IBM Storage Networking SAN24B-6 Switch
An entry-level switch that combines high-performance capabilities of 4, 8, 16 and 32 Gbps with point-and-click simplicity and enterprise-class functionality
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Overview:
IBM Storage Networking SAN24B-6 is an entry-level switch that combines high-performance capabilities of 4, 8, 16 and 32 Gbps with point-and-click simplicity and enterprise-class functionality. It provides small to midsized data centers with low-cost access to industry-leading Gen 6 Fibre Channel technology and the ability to start small and grow on demand—from 8 to 24 ports—to support an evolving storage environment. IBM b-type Gen 6 Fibre Channel products are designed to unleash the full potential of new storage technologies for the new high-performance application workloads.
- Meet the high-thr oughput, low-la tency demands of critical applications with flash-ready performance
- Scale on demand, from 8 to 24 ports, to connect additional devices as needed
- Deliver 4, 8, 16 or 32 Gigabits per second (Gbps) port bandwidth for increased performance on demand
- Simplify deployment and reduce install time with a point-a nd- click user interface
- Automatically discover and recover from common networking problems
- Proactively monitor and optimise the health and performance of individual VMs
- Simplify administration, resolve problems, increase uptime and help reduce costs using Fabric Vision technology
Use a low-cost, high-performance platform to enable flash-ready solutions for the business
Explosive data growth, coupled with user expectations of unlimited access from anywhere, at any time, is pushing storage environments to the limit. To meet these dynamic business demands, the network must evolve to improve speed, increase efficiency and reduce costs. Legacy infrastructures were not designed to support the performance requirements of flash- based storage technology. A new approach to storage networking is required to unlock the full capabilities of all-f lash arrays. By treating the network as a strategic part of a storage environment, organisations can maximise their productivity and efficiency, even as they rapidly grow their environments.
The IBM Storage Networking SAN24B-6 switch provides exceptional value in an entry-level switch, combining high-performance capabilities of 4, 8, 16 and 32 Gbps, point-and- click simplicity and enterprise-class functionality. The port speed capability is dependent on the transceiver installed.
SAN24B-6 provides small to midsized data centres (DCs) with low-cost access to leading-edge Gen 6 FC technology and the ability to start small and grow on demand – from 8 to 24 ports – to support an evolving storage environment. In addition, SAN24B-6 is easy to use and install, with a point-and- click user interface that simplifies deployment and saves time.
Gen 6 Fibre Channel
IBM b- type Gen 6 Fibre Channel (FC) is the purpose-built n etwork infrastructure for mission-cr itical storage, delivering breakthrough performance to accelerate data retrieval, adapt to evolving requirements and drive always-on da ta access. The SAN24B-6 s witch with Gen 6 FC storage technology is designed to simplify setup, management and monitoring while delivering performance required by flash storage and growing with your business at a low cost of entry.
Features:
Gain maximum flexibility
The SAN24B-6 switch is configurable with Ports on Demand (PoD) for 8, 16 or 24 ports and supports 4, 8, 16 or 32 Gbps port speeds with the proper transceivers installed, all in an efficient 1U package, with an integrated power supply and four built-in fans. The power supply offers real-time, active power monitoring. SAN24B-6 helps to lower costs, too, with low energy consumption (at 0.10 watts per Gbps and 3.2 watts per port).
Leading- edge technology that is flexible, simple and easy to use
SAN24B-6 delivers leading-edge Gen 6 FC technology in a flexible and easy-to- use solution that cost-effectively scales from 8 to 24 ports with PoD. In addition, the switch is easy to deploy with the EZSwitchSetup wizard, featuring a simple user interface that dramatically reduces deployment and configuration times with as few as three steps.
Flash- ready performance for evolving storage requirements
IBM b-type Gen 6 FC products deliver advanced 32-Gbps performance to unleash the full potential of new storage technologies for the new high-performance application workloads. Using this switch, organisations can build a flash-ready infrastructure that adapts to their expanding business requirements.
To realise the full benefits of flash, organisations will need to transition their high-performance, latency-sensitive workloads to flash- based storage with NVMe. SAN24B-6 is NVMe- ready , allowing organisations to seamlessly integrate IBM b-type Gen 6 FC networks with next-generation NVMe technologies, without a disruptive rip and replace. The simplicity and efficiency of NVMe over FC enables significant performance gains for flash storage to deliver the performance, application response time and scalability needed for next-generation DCs.
Rely on the network that delivers always- on business operations
IBM b-type Gen 5 and Gen 6 technologies leverage a rich heritage of FC innovation to deliver leading-edge reliability for the world’s most demanding DCs. IBM b-type Fabric Vision technology provides a breakthrough hardware and software solution that helps organisations simplify monitoring, maximise network availability and gain insight into issues to speed resolution and meet critical service level agreements (SLAs). VM Insight is the newest feature in Fabric Vision technology, enabling proactive visibility into the health and performance of individual VMs with integrated sensors. Using this capability, administrators can quickly identify abnormal VM behaviours to facilitate troubleshooting and fault isolation, helping to ensure maximum performance and operational stability.
Forward error correction (FEC) capabilities further increase resiliency by automatically detecting and recovering network transmission errors. To ensure predictable performance prior to deployment, organisations can validate infrastructure with ClearLink Diagnostics and Flow Generator features.
Simplified management and robust network analytic
Fabric Vision technology provides unprecedented insight and visibility across the storage network, with powerful integrated monitoring, management and diagnostic capabilities. These innovative features enable administrators to avoid problems before they impact operations, helping organisations meet SLAs. Fabric Vision technology includes VM Insight, Monitoring and Alerting Policy Suite (MAPS), Fabric Performance Impact (FPI) Monitoring, dashboards, Configuration and Operational Monitoring Policy Automation Services Suite (COMPASS), ClearLink Diagnostics, Flow Vision, FEC and Credit Loss Recovery.
