The IBM Storage Networking SAN32C-6 provides high-speed Fibre Channel (FC) connectivity from the server rack to the SAN core. It empowers small, midsize, and large enterprises to rapidly deploying cloud-scale applications using highly dense virtualized servers by providing dual benefit of higher bandwidth and consolidation.

Small scale SAN architectures can be built by using a low cost, non-blocking, line rate, and low latency fixed stand-alone SAN switch that connects both storage and host ports. Medium to large-scale SAN architectures that are built with SAN core directors can expand 32-Gbps connectivity to the server rack by using these switches either in switch mode or Network Port Virtualization mode. Additionally, investing in this switch in the server rack provides a first day option of upgrading to 32-Gbps server connectivity using the 32-Gbps HBAs that are already available in the market.

Product Overview

The IBM Storage Networking SAN32C-6 (Figure 1) provides high-speed Fibre Channel (FC) connectivity from the server rack to the SAN core. It empowers small, midsize, and large enterprises to rapidly deploying cloud-scale applications using highly dense virtualized servers by providing dual benefit of higher bandwidth and consolidation.

Small scale SAN architectures can be built by using a low cost, non-blocking, line rate, and low latency fixed stand-alone SAN switch that connects both storage and host ports. Medium to large-scale SAN architectures that are built with SAN core directors can expand 32-Gbps connectivity to the server rack by using these switches either in switch mode or Network Port Virtualization mode. Additionally, investing in this switch in the server rack provides a first day option of upgrading to 32-Gbps server connectivity using the 32-Gbps HBAs that are already available in the market.



Figure 1. IBM Storage Networking SAN32C-6

The IBM Storage Networking SAN32C-6 switch also provides outstanding flexibility through a unique port expansion module (Figure 2) that provides a robust cost-effective, field swappable, port upgrade option.


Figure 2. IBM Storage Networking SAN32C-6 16-Port Expansion Module

Main Features

The following are the main features of the IBM Storage Networking SAN32C-6:

• High performance: The SAN32C-6 architecture with chip-integrated nonblocking arbitration provides consistent 32-Gbps low latency performance across all traffic conditions for every FC port in the switch.
• Capital Expenditure (CapEx) savings: The 32-Gbps ports allow users to deploy them on existing 16/8/4-Gbps transceivers, reducing initial CapEx with an option to upgrade to 32 Gbps transceivers and adapters in the future.
• High availability: The SAN32C-6 provides optional redundancy on all major components, such as power supplies and fans. Dual power supplies allow power grid redundancy.
• Pay-as-you-grow: The SAN32C-6 provides an option to deploy as few as eight 32-Gbps FC ports in the entry level variant, which can grow by eight ports to 16 ports, and thereafter with a port expansion module with sixteen 32-Gbps ports, for a maximum of 32 ports. This approach results in lower initial investment and power consumption for entry level configurations of up to 16 ports when compared to a fully loaded switch. Upgrading through the use of an expansion module also reduces the overhead of managing multiple instances of port activation licenses on the switch.
• Intelligent network services: Slow drain detection and isolation, VSAN technology, Access Control Lists (ACLs) for hardware-based intelligent frame processing, smartzoning, and fabric-wide Quality of Service (QoS) enable migration from SAN islands to enterprise-wide storage networks. Traffic encyption is optionally available to meet stringent security requirements.
• Sophisticated diagnostics: The SAN32C-6 provides protocol decoding, network analysis tools, and integrated Call Home capability for greater reliability, faster problem resolution, and reduced service costs.
• Virtual machine awareness: The SAN32C-6 provides visibility to all virtual machines (VMs) that are logged into the fabric. This feature is available through HBAs capable of priority tagging the Virtual Machine Identifier (VMID) on every FC frame.
• Programmable fabric: The SAN32C-6 provides powerful Representational State Transfer (REST) and NX-API capabilities to enable flexible and rapid programming of utilities for the SAN.
• Single-pane management: The SAN32C-6 can be provisioned, managed, monitored, and troubleshot using Data Center Network Manager (DCNM), which currently manages the entire suite of IBM Storage Networking c-type data center products.
• Self-contained advanced anticounterfeiting technology: The SAN32C-6 uses on-board hardware that protects the entire system from malicious attacks by securing access to critical components such as the bootloader, system image loader, and Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) interface.

• Server Port consolidation: The demand for 32-Gbps fabric switches is driven by hyper-scale virtualizations that will significantly increase the virtual machine (VM) density per rack, and this growth will push the need for higher bandwidth HBA ports per rack of blade or stand-alone servers. One way to meet this demand is for 32-Gbps HBA ports to consolidate the current 16-Gbps HBA installed base to meet future needs to grow the number of ports. As a result, the IBM Storage Networking SAN32C-6, with its lower port density, can be a preferred solution and its flexibility to grow can be an added advantage.

Figure 3. IBM Storage Networking SAN32C-6 in Hyper-scale server environments

• Simplification: Through consolidation, a SAN administrator can reduce complexity and simplify management.
• Multiprotocol convergence: 32-Gbps links benefit from lower latency compared to lower-bandwidth links, bringing better-performing storage workloads to your storage array. Higher bandwidth also helps ensure less ISL congestion for newer storage protocols that are expected to be available on externally attached storage arrays. For instance, Fibre Channel Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) can coexist on the same link as existing SCSI workloads.
• Scale and performance: This small form factor switch supports the performance and scale required to deploy a dedicated and stand-alone Fibre Channel SAN connecting both initiators and targets, without requiring any other switching infrastructure.