MACsec license EXTREME for 7000 Series switches — model 7000-MACSEC-LIC-P, enables MAC Security (frame encryption and integrity)

MACsec license EXTREME for 7000 Series switches enables MAC Security on EXTREME 7000 Series network switches, activating frame-level encryption and integrity for Ethernet links. This software license allows administrators to deploy link-layer protection without replacing existing hardware, securing traffic between connected devices in data center, campus, or enterprise network segments.

Advantages

The MACsec license provides authenticated encryption and integrity checking for Ethernet frames, reducing the risk of eavesdropping, man-in-the-middle attacks, and unauthorized frame injection. It works at the data link layer, preserving upper-layer protocols and performance characteristics while adding cryptographic protection. The license-based approach enables flexible activation on supported switch ports and integrates with existing key management and network policies.

Suitable for

• Securing server-to-switch and switch-to-switch links in data centers
• Protecting sensitive traffic across campus backbone and distribution layers
• Hardening link-layer security for virtualized environments and multi-tenant networks
• Enforcing encrypted traffic flows between networked devices without hardware changes

Key specifications

• Function: Enables MAC Security (MACsec) with frame encryption and integrity
• Layer: Operates at Layer 2 (data link layer) to protect Ethernet frames
• Scope: Applied per supported switch or per configurable ports as defined by the switch software
• Compatibility: Designed for EXTREME 7000 Series switches and their supported firmware releases
• Deployment: Software license activation; no physical hardware replacement required
• Security features: Authenticated encryption, replay protection, and integrity checking

How to use

Purchase and install the MACsec license on a supported EXTREME 7000 Series switch using the vendor's license activation procedure. After license activation, enable MACsec on the desired ports through the switch management interface or command-line configuration. Configure key management (for example, IEEE 802.1X with a suitable key server or MACsec Key Agreement) according to organizational policies to establish secure associations between peers. Monitor link status and MACsec session statistics through the switch management tools to verify proper operation.

Usage recommendations

Enable MACsec on links carrying sensitive or untrusted traffic and pair license activation with a centralized key management solution. Test performance and interoperability in a lab or maintenance window before broad deployment, and ensure firmware is updated to a supported release to maintain compatibility with the MACsec license.