The Huawei S5735 switch sits in a Goldilocks zone—it’s not entry-level like the S5700 series nor as pricey as the CloudEngine line, promising enterprises a sweet spot of performance and affordability. With features like PoE++, 10G uplinks, and iPCA network diagnostics, it’s marketed as a versatile solution for SMEs, schools, and smart buildings. But here’s the rub: many businesses blindly adopt the S5735 assuming it’s a universal fix, only to discover mismatched capabilities, underutilized ports, or redundant licenses. Does this switch truly deliver value, or are you funding Huawei’s R&D with specs you’ll never use? Let’s cut through the hype and expose where the S5735 shines—and where it stumbles.
Why the Huawei S5735 Dominates Specific Scenarios (and Fails in Others)
The Huawei S5735 isn’t a one-size-fits-all box—it’s a scalpel, not a hammer. Take smart office deployments: the S5735S-24P4S-A1 model excels here, offering 24 PoE++ ports (90W max) to power high-demand devices like 4K PTZ cameras, digital signage, and WiFi 6 access points. A university campus deployed 30 units to support 500+ IoT devices across lecture halls, slashing cabling costs by 40% compared to older S5720 switches needing external injectors.
But push it beyond its design scope, and problems erupt. The S5735-H48T4XC, for instance, touts 48 ports and 4x25G uplinks—ideal for mid-sized data centers. However, its MACsec encryption only covers 12 ports, forcing hospitals or banks to buy additional switches for full-stack security. One regional bank learned this after deploying S5735s for branch networks, only to face compliance fines when auditors discovered unprotected ports handling transaction data.
Another pitfall is stacking limitations. While the S5735 supports CSS stacking for simplified management, it maxes out at 9 units per stack. For large retail chains needing 20+ switches per location, this forces multiple independent stacks, complicating traffic policies. A supermarket chain using S5735s spent 70 extra hours quarterly reconfiguring ACLs across stacks—time saved by upgrading to S6730-S models supporting 16-unit stacking.
Key takeaway: Match the S5735 to current and near-term needs. If you won’t use 25G uplinks or PoE++ within 18 months, downgrade to the S5730 series and reinvest the savings.
The Hidden Costs of “Future-Proofing” with the Huawei S5735
Huawei pitches the S5735 as a future-ready investment, but premature “upgrades” often backfire. Consider energy efficiency: models like the S5735S-24X6Q-A boast iPower tech to cut energy use by 30%, but achieving those savings requires compatible devices (e.g., IEEE 802.3bz-compliant APs). A hotel chain running legacy IP phones saw no energy reduction until they replaced 80% of their endpoints—a $250K unplanned cost.
Licensing traps also lurk. Advanced features like NetStream traffic analysis or Telemetry require separate licenses on certain S5735 variants. A tech startup budgeted 15K licensing bill to activate QoS policies for their VoIP system—functionality included standard in cheaper S5720-HI models.
Scalability myths abound. While the S5735 handles 10G today, its forwarding capacity (176/384 Gbps depending on model) struggles with AI-driven traffic or NVMe-oF storage workloads. An animation studio rendering 4K video hit bottlenecks during peak loads, forcing a switch to CE6865 switches with 720 Gbps capacity.
To avoid overspending:
- Audit feature utilization: Use Huawei’s Network Health Check tool to identify which S5735 capabilities you’ll actually deploy.
- Negotiate smart bundles: Demand PoE++/10G licenses be included in bulk purchases.
- Compare TCO: A fully licensed S5735 with 48 PoE++ ports costs 25% more than a S5730-S48P4XC with identical port counts but fewer uplinks—worth it only if you’ll use those uplinks within 2 years.
The Huawei S5735 switch isn’t overpriced—it’s overkill for those who don’t need its muscle. For businesses with 100–500 users, hybrid cloud setups, or IoT-heavy environments, it’s a powerhouse. But if you’re a small clinic, a local retailer, or a startup with sub-50 devices, you’re paying for runway you’ll never taxi on. The line between “smart upgrade” and “spec overindulgence” hinges on ruthless honesty about your network’s trajectory. Before signing off on that S5735 quote, ask: are these ports and protocols propelling growth, or padding a vendor’s margins? Your budget—and your IT team’s sanity—will thank you.
Leave a comment