IBM Network Advisor
IBM Network Advisor is an optional software management tool that provides an enhanced user interface and additional capabilities to simplify b-type FC management, helping organisations proactively diagnose and resolve issues to maximise uptime, increase operational efficiency and reduce costs. The wizard-driven interface dramatically reduces deployment and configuration times by allowing fabrics, switches and ports to be managed as groups. Customisable dashboards graphically display performance and health indicators out of the box, including all data captured using Fabric Vision technology
Access Gateway mode
SAN24B-6 can be deployed as a full-fabric switch or as an Access Gateway, which simplifies fabric topologies and heterogeneous fabric connectivity (the default mode setting is a switch). Access Gateway mode utilises N_Port ID virtualisation (NPIV) switch standards to present physical and virtual servers directly to the core of storage area network (SAN) fabrics. This makes a switch in Access Gateway mode transparent to the SAN fabric, greatly reducing management of the overall storage network. SAN24B-6 in Access Gateway mode can connect servers to SAN fabrics that are NPIV-enabled.
Maximising investments
To help optimise technology investments, IBM and its partners offer complete solutions that include professional services, technical support and education.
Benefits:
Gain maximum flexibility
Configurable with Ports on Demand (PoD) for 8, 16 or 24 ports and supports 4, 8, 16 or 32 Gbps speeds with proper transceivers. Includes an integrated power supply and four built-in fans.
Benefit from industry-leading technology
Delivers industry-leading Gen 5 and Gen 6 Fibre Channel technology in a flexible and easy-to-use solution, and is easy to deploy with the EZSwitchSetup wizard.
Adjust to evolving storage requirements
Provides advanced 32-Gbps performance to unleash the full potential of new storage technologies for the new high-performance application workloads.
Specifications:
| SAN24B-6 Switch Specifications | |
|---|---|
| System Architecture | |
| Fibre Channel ports | Switch mode (default): 8, 16, and 24-port configurations (8-port increment through PoD license); E, F, M, and D ports Access Gateway default port mapping: 16 F_Ports, 8 N_Ports |
| Scalability | Full-fabric architecture with a maximum of 239 switches |
| Certified Maximum | 9,000 active nodes; 56 switches, 19 hops in Fabric OS fabrics; larger fabrics certified as required |
| Performance | Fibre Channel: 4.25 Gbps line speed, full duplex; 8.5 Gbps line speed, full duplex; 14.025 Gbps line speed, full duplex; auto-sensing of 4, 8, 16, and 32 Gbps port speeds |
| ISL Trunking | Frame-based trunking with up to eight 32 Gbps ports per ISL trunk; up to 256 Gbps per ISL trunk. Exchange-based load balancing across ISLs with DPS included in Fabric OS. |
| Aggregate bandwidth | 768 Gbps end-to-end full duplex |
| Maximum fabric Latency | Latency for locally switched ports is 900 ns (including FEC) |
| Maximum frame size | 2,112-byte payload |
| Frame buffers | 2,000 dynamically allocated |
| Classes of service | Class 2, Class 3, Class F (inter-switch frames) |
| Port types | F_Port, E_Port, M_Port, D_Port (ClearLink Diagnostic Port) on 24 SFP+ ports. Access Gateway mode: F_Port and NPIV-enabled N_Port |
| Data traffic types | Fabric switches supporting unicast |
| Hot-swap components | Small form-factor pluggables (SFPs) |
| Warranty | One-year; customer-replaceable unit (CRU) and on-site, 9×5 next-business-day response Warranty service upgrades are available |
| Media types |
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| Port speed |
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| USB | One USB port for system log file downloads or firmware upgrades |
| Fabric services |
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| Management | |
| Supported Management software |
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| Security |
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| Management access | 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet (RJ-45), in-band over Fibre Channel, serial port (RJ-45), and one USB port |
| Diagnostics |
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| Mechanical | |
| Enclosure | Back-to-front airflow (non-port-side intake); power from back, 1U |
| Size | Width: 42.88 cm (16.88 in.) Height: 4.29 cm (1.69 in.) Depth: 30.66 cm (12.07 in.) |
| System Weight | 5.76 kg (12.65 lb) with one integrated power supply, without transceivers |
| Environmental | |
| Operating environment | Temperature: 0°C - 40°C (32°F - 104°F) Humidity: 10% - 85% (non-condensing) |
| Non-operating environment | Temperature: -25°C - 70°C (-13°F - 158°F) Humidity: 10% - 90% (non-condensing) |
| Operating altitude | Up to 3,000 m (9,842 ft) |
| Storage altitude | Up to 12 km (39,370 ft) |
| Shock | Operating: Up to 20 G, 6 ms half-sine Non-operating: Half sine, 33 G 11 ms, 3G axis |
| Vibration | Operating: 0.5 g sine, 0.4 grms random, 5 Hz to 500 Hz Non-operating: 2.0 g sine, 1.1 grms random, 5 Hz to 500 Hz |
| Heat dissipation | 24 ports at 215 BTU per hour |
| Power | |
| Power supply | Base switch includes a single, fixed power supply with four integrated system cooling fans |
| AC input | 90 V - 264 V |
| Maximum input current | 2.2 A |
| Input line frequency | 47 to 63 Hz nominal |
| Power consumption | 76.52 W with all 24 ports populated with 32 Gbps SWL optics 55.83 W for idle configuration (all optics loaded but not initialized) |
Documentation:
Download the IBM Storage Networking SAN24B-6 Switch Datasheet (.PDF)
Pricing Notes:
- Pricing and product availability subject to change without notice.