IBM 8969-P64 Enterprise Storage Networking SAN64B-7

Product Description

IBM 8969-P64 Storage Networking SAN64B-7

The IBM 8969-P64 Enterprise Storage Networking SAN64B-7 (also designated 8960-P64 or SAN64B-7) is a high-density Gen7 Fibre Channel switch designed for enterprise SAN fabrics. This 1U switch scales from 24 to 56 SFP+ ports with auto-sensing speeds up to 64 Gbps, delivering ultra-low latency, NVMe/FC support, and advanced Fabric OS features for demanding workloads, data center consolidation, and rapid growth.

Product Description

The IBM SAN64B-7 (machine type 8960-P64/R64, feature/model 8969-P64 in some configurations) is an enterprise-class Gen7 Fibre Channel switch powered by Fabric OS v9.0.0 or later. It offers 56 hot-pluggable SFP+ ports in a compact 1U form factor, with base 24 ports scalable via Dynamic Ports on Demand (four 8-port PODs) to a maximum of 56 ports. Ports support auto-negotiation for 8/16/32/64 Gbps Fibre Channel (plus manual 10 Gbps for metro connectivity), universal port types (E/F/N/D_Ports), and optional EX_Ports with Integrated Routing license. Key enhancements include in-flight compression/encryption (limited ports), sub-460 ns port-to-port latency (with FEC), hardware-enabled I/O latency stats, VM support, and Fabric Vision for monitoring. The switch uses secure boot, redundant hot-swappable power supplies/fans, and supports port-side or non-port-side exhaust airflow. It excels as a building block for high-performance NVMe storage connectivity, FICON, and SCSI workloads in IBM Power Systems and open environments.

Features

• 56 SFP+ ports (scalable from 24) with auto-sensing 8/16/32/64 Gbps Fibre Channel.
• Manual 10 Gbps configuration for metro/DWDM connectivity.
• Universal ports (E/F/N/D_Ports); EX_Ports via optional Integrated Routing.
• In-flight 64 Gbps compression and encryption (limited to 4 ports per speed category).
• Ultra-low latency (~460 ns port-to-port with FEC) via cut-through switching.
• Ports on Demand (Dynamic-POD) for flexible scaling.
• Fabric OS with advanced diagnostics, Fabric Vision, monitoring, and automation.
• Secure boot, real-time monitoring (power, voltage, temp, fans), and high-availability redundant components.
• Support for NVMe over Fibre Channel, extended distance FC, and mixed SWL/LWL transceivers.
• 1U form factor with efficient port density for space-constrained data centers.

Technical Specifications

• Model / Machine Type: SAN64B-7 (8960-P64 / 8960-R64 / 8969-P64 configuration)
• Form Factor: 1U rack-mount
• Ports: 56 hot-pluggable SFP+ (base 24, scalable to 56 via 8-port PODs)
• Port Speeds: Auto-sensing 8/16/32/64 Gbps FC; manual 10 Gbps support
• Throughput / Latency: Line-rate non-blocking; ~460 ns port-to-port (including FEC)
• Processor: High-performance T1022E dual-core at 1.2 GHz
• Management: 1 × 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet RJ-45, console (mini-USB RS-232), external USB, internal e-USB (2 GB persistent storage)
• Power: 2 × hot-swappable redundant 350W AC supplies
• Cooling: Hot-swappable fans; port-side or non-port-side exhaust options
• LEDs: Port status (green/amber/light-blue), system power/status, Ethernet link/activity
• Dimensions / Weight: Compact 1U; typical ~19 in W × ~20-22 in D × 1.75 in H; weight ~10-15 kg (fully configured, approximate)
• Other: Secure boot, real-time monitoring (power/voltage/temp/fans), RTC with battery

Compatibility

The IBM SAN64B-7 integrates seamlessly in Fibre Channel SANs:

• IBM Storage: FlashSystem series, DS8000, Storwize/SVC, tape libraries (TS4500/TS7700)
• Hosts/Servers: IBM Power Systems (AIX, IBM i), x86 servers (Windows Server, Linux distributions like Red Hat/SUSE/Ubuntu), VMware ESXi, Solaris, HP-UX
• Protocols: Fibre Channel (FCP), NVMe over Fibre Channel (NVMe/FC), FICON (select configurations)
• Interoperability: Backward compatible with prior generations (Gen6/Gen5), interoperable in mixed Brocade/IBM fabrics
• Management/Software: Fabric OS v9.0+, IBM Storage Insights, Brocade Network Advisor, EZSwitchSetup
• Transceivers: Supports 64/32/16/8 Gbps SFP+ (SWL/LWL), 10 Gbps for metro

Backward compatibility with 8/16/32 Gbps devices and transceivers ensures smooth migration. Verify firmware levels, POD licenses, and cabling via IBM or Broadcom interoperability matrices.

IBM Storage SAN64B-7 Configuration includes: 

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