J9996A - Aruba 2-port 40GbE QSFP+ v3 zl2 Module

Aruba J9996A — 2-Port 40GbE QSFP+ v3 zl2 Uplink Module (for 5400R zl2)

What it is

J9996A isn’t a switch or optic — it’s a chassis uplink module.
It’s the Aruba 2-port 40GbE QSFP+ v3 zl2 module for the Aruba 5400R zl2 Series chassis (5406R zl2 / 5412R zl2). You install it in a zl2 module slot to add two 40G QSFP+ uplink ports for high-bandwidth aggregation, core uplinks, or inter-switch links.

Why buyers pick J9996A (plain English)

• Adds real 40G uplinks to a 5400R chassis
  Ideal when your access/core needs more than 10G uplink bandwidth.

• Flexible media options
  QSFP+ ports support optics, DAC, or AOC — so you can choose short, mid, or longer-reach links.

• Hot-swappable module
  Built for chassis environments where you want upgrades or replacements without full downtime (best with redundant management/PSUs).

• Clean, supported Aruba path
  First-party module designed specifically for the 5400R zl2 ecosystem.

60-second spec box (J9996A)

Module type

• 5400R zl2 v3 uplink / connectivity module

Ports added

• 2 × 40GbE QSFP+

Speed / standards

• 40GBASE-X class connectivity

• Supports common 40G QSFP+ optics and cables (SR4/LR4, DAC/AOC, etc.)

Connector type

• QSFP+ cages (modules/cables purchased separately)

Supported platform

• Aruba 5400R zl2 Series chassis only

  • 5406R zl2

  • 5412R zl2

Install / service

• Slot-based module, hot-swappable

Where it fits (and when to choose something else)

Perfect for:

• 5400R zl2 deployments needing high-bandwidth uplinks

• Aggregation/core connectivity from a chassis access layer

• Inter-switch links where 10G uplinks are a bottleneck

Choose something else if:

• You only need 10G uplinks → use 10G SFP+ zl2 modules instead

• You’re not on a 5400R zl2 chassis → this module won’t fit other families

TL;DR

J9996A is the Aruba 5400R zl2 2-port 40G QSFP+ uplink module:
adds two hot-swap 40GbE QSFP+ ports to a 5400R zl2 chassis for fast aggregation and core uplinks.