Lenovo Flex System FC5022 16Gb SAN Scalable Switch

Exceptional price/performance for growing SAN workloads

The FC5022 16 Gb Switch delivers exceptional price/performance for growing SAN workloads through a combination of market-leading 1600 MB/sec throughput per port and an affordable high-density, 12-port to 48-port form factor.

Enhanced server performance while using 16 Gb Gen 5 FC technology

IBM testing demonstrates that using 16 Gb FC adapters on the server and the FC5022 modules can help achieve the following server enhancements, even if 8 Gb FC storage is used: up to 30-50% better virtual machine density and higher number of concurrent users due to increased storage bandwidth; up to 20-40% fewer servers required to support the workload specified Twice lower number and higher speed of inter-switch links required in scalable SANs; higher reliability and availability of services due to fewer number of components used to build the solution; twice faster access to the business critical data Lower acquisition costs due to fewer number of systems and components; shorten ROI time frame and decrease overall TCO with the efficient utilization of server resources and lower power, cooling, and management costs.

Superior scalability both for internal and external ports that reduces costs and increases availability

The FC5022 16 Gb switch is the switch that provides up to 28 internal server facing FC ports, which allows the Flex Chassis to scale to 28 server ITEs in a single chassis (when using double density half-width ITEs) that lowers the overall per-server cost of the solution. These 28 internal ports also enable greater path redundancy for ITEs using the 4-port FC mezzanine adapters. Additionally, the FC5022 offers an industry leading 20 external SFP+ ports that allows for multi-chassis scalability up to 18 chassis without the use of external FC switches, thereby greatly reducing the overall cost of the Flex Solution.

Accelerating fabric deployment and serviceability with Brocade ClearLink and Fabric Vision

Brocade ClearLink is a feature supported by the FC5022 16 Gb Switch that enables administrators to quickly identify and isolate 16 Gbps optic, port, and cable problems, reducing fabric deployment and diagnostic times. Brocade Fabric Vision Technology offers innovative diagnostic, monitoring, and management capabilities to help administrators avoid problems, maximize application performance, and reduce operational costs.

A building block for virtualized, private cloud storage

The FC5022 16 Gb Switch supports multi-tenancy in cloud environments through VM-aware end-to-end visibility and monitoring, Quality of Service (QoS), and fabric-based advanced zoning features. The FC5022 enables secure long distance extensions to virtual private or hybrid clouds with dark fiber support, as well as in-flight encryption and data compression.

Simplified interconnect to existing SAN environments with Brocade Access gateway (NPIV) operational mode

All models of the FC5022 16 Gb Switch can be deployed as a full-fabric switch or as an Access Gateway, which simplifies fabric topologies and heterogeneous fabric connectivity. Access Gateway mode utilizes N Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) switch standards to present physical and virtual servers directly to the core of SAN fabrics. This makes it transparent to the SAN fabric, greatly reducing management of the network edge. The IBM SAN Scalable Switch in Access Gateway mode can connect servers to NPIV-enabled SAN fabrics, including IBM, Brocade B-Series, other vendor Brocade SAN fabrics, or Cisco SAN fabrics.

Maximizing investments

To help optimize technology investments, IBM offers a single point of serviceability backed by industry-renowned education, support, and training. In addition, the IBM 16/8 Gbps SAN Scalable Switch is in the ServerProven program, ensuring compatibility among a variety of IBM and partner products. IBM recognizes that customers deserve the most innovative, expert integrated systems solutions.

• Exceptional price/performance for growing SAN workloads
• Enhanced server performance while using 16 Gb Gen 5 FC technology
• Superior scalability both for internal and external ports that reduces costs and increases availability
• Accelerating fabric deployment and serviceability with Brocade ClearLink and Fabric Vision
• A building block for virtualized, private cloud storage
• Simplified interconnect to existing SAN environments with Brocade Access gateway (NPIV) operational mode
• Maximizing investments

MPN: 88Y6374