IBM System Storage SAN b-type family

The IBM System Storage® SAN768B-2 and SAN384B-2 fabric backbones are among the industry's newest Fibre Channel switching infrastructure, providing reliable, scalable, high-performance foundations for private cloud storage and highly virtualized environments. These fabric backbones have been enhanced with new enterprise connectivity options to add support for IBM FICON® connectivity, offering a highly reliable FICON infrastructure with the fast and scalable IBM System z® servers. Designed to increase business agility while providing nonstop access to information and reducing both infrastructure and administrative costs, the SAN768B-2 and SAN384B-2 fabric backbones with 16 Gbps Fibre Channel capabilities deliver a new level of scalability and advanced capabilities to this robust, reliable, and high-performance technology. This enables organizations to continue leveraging their existing IT investments as they grow their businesses and solve their most difficult business challenges.

• PortsSingle chassis: Up to 384 (SAN768B-2) or 192 (SAN384B-2) 16 Gbps universal (E, F, D, M, and EX) Fibre Channel ports using up to eight 32-, or 48-port Fibre Channel blades. Up to 512 (SAN768B-2) or 256 (SAN384B-2) 8 Gbps universal (E, F, M, and EX) Fibre Channel ports using 64-port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel blades.
  Multi-chassis with ICL ports: Up to 3840 16 Gbps universal Fibre Channel ports (using 16 Gbps 48-port blades); up to 5120 8 Gbps universal Fibre Channel ports (using 8 Gbps 64-port blades); ICL ports (32 or 16 per chassis, optical QSFP) connect up to nine b-type SAN768B-2/SAN384B-2 chassis in a full mesh topology or up to 10 chassis in a core-edge topology. Deploying 5 or more chassis with ICL connections within a fabric requires an Enterprise ICL license.
  
• Link SpeedsFibre Channel: 2.125 Gbps line speed, full duplex; 4.25 Gbps line speed, full duplex; 8.5 Gbps line speed, full duplex; 10.53 Gbps line speed, full duplex; 14.025 Gbps line speed, full duplex; auto-sensing of 2, 4, 8, and 16 Gbps port speeds; 10 Gbps and optionally programmable to fixed port speed
  
• Operating SystemsMicrosoft Windows 2003, Windows 2008
  Red Hat Linux, Red Hat Linux Advanced Server
  SUSE Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)
  IBM AIX®
  Other selected operating systems
  
• Optional FeaturesBlades: 32- and 48-port 16 Gbps Fibre Channel switch blades (Fibre Channel #3632, 3648); 32- and 48-port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel switch blades (Fibre Channel #3633, 3649); 64-port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel switch blade (Fibre Channel #3864); 22-port 8 Gbps Extension blade (Fibre Channel #3890); 8 Gbps Encryption Blade (Fibre Channel # 3895).
  Licenses: Inter-chassis,FICON with CUP activation, Advanced Extension Activation, Extension blade 10 GbE Activation, FICON Accelerator activation, Encryption 96 Gbps disk performance upgrade activation, Integrated Routing and Enterprise ICL.
  Other: SFPs; fiber optic cables; upgrade power supplies
  

The IBM® System Storage® SAN768B and IBM System Storage SAN384B fabric backbones are highly robust network switching platforms designed for evolving enterprise data centers. Each machine combines breakthrough performance, scalability and energy efficiency with long-term investment protection. Supporting open systems and IBM System z® environments, these platforms address data growth and server virtualization challenges; enable server, SAN, and data center consolidation; and reduce infrastructure and administrative costs.

Built for large enterprise networks, the SAN768B has eight vertical blade slots to provide up to 512 8-Gbps Fibre Channel ports. The SAN384B is ideal for midsize core or edge deployments, providing four horizontal blade slots and up to 256 8-Gbps Fibre Channel ports. The flexible blade architecture also supports FCoE and SAN extension advanced functionality for high-performance server I/O consolidation and disaster recovery solutions.

The SAN768B and SAN384B are extremely efficient at reducing power consumption, cooling and the carbon footprint in data centers. While providing exceptional performance and scale, these networking backbones use less than one watt per Gbps—significantly more efficient than alternate offerings.

