G Switch identical to Layer 3 HP 5120-48G EI Switch?

[lorn10]

Hi

Could someone explain me here the exact “relationship” between the Layer 2 HP 4210-48G Switch and the Layer 3 HP 5120-48G EI Switch?

It seems that these two switches, JF845A and JE069A, have near the same hardware AND also the same software. Despite this, the HP 4210-48G is defined as Layer 2, the HP 5120-48G EI as Layer 3 switch type. How can that be?

According to the HP 5120-48G firmware notes the “HP 5120EI code may also be loaded on the obsolete 3Com 4510G and 4210G switches”. However, despite the new software, the 3Com switches will still “act” like a 4510G or 4210G. What this means exactly?

For example, in more recent firmware releases there are several IPv6 improvements / fixes. Are these now available for the 3Com 4210G switch models with new firmware?

Last thing, - regarding the 3Com 4800G switch it is possible to “rebrand” the switch (at Comware CLI) to a HP (5500-EI) or a H3C model. Is this way of “conversion” also possible for the 3Com 4210G switch models?

Thanks!

[lorn10]

Here follows a little status update.

In the meantime I have successfully loaded a newer A5120EI firmware release (A5120EI-CMW520-R2221P30.bin) onto an original 3Com 4210G-48G Switch (HP JF845A). This has worked perfectly. For that "upgrade" I had to use the serial COM (port) interface because the old 3Com web interface was limited in functionality. Furthermore in contrast to our 3Com 4800G-48G Switch (HP JD011A) the 4210G series has only the half of flash memory space so a major firmware upgrade only works through CLI.

Well, it is still not clear if that upgrade has changed something fundamental in the operation / feature set of the 3Com 4210G switch. According to the information I found the 3Com to HP hardware matrix is as follow:

3Com 4210G series --> HP A5120 EI Switch series
3Com 4510G series --> HP A5500 SI Switch series
3Com 4800G series --> HP A5500 EI Switch series

It has to be noted that the HP A5120 EI / A5500 SI Switch series (former 3Com 4210G / 4510G) use the same firmware image and boot rom. The HP A5500 EI Switch series (former 3Com 4800G) has different ones. However it uses the same version numbering scheme and code base. For example, firmware R2221P25 exists for all models (with the same resolved fixes) but it is different build / compiled for the HP A5500 EI range.

[eozturk01]

<3com-4800>brand ?
3com Set the BRAND to 3COM
h3c Set the BRAND to H3C
hpe Set the BRAND to HPE

Hello,

it's possible to rebrand the 3com or h3c switches to HPE, i had two 3com 4800 switches and i have rebranded them to hpe and they are all working ok, just install the latest firmware and it should be fine, and i believe it should be the same for 4210 and 4510 series.

[lorn10]

Thanks for this information. Yes, that’s clear. I have also found this brand config info some time ago.

So it is possible to rebrand my 3Com 4210 to an HP A5120 model. But what does that mean exactly?

Means this, that I can make out of my 3Com 4210 “Fixed Port L2 Managed Ethernet Switch” a HP A5120 “Fixed Port L3 Managed Ethernet Switch”, - really? I am somewhat skeptical…

The official HP support look up site can be found here:

https://h10145.www1.hpe.com/support/SupportLookUp.aspx

• HP 4210-48G Switch (JF845A) aka 3Com 4210 = Fixed Port L2 Managed Ethernet Switch
• HP 5120-48G EI Switch (JE069A) = Fixed Port L3 Managed Ethernet Switch

[eozturk01]

Hello,

as i can see from the datasheet, it can do static routing, i guess you just have to rebrand and see, i have rebranded my 4800G's and they are renamed as 5500-EI, so it should be the same for 4210G's

https://www.hpe.com/h20195/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=c04140109&doctype=quickspecs&doclang=EN_US&searchquery=&cc=us&lc=en

[lorn10]

Thanks eozturk01 for this hint. I thought the brand command will gave me a HP 4210 Switch and not a HP 5120 one....

Will check that somewhat closer when I find the time. ;)