IBM System Storage and TotalStorage SAN b-type family

The IBM System Storage SAN768B and IBM System Storage SAN384B fabric backbones are highly robust network switching platforms designed for evolving enterprise data centres. 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 virtualisation challenges; enable server, Storage Area Network (SAN) and data centre consolidation; minimise disruption and risk; and reduce infrastructure and administrative costs.

Built for large enterprise networks, the SAN768B has eight vertical blade slots to provide up to 512 8-Gigabits per second (Gbps) Fibre Channel (FC) ports. The SAN384B is ideal for midsize core or edge deployments, providing four horizontal blade slots and up to 256 8-Gbps FC ports. The flexible blade architecture also supports FC over Ethernet (FCoE), fabric-based encryption for data-at-rest and SAN extension advanced functionality for high-performance server input/output (I/O) consolidation, data protection and disaster recovery (DR) solutions.

The SAN768B and SAN384B are extremely efficient at reducing power consumption, cooling and the carbon footprint in data centres. 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 some of the world’s most demanding data centres. With its intelligent sixth-generation application-specific integrated circuits (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.

• PortsSAN768B: Up to 512 per chassis, up to 1536 when three chassis are connected via inter-chassis links (ICLs); SAN384B: Up to 256 per chassis, up to 768 when three SAN384B chassis are connected via ICLs.

• Link SpeedsFC: 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.
  
  FC Internet Protocol (FCIP): 1 Gbps line speed; 10 Gbps line speed.
  
  SAN768B ICL bandwidth: 512 Gbps; four ICLs, 16 × 8 Gbps FC connections; SAN384B ICL bandwidth: 256 Gbps; four ICLs, 8 × 8 Gbps FCconnections.

• Operating SystemsIBM z/OS, IBM AIX, Microsoft® Windows®, UNIX®, Linux®, selected other operating systems

• Optional FeaturesSAN768B:16-port, 32-port, 48-port and 64-port 8 Gbps FC switch blades; 10 Gbps FC switch blades; FCoE 10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) 24-port blades; 8 Gbps Extension blades; small form factor pluggables (SFPs) and XFPs; fibre optic cables; Inter-Chassis Cable Kit; Inter-Chassis Licence; 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 FC switch blades; 10 Gbps FC switch blades; FCoE 10 GbE 24-port blades; 8 Gbps Extension blades; SFPs and XFPs; fibre optic cables; Inter-Chassis Cable Kit; Inter-Chassis Licence; 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) storage area network (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 virtualisation 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 Speeds8, 4, 2 and 1 Gigabits per second (Gbps) auto-sensing

• Operating systemsMicrosoft® Windows®, IBM AIX, UNIX®, Linux®, Novell NetWare and IBM z/OS

A compact, high-performance, easy-to-install Fibre Channel (FC) storage area network (SAN) switch which that 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 virtualisation 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 Speeds8, 4, 2 and 1 Gbps auto-sensing

• Operating systemsMicrosoft® Windows®, IBM AIX®, UNIX®, Linux®, Novell NetWare and IBM z/OS®

A compact, high-performance, easy-to-install Fibre Channel (FC) Storage Area Network (SAN) switch that enables multiple servers to connect to external disk and tape systems. The IBM System Storage SAN24B-4 Express supports most common operating systems and connects to most common servers and external storage devices. Supports server virtualisation 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

• Performance8, 4, 2 and 1 Gigabits per second (Gbps) auto-sensing

• Operating systemsMicrosoft® Windows®, UNIX®, Linux®, IBM AIX, IBM 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 (FC) ports and two Ethernet Internet Protocol (IP) ports. The optional Port Activation feature activates all 16 FC ports and all six IP ports.

• Link SpeedsUp to 8 Gigabits per second (Gbps) auto-sensing FC and up to 1 Gbps Gigabit Ethernet (GbE).

• Operating systemsMicrosoft® Windows®, IBM AIX, UNIX®, Linux®, IBM OS/400 and IBM z/OS

• Optional FeaturesOptical and copper small form factor pluggable (SFP) transceivers, fibre optic cables, 8 Gbps Advanced Extension, Advanced Performance Monitor, Advanced Networking, Enterprise Bundle, Extended Fabric, Fabric Watch, IBM FICON with control unit port (CUP), Firmware Upgrade Renewal, High-Performance Extension, Integrated Routing, Port Activation, Trunking Activation, country-specific power cords, FICON Accelerator, SAO licence

IBM System Storage™ Data Centre 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.