PowerConnect B-8000 Network Switch

Top-of-rack link layer (Layer 2) DCB/CEE and FCoE switch with 24 10 GB ports for LAN connections and 8 GB Fibre Channel ports for SAN connections

Supporting Windows and Linux environments, the PowerConnect B-8000 Switch enables access to the LANs and SANs over a common server connection by utilizing emerging Data Center Bridging/Converged Enhanced Ethernet (DCB/CEE) and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) protocols. LAN traffic is forwarded to aggregation layer Ethernet switches using conventional 10 GB connections, and storage traffic is forwarded to Fibre Channel SANs over 8 GB Fibre Channel connections. Part of a unified DCB/CEE and FCoE solution, the PowerConnect B-8000 helps organizations reduce capital and operating expenses in enterprise data centers.

The PowerConnect B-8000 connects to servers utilizing Converged Network Adapters (CNAs). Consolidating server I/O reduces the number of server adapters, which in turn reduces cabling and switch ports, resulting in lower infrastructure costs as well as lower power and cooling costs.

Moreover, consolidation is not limited to hardware components. Because FCoE preserves Fibre Channel constructs and services, it integrates seamlessly into existing Fibre Channel environments, enabling organizations to introduce DCB/CEE and FCoE into their data centers without disrupting their existing SANs or IT management practices.

The PowerConnect B-8000 has advanced ASIC technology that provides unique frame-based trunking of server connections at up to 40 GB  of combined throughput. The switch also features standards-based Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) for LAN connections, as well as frame-based trunking of SAN connections at up to 64 GB of throughput.

The PowerConnect B-8000 switch provides broad, standards-based data link layer (Layer 2) capabilities covering Quality of Service (QoS), security, and Layer 2 protocols. The switch’s 24 DCB/CEE ports provide uplink connections to conventional 10 GB port aggregation layer Ethernet switches. Layer 2 functions are configured and administered accordingly at the access layer.

The PowerConnect B-8000 provides a reliable foundation for disaster recovery and business continuance by employing enterprise-class availability features such as hot-swappable, redundant, and integrated fan and power supply assemblies. Combined with a wide range of diagnostic and monitoring functions, these capabilities help ensure highly available SAN environments.

In conjunction with Brocade SAN extension products, the PowerConnect B-8000 enables servers and storage devices to reside remotely, giving organizations a reliable way to create highly available environments that support the most sophisticated business continuance and disaster recovery initiatives.