PowerConnect B-DCX 4S Network Switch

The PowerConnect B-DCX 4S helps enable large-scale server virtualization and SAN consolidation through high-density, high-performance Fibre Channel/FICON connectivity. Local switching capabilities enhance performance for data traffic within the same port group by not consuming slot bandwidth. The PowerConnect B-DCX 4S can provide 256 Gbps of bandwidth per slot (512 Gbps aggregate data rate). Performance capabilities include:

192 ports operating simultaneously at full 8 Gb speed 1.5 Tbps of chassis bandwidth 256 Gb of ICL bandwidth (freeing up to 32 8 Gb ports per chassis)

The PowerConnect B-DCX 4S helps reduce device congestion as well as device latency conditions in the fabric with features like high-bandwidth traffic measurement with Top Talkers and critical traffic prioritization with Ingress Rate Limiting.

The PowerConnect B-DCX 4S Director helps reduce server-to-storage traffic issues using highly-available lossless connectivity. It includes a Virtual Fabric feature that enables partitioning of a physical SAN into logical fabrics and isolation by application, business group, customer or traffic type. Optional Fibre Channel Integrated Routing helps alleviate the need for special-purpose blades or routers to connect servers and storage in separate fabrics. In addition, optional SAN extension over long-distance IP connections can accelerate offsite replication, backup, and restore.

The PowerConnect B-DCX 4S supports 1/2/4/8/10 Gb Fibre Channel FCIP and IPFC. PowerConnect B-8000 top-of-rack switches can be connected over Fibre Channel inter-switch links (ISLs) to the PowerConnect B-DCX 4S director in the network core.

In addition, the DCX 4S chassis can be configured with the B-FCoE 1024 blade for first hop direct connectivity of access layer servers to PowerConnect B-DCX 4S FC director. This helps eliminate the need for intermediate networking devices (see more in the B-FCoE 1024 Blade tab).

With nearly one-half watt per Gb energy consumption, the PowerConnect B-DCX 4S is designed to help reduce power consumption and cooling, reducing the data center's carbon footprint while providing high performance and scalability.