With a 50% latency reduction compared to the previous generation, X7 Directors maximize the performance of NVMe storage and high transaction workloads, eliminating I/O bottlenecks and unleashing the full performance of next generation storage. The modular design provides flexibility with two customizable chassis that can scale on-demand for more devices, applications, and workloads, the X7-8 and X7-4. Both chassis utilize Brocade UltraScale ICL technology to scale out modular SANs while preserving blade ports for device connectivity and allowing flexible SAN design that supports core-edge or mesh topologies.
System Architecture | |
Chassis |
Brocade X7-8: Non-blocking architecture
Each provides support for (E, F, D, M, SIM, and EX) Fibre Channel ports using 48-port 64Gb/s Fibre Channel blades. |
Control processor | Redundant (active/standby) control processor modules. |
Scalability | Full-fabric architecture of 239 switches. |
Certified maximum | 6000 active devices per switch; 56 switches, 19 hops in Brocade Fabric OS® (FOS) fabrics; larger fabrics certified as required. |
Fibre Channel blades |
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Extension blades | Brocade SX6 Extension Blade provides Fibre Channel extension (16x 32Gb/s Fibre Channel ports) and IP extension over IP networks (16×1GbE/10GbE and 2×40GbE ports). |
Performance |
Brocade FC64-48 Port Blade:
Brocade FC64-64 Port Blade:
Brocade FC32-X7-48 Port Blade:
Brocade FC32-48 Port Blade:
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ISL Trunking | Frame-based trunking with up to eight 64Gb/s ports per ISL trunk; up to 512Gb/s per ISL trunk between switches using 8G, 16G, 32G, or 64G ports; exchange-based load balancing across ISLs with DPS included in Brocade FOS. |
UltraScale ICL Trunking |
Chassis-to-chassis linkage through connectors on the Core Routing (CR) blade. Can configure the following maximum number of QSFPs per trunk depending on blade type, connecting:
A minimum of two QSFP connections are required for a trunk, and up to four QSFP trunks between pairs of Brocade CR64-8 or CR64-4. |
Multi-chassis with UltraScale ICL ports | Up to 4608 Fibre Channel ports; UltraScale ICL ports (32 for 8-slot or 16 per 4-slot chassis, optical QSFP) connect up to 9 chassis in a full-mesh topology or up to 12 chassis in a core-edge topology. |
Chassis bandwidth |
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Slot bandwidth | 3072Gb/s (line rate) providing line-rate performance for the Brocade FC64-48 blade or 4096Gb/s providing line-rate performance for the Brocade FC64-64 blade. |
Maximum frame size | 2112-byte payload. |
Frame buffers | 24,000 per switching ASIC. |
Classes of service | Class 2, Class 3, Class F (inter-switch frames). |
Fibre Channel port types |
Self-discovery is based on switch type (U_Port) with an optional port type control. |
Data traffic types | Fabric switches supporting unicast. |
Media types |
* Use of the Gen 7 2-km ICL QSFP is subject to the following environmental ratings for maximum intake air temperature: 0–40°C at sea level; 0–35°C up to 1500m (4921 ft) elevation; and 0–30°C from 1500m to 3000m (9843 ft) elevation. |
System Components | |
Fibre Channel ports |
*Brocade 48 port blade required |
Classes of service | Class 2, Class 3, Class F (inter-switch frames). |
ANSI Fibre Channel protocol | FC-PH (Fibre Channel Physical and Signaling Interface standard). |
Port-to-port latency |
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High Availability | |
Architecture | Non-blocking shared memory; passive backplane; redundant active/passive control processor; redundant active/active core switching blades; redundant WWN cards. |
Chassis power |
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Cooling |
Brocade X7-8:
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