Feature spotlights

Outstanding scalability for demanding workloads

SAN96B-5 features 96 Fibre Channel ports in a 2U form factor, delivering scalability, reliability and performance in a flexible, easy-to-deploy enterprise-class switch. Along with increased throughput, SAN96B-5 helps improve bandwidth utilization, security, and network visibility and management through in-flight data compression, encryption and advanced diagnostics. SAN96B-5 is designed for maximum flexibility and offers “pay-as-you-grow” scalability with the Ports on Demand (PoD) feature.

Fabric operating system and management software

Fabric OS (FOS) v7.1 or later is included with each SAN96B-5 and provides all the functions necessary to operate a base system. The Advanced Web Tools, Advanced Zoning, Virtual Fabrics, Full Fabric, Adaptive Networking, Server Application Optimization and Enhanced Group Management features are included in the base FOS – as well as Fabric Vision technology capabilities, such as ClearLink diagnostics, bottleneck detection, Forward Error Correction and Credit Loss Recovery.

Enterprise-class reliability and availability

SAN96B-5 leverages proven enterprise-class Gen 5 Fibre Channel technology to deliver outstanding reliability to support nonstop operations for mission-critical workloads. SAN96B-5 uses Fabric Vision technology, which leverages hardware, FOS and IBM Network Advisor integration to provide advanced functions. It features advanced monitoring, diagnostics, reliability, availability and serviceability capabilities to minimize downtime, optimize performance and simplify administration.

Simplified management and robust network analytics

SAN96B-5 with Fabric Vision technology, an extension of Gen 5 Fibre Channel, provides a breakthrough hardware and software solution that helps simplify monitoring, maximize network availability and dramatically reduce costs. Featuring innovative monitoring, management and diagnostic capabilities, Fabric Vision technology enables administrators to avoid problems before they impact operations, helping organizations meet service level agreements (SLAs).

A building block for virtualized, private cloud storage

SAN96B-5 is a critical building block for today’s virtualized, private cloud storage environments. It simplifies server virtualization and virtual desktop infrastructure management while meeting the high-throughput demands of SSDs. SAN96B-5 also supports multi-tenancy in cloud environments with Virtual Fabrics, quality of service (QoS) and fabric-based zoning features. Internal, fault-tolerant and enterprise-class reliability, availability and serviceability features help minimize downtime.

Technical details

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      Technical specifications

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