The intelligent, Quantum-Safe foundation for enterprise AI
Modernize your storage network with the industry’s most advanced and robust Fibre Channel technology, IBM b-type Gen 7 and Gen 8 Directors. By combining Al-driven autonomous operations with quantum-resistant security and extreme performance, these storage networking products compliment IBM Storage Arrays to deliver end- to-end infrastructure that provide the operational resilience and speed required to power your most critical workloads today and into the future.
Harden your data center against evolving threats with quantum- resistant encryption and a zero- trust architecture that validates hardware and software integrity at every layer.
Transform SAN management with embedded Al that automatically learns traffic patterns, optimizes performance in real-time, and self- heals to prevent disruptions before they occur.
Accelerate your FICON, transaction processing, and Al workloads with industry-leading 64G and 128G speeds, delivering the ultra-low latency required for real-time decision-making.
Ensure non-stop operations for mission-critical applications with a design engineered for operational resiliency, delivering 99.9999% availability and seamless, non disruptive scalability.
Generations
IBM b-type Gen 7 and Gen 8 combined with the power of Fabric OS (FOS) 10 delivers far more than just speed improvements.
Find a side by side comparison and make the smart choice for your data center.
IBM SAN512B, SAN256B 8 Directors
IBM Gen 8 Directors (SAN512B-8/256B-8) modernize SAN for the AI era. Combining quantum-safe security, AI autonomy, and extreme 128G performance, they enable a future-proof infrastructure for critical IBM Z FICON and open systems workloads.
IBM SAN512B, SAN256B 7 Directors
IBM Gen 7 Directors deliver a proven, cyber-resilient foundation for enterprise storage. With autonomous SAN technology, 64G performance and scalable FICON support for IBM Z, they ensure operational efficiency, high availability and performance for modern data centers.
| IBM Machine Type Model | SAN512B-8 | SAN512B-7 | SAN256B-8 | SAN256B-7 |
| Fibre Channel (FC) SFP Ports | Up to 384 ports at 64G or 128G | Up to 5121 ports at 32G or 64G | Up to 192 ports at 64G or 128G | Up to 2562 ports at 32G or 64G |
| Inter-Chassis Link (ICL) Ports | Up to 32 Gen 8 OSFP ICLs | Up to 32 Gen 7 QSFP ICLs | Up to 16 Gen 8 OSFP ICLs | Up to 16 Gen 7 QSFP ICLs |
| Blade Architecture | Midplane. Separate Core Routing and ICL Port Blades. | Backplane. Core Routing Blades include ICL Ports. | Midplane. Separate Core Routing and ICL Port Blades. | Backplane. Core Routing Blades include ICL Ports. |
| Forward Error Correction (FEC) | Dual FEC | Single FEC | Dual FEC | Single FEC |
| Virtual Channels (VC) per Link | 128 | 64 | 128 | 64 |
| SAN Fabric Intelligence | Yes | Not supported | Yes | Not supported |
| Quantum Safe Security | Software and Hardware | Software | Software and Hardware | Software |
| Unified Storage Fabric (IP Storage) | 10/25/50/100GbE, Jumbo Suppor | 10/25/50GbE | 10/25/50/100GbE, Jumbo Suppor | 10/25/50GbE |