License EXTREME VSP 8000 PLDS Premier MACsec for 1 Chassis

License EXTREME VSP 8000 PLDS Premier MACsec for 1 Chassis is a software license that enables hardware-based MACsec encryption and Layer 2 security features on a single VSP 8000 chassis. The license activates PLDS Premier MACsec capabilities for traffic confidentiality, integrity checking and port-level protection on links managed by EXTREME VSP 8000 switches. It is designed to integrate with existing VSP 8000 firmware and chassis management to provide per-chassis encryption without additional inline appliances.

Advantages

This license delivers MACsec processing in hardware to minimize latency while maintaining strong encryption and integrity for Ethernet links. It provides per-chassis activation, simplifying license management when security must be applied at the chassis level. The solution supports transparent Layer 2 protection so traffic encryption and decryption occur on the switch ports, preserving existing network topology and policies. Activation is software-based and does not require physical hardware changes to the chassis.

Suitable for

• Enterprise campus and data center uplinks requiring link-level encryption
• Environments needing per-chassis MACsec deployment on VSP 8000 switches
• Networks that require hardware-accelerated Layer 2 security to reduce CPU load
• Use cases where port-level confidentiality and integrity are mandatory for compliance

Key specifications

• Enables MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) functionality on a single chassis
• Hardware-accelerated encryption and integrity checking on supported ports
• Layer 2 operation that integrates with VSP 8000 switch management
• Per-chassis license activation model
• Supports link-level confidentiality and port-based protection

How to use

Obtain the license key and apply it through the VSP 8000 chassis management interface or the EXTREME license portal according to the vendor's provisioning procedure. After activation, enable PLDS Premier MACsec on the desired ports or interfaces via the switch configuration CLI or graphical management tool, and configure Key Agreement and authentication settings as required by your security policy. Verify operational status and link encryption using the switch monitoring commands to ensure traffic is being processed by the hardware MACsec engine.

Usage recommendations

Use this license on chassis that run the recommended VSP 8000 firmware versions and with port modules that support hardware MACsec acceleration. Plan deployments to include key management and policy configuration (for example, CA/TLS or automated key exchange) and verify interoperability with connected devices to ensure consistent encryption and authentication across the link.