The SAN768B and SAN384B are build on years of innovation and use the core technology of systems designed to perform at greater than 99.999 percent uptime in the world’s most demanding data centers. With its intelligent sixth-generation ASICs and advanced hardware and software capabilities, the SAN768B and SAN384B provide a reliable foundation for fully connected multiprotocol SAN fabrics capable of supporting thousands of servers, storage and networking devices.

As members of the IBM System Storage family of b-type SAN products, the SAN 768B and the SAN384B are designed to participate in fabrics containing other b-type and m-type devices manufactured by Brocade. This versatile hardware can serve as backbone in a complex fabric and provide connections to other b-type and m-type directors, switches and routers.
Request a quote

• PortsSAN768B: Up to 512 per chassis, up to 1536 when three chassis are connected via inter-chassis links; SAN384B: Up to 256 per chassis, up to 768 when three SAN384B chassis are connected via inter-chassis links.
  
• Link Speeds Fibre Channel: 1.063 Gbps line speed, full duplex; 2.125 Gbps line speed, full duplex; 4.25 Gbps line speed, full duplex; 8.50 Gbps line speed, full duplex; auto sensing of 1, 2, 4, and 8 Gbps port speeds; optionally programmable 1, 2, 4, and 8 Gbps ports; 10.5 Gbps line speed, full duplex.
  
  CEE: 10.0 Gbps line speed, full duplex.
  
  FCIP: 1 Gbps line speed; 10 Gbps line speed.
  
  SAN768B ICL bandwidth: 512 Gbps; four ICLs, 16 x 8 Gbps Fibre Channel connections; SAN384B ICL bandwidth: 256 Gbps; four ICLs, 8 x 8 Gbps Fibre Channel connections.
  
• Operating SystemsIBM z/OS®, IBM AIX®, IBM OS/400®, Microsoft® Windows®, UNIX®, Linux®, selected other operating systems
  
• Optional FeaturesSAN768B:16-port, 32-port, 48-port, and 64-port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel switch blades; 10 Gbps Fibre Channel switch blades; FCoE 10 GbE 24-port blades; 8 Gbps Extension blades; SFPs and XFPs; fiber optic cables; Inter-Chassis Cable Kit; Inter-Chassis License; Upgrade Power Supplies; FICON® w/CUP activation; 8 Gbps Advanced Extension; 8 Gbps Extension Blade 10 GbE Activation; 8 Gbps Advanced FICON Accelerator; and Integrated Routing
  
  SAN384B:16-port, 32-port, 48-port, and 64-port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel switch blades; 10 Gbps Fibre Channel switch blades; FCoE 10 GbE 24-port blades; 8 Gbps Extension blades; SFPs and XFPs; fiber optic cables; Inter-Chassis Cable Kit; Inter-Chassis License; FICON w/CUP activation; 8 Gbps Advanced Extension; 8 Gbps Extension Blade 10 GbE activation; 8 Gbps Advanced FICON Accelerator; Extended Fabric; and Integrated Routing

A compact, high-performance, easy-to-install Fibre Channel (FC) SAN switch that enables multiple servers to connect to external disk and tape systems. The SAN80B-4 supports most common operating systems and connects to most common servers and external storage devices. Supports server virtualization with virtual data paths across a single FC link. Can connect to other SAN switches, routers and directors to form a multi-switch fabric for increased connectivity.

• Ports48, 64 and 80 ports with “Ports on Demand” scalability
  
• Link Speeds 8, 4, 2 and 1 Gbps auto-sensing
  
• Operating SystemsMicrosoft® Windows®, AIX®, Unix®, Linux®, NetWare and z/OS®

The IBM® System Storage® SAN48B-5 SAN switch is designed to meet the demands of hyper-scale, private cloud storage environments by delivering 16 Gbps Fibre Channel technology and capabilities that support highly virtualized environments.

• Ports 24-, 36-, and 48-port configurations (12-port increments through Ports on Demand [PoD] licenses); universal (E, F, M, D, EX) ports
• Link speeds Autosensing of 2, 4, 8 and 16 Gbps port speeds; 10 Gbps and optionally programmable to fixed port speed.
• Operating Systems Microsoft Windows 2003, Windows 2008
  Red Hat Linux, Red Hat Linux Advanced Server
  SUSE Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)
  IBM AIX®
  Other selected operating systems

A compact, high-performance, easy-to-install Fibre Channel (FC) SAN switch which enables multiple servers to connect to external disk and tape systems. The SAN40B-4 supports most common operating systems and connects to most common servers and external storage devices. Supports server virtualization with virtual data paths across a single FC link. Can connect to other SAN switches, routers and directors to form a multi-switch fabric for increased connectivity.

