Extension Blade Overview

The Brocade SX6 Extension blade is intended as an extension platform to support Fibre Channel (FC), FICON, and IP-based storage data flows. Brocade Extension enables you to use the existing IP wide area network (WAN) infrastructure to connect Fibre Channel and IP fabrics. Brocade Extension supports applications such as remote data replication (RDR), centralized backup, and data migration over very long distances that are impractical or very costly using native Fibre Channel or IP connections. Extension tunnels, built on a physical connection between two extension switches or blades, allow Fibre Channel and IP I/O to pass through the IP WAN. The SX6 Extension blade can connect with an SX6 blade in another Brocade X6 or X7 Director with a B7840.

The Brocade SX6 Extension blade is intended as an extension platform to support Fibre Channel (FC), FICON, and IP based storage data flows. Brocade Extension enables you to use the existing IP wide area network (WAN) infrastructure to connect Fibre Channel and IP fabrics. Brocade Extension supports applications such as remote data replication (RDR), centralized backup, and data migration over very long distances that are impractical or very costly using native Fibre Channel or IP connections. Extension tunnels, built on a physical connection between two extension switches or blades, allow Fibre Channel and IP I/O to pass through the IP WAN. The SX6 Extension blade can connect with an SX6 blade in another Brocade X7 Director or with a B7840.

You can mix port and extension blades in device slots 3, 4, 7, and 8, but CR64-4 and CR32-4 blades must be installed in slots 5 and 6. You can install a maximum of four SX6 blades in the device.

You can mix port and extension blades in device slots 3–6 and 9–12, but CR64-8 and CR32-8 blades must be installed in slots 7 and 8. You can install a maximum of four SX6 blades in the device.

You can mix port and extension blades in device slots 3, 4, 7, and 8, but CR32-4 blades must be installed in slots 5 and 6. You can install a maximum of four SX6 blades in the device.

You can mix port and extension blades in device slots 3–6 and 9–12, but CR32-8 blades must be installed in slots 7 and 8. You can install a maximum of four SX6 blades in the device.

The SX6 blade has the following external ports:
  • 16 Fibre Channel (FC) SFP+ ports that support Fibre Channel Routing Services and connection to FC devices for the Brocade Extension feature. These ports support 32Gb/s transceivers operating at 8, 16, or 32Gb/s, 16Gb/s transceivers operating at 4, 8, or 16Gb/s, and 10Gb/s transceivers operating at fixed 10Gb/s. FC ports can auto-negotiate speeds with connecting ports.
  • 10 or 1GbE SFP+ and two 40GbE QSFP ports. These ports allow the connection of blades to IP WANs and allow Fibre Channel and IP I/O to pass through the IP WAN using extension tunnels. The 10GbE or 1GbE ports operate at 10Gb/s or 1Gb/s fixed speeds with appropriate 10Gb/s or 1Gb/s transceivers installed. The 40GbE QSFP ports operate at 40Gb/s fixed speed.
Extension blades have the following LED indicators:
  • Green blade power LED
  • Amber blade status LED
  • Bicolor green/amber 40GbE and 10GbE or 1GbE port status LEDs
  • Bicolor green/amber FC port status LEDs

For details on interpreting LED operation, see Interpreting extension blade LEDs.

All features are supported on this blade with no license requirements.