Alcatel-Lucent-Nokia 3HE08429AARC01 7750 SR SFM5-7 Switching Module

The Alcatel‑Lucent‑Nokia 3HE08429AARC01 is a fifth‑generation switch fabric module (SFM5‑7) designed for the 7750 SR‑7 and SR‑12 service router chassis. It serves as the central switching engine, interconnecting all I/O modules and control processors to provide non‑blocking, wire‑speed data transfer across the entire system. The SFM5‑7 dramatically increases fabric capacity and introduces advanced traffic management features essential for dense carrier‑grade networks.

Overview

The SFM5‑7 is part of the 7750 SR’s modular architecture, enabling the platform to scale from 10 Gbps to multi‑terabit switching. Installed in dedicated fabric slots, each module provides multiple redundant fabric channels to each line card, ensuring that traffic can be re‑routed in case of a fabric link failure. The SFM5‑7 employs a distributed scheduling algorithm that eliminates head‑of‑line blocking and guarantees deterministic latency for real‑time services.

Key Features

• Switching capacity up to 2.4 Tbps per module (full‑duplex)

• Advanced fabric load‑balancing with per‑flow hashing

• Supports hitless failover with N+1 fabric redundancy

• Integrated fabric diagnostics and loopback testing

• Backward compatible with previous SFM generations within the same chassis

• Low latency (sub‑microsecond) for jitter‑sensitive applications

• Hot‑swappable for in‑service upgrades

Technical Specifications

• Fabric Capacity: 2.4 Tbps (full‑duplex) per module

• Number of Fabric Channels: 72 channels (3 per slot for 24 I/O slots in SR‑12)

• Channel Speed: 10 Gbps per channel (SerDes)

• Redundancy Mode: N+1 (one spare fabric module per chassis)

• Packet Buffer per Module: 512 MB

• Power Consumption: 280 W typical

• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 45°C

• Dimensions: Standard SR‑7/SR‑12 slot format

Applications

The SFM5‑7 is essential for high‑throughput applications such as 100 Gbps core routing, large‑scale VPN aggregation, and data center interconnect. It enables the 7750 SR platform to support millions of forwarding entries and tens of thousands of MPLS labels, making it suitable for Tier‑1 service providers and cloud operators.

Compatibility

This module is compatible with 7750 SR‑7 and SR‑12 chassis that have been upgraded to support SFM5 fabric. It works with all IMM, MDA, and CPM modules that support the fabric speed, including the latest CPM7 and 100G line cards. Software support is provided from SR OS release 12.0 and later.

Installation and Redundancy

Installation involves inserting the module into the designated fabric slot and securing it with captive screws. The chassis can operate with one or more SFM5‑7 modules; for full redundancy, at least two modules are recommended. The system automatically rebalances traffic across active fabric modules if a module is inserted or removed, without interrupting data flow.

Conclusion

The Alcatel‑Lucent‑Nokia 3HE08429AARC01 SFM5‑7 Switching Module is a powerful fabric engine that unlocks the full potential of the 7750 SR platform. Its high capacity, advanced fault tolerance, and seamless integration make it a critical component for building future‑proof, high‑performance IP/MPLS networks that can handle the most demanding traffic growth.