• Ports24, 32 and 40 ports with “Ports on Demand” scalability
  
• Link Speeds 8, 4, 2 and 1 Gbps auto-sensing
  
• Operating SystemsMicrosoft® Windows®, AIX®, UNIX®, Linux®, NetWare and z/OS®

The IBM System Storage® SAN32B-E4 Encryption Switch is a high-performance hardware device that delivers fabric-based encryption services to secure data for both disk and tape. It is tightly integrated with TKLM and provides scalable performance of on-demand encryption and compression processing power.

• Ports32-port auto-sensing 8 Gbps Fiber Channel active ports
  
• Link Speeds 1.063 Gbit/sec line speed, full duplex; 2.125 Gbit/sec line speed, full duplex; 4.25 Gbit/sec line speed, full duplex; 8.5 Gbit/sec line speed, full duplex; 8, 4, 2 and 1 Gbps autosensing
  
• Operating SystemsIBM AIX®, Microsoft® Windows®, UNIX®, Linux® and other selected operating systems
  
• Optional FeaturesEncryption 96 Gbps Disk Performance Upgrade Activation, Adaptive Networking, Advanced Performance Monitor, E32 Enterprise Package^**, Trunking Activation, Integrated Routing

The IBM System Networking SAN24B-5 switch provides outstanding price/performance value, combining flexibility, simplicity and enterprise-class functionality in an entry-level switch.

• Ports12 and 24 ports with “ports-on-demand” scalability
  
• Link Speeds 2, 4, 8 and 16 Gbps auto-sensing
  
• Operating SystemsMicrosoft Windows, Linux, AIX, other selected operating systems
  

A compact, high-performance, easy-to-install Fibre Channel (FC) SAN switch which enables multiple servers to connect to external disk and tape systems. The SAN24B-4 Express supports most common operating systems and connects to most common servers and external storage devices. Supports server virtualization with virtual data paths across a single FC link. Can connect to other SAN switches, routers and directors to form a multi-switch fabric for increased connectivity.

• Ports8, 16 and 24 ports with “Ports on Demand” scalability
  
• Link Speeds8, 4, 2 and 1 Gbps auto-sensing
  
• Operating Systems Microsoft® Windows®, Unix®, Linux™, AIX®, OS/400™

An entry-level multiprotocol extension router designed to connect two Storage Area Networks (SANs) over a wide distance using the Internet as the interconnection fabric (upgrades to enterprise-level functions are available). Intended to support business continuity solutions between supported servers at one site and support servers or IBM® System Storage disk or tape devices at a distant location

• PortsBase system provides four active Fibre Channel ports and two Ethernet Internet Protocol (IP) ports. The optional Port Activation feature activates all 16 Fibre Channel ports and all 6 IP ports.
  
• Link SpeedsUp to 8 Gigabits per second (Gbps) auto-sensing Fibre Channel and up to 1 Gbps Ethernet (GbE).
  
• Operating SystemsMicrosoft® Windows®, AIX®, UNIX®, Linux®, OS/400® and z/OS®
  
• Optional featuresOptical and copper transceivers (SFPs), fibre optic cables, 8 Gbps Advanced Extension, Advanced Performance Monitor, Advanced Networking, Enterprise Bundle, Extended Fabric, Fabric Watch, FICON® with CUP, Firmware Upgrade Renewal, High-Performance Extension, Integrated Routing, Port Activation, Trunking Activation, country-specific power cords

IBM System Storage Data Center Fabric Manager (DCFM™) is a powerful application designed to manage one or more IBM System Storage SAN b-type or mixed b-type and m-type network fabrics in real time.  In particular, DCFM helps provide the essential functions needed to efficiently configure, monitor, provision and manage network fabrics on a daily basis.
Request a quote

The IBM® Network Advisor V11 is a software management platform that unifies network management for storage area networks (SAN) and converged networks. It is designed to provide a consistent user interface across Fibre Channel and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) over data center bridging (DCB), along with custom views and controls based on the users' areas of specialization.