HPE Storage Fibre Channel Switch C-series SN6620C
Modernize your storage area network (SAN) with the HPE Storage Fibre Channel Switch C-series SN6620C. Designed for the demands of all-flash arrays and emerging NVMe-based storage, this switch delivers the high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity required for today's mission-critical applications, large-scale virtualized environments, and cloud-scale deployments.
The SN6620C provides a powerful and scalable foundation for your SAN fabric, delivering consistent 32 Gbps Gen6 Fibre Channel performance from the server rack to the storage core. It allows organizations to build a future-proof infrastructure that can seamlessly transition to Fibre Channel Non-Volatile Memory Express (FC-NVMe) workloads without costly and disruptive hardware upgrades, protecting your investment for years to come.
The HPE SN6620C is built on the same high-performance 32 Gbps ASIC technology found in the director-class HPE C-series SN8500C, bringing enterprise-grade capabilities to a compact 1U form factor. This ensures predictable, non-blocking performance across all ports, with an aggregate bandwidth of 1536 Gbps to eliminate I/O bottlenecks and accelerate application response times.
Flexibility is at the core of the SN6620C's design. It offers a pay-as-you-grow scalability model, starting with 24 active ports and expanding up to 48 ports in 8-port increments. This allows you to align your initial investment with current needs while retaining the capacity for future expansion. Further accommodating diverse budgets and upgrade paths, the switch supports 8 Gb, 16 Gb, and 32 Gb optics, ensuring broad compatibility with your existing SAN infrastructure.
Selecting the right Fibre Channel switch is a critical decision that impacts the performance, scalability, and reliability of your entire storage infrastructure. The HPE SN6620C offers multiple configurations and advanced features, and aligning them with your specific technical and business requirements is key to a successful deployment. Nexus ITX helps organizations navigate this complex evaluation process, ensuring the chosen solution is a perfect fit for both current needs and future growth.
Our approach focuses on a thorough analysis of your unique environment. We help you compare models, understand interoperability, and plan for future scalability, providing the clarity needed to make a confident investment decision.
Q: What is the primary performance benefit of the HPE SN6620C switch?
A: The SN6620C provides consistent, line-rate 32 Gbps low-latency performance across every port. It features a non-blocking architecture with an aggregate bandwidth of 1536 Gbps, making it ideal for eliminating I/O bottlenecks in high-demand environments using all-flash or NVMe storage.
Q: Is the SN6620C ready for NVMe over Fibre Channel (FC-NVMe)?
A: Yes. The switch is FC-NVMe ready out of the box. It supports the next-generation protocol natively without requiring any hardware upgrades, offering excellent investment protection and a seamless path to modernizing your storage network.
Q: How does the port scalability work?
A: The SN6620C features a flexible, pay-as-you-grow licensing model. The base hardware comes with 48 physical ports, and you can start with a license for 24 active ports. As your needs grow, you can activate additional ports in 8-port increments up to the full 48-port capacity.
Q: Can I use older 16 Gb or 8 Gb optics with this switch?
A: Yes. The HPE SN6620C supports 32 Gb, 16 Gb, and 8 Gb Fibre Channel optics. This flexibility allows you to deploy the switch into existing SANs and manage your budget by upgrading optics only when necessary, while still being prepared for future 32 Gbps performance.
Q: What management software is included with the switch?
A: The switch includes the Cisco Data Center Network Manager (DCNM) Essentials Edition, which has been rebranded as the Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC). This provides a centralized point of management for simplifying SAN administration, automation, and monitoring.
Q: What are VSANs and how do they benefit a storage network?
A: Virtual SANs (VSANs) are a key feature of the SN6620C that allow you to create isolated, virtual fabrics on a single physical infrastructure. This enhances security and stability by partitioning traffic, enabling you to securely segment different departments, applications, or tenants without needing separate physical switches.
Q: How can Nexus ITX help me decide between the different SN6620C models?
A: Nexus ITX can help you evaluate your specific requirements for port count, day-one performance, and future growth. By analyzing your current SAN topology and workload demands, we can assist in comparing the base model (R0P12A) against the pre-populated SFP+ models (R0P13B, R0P14B) to determine the most cost-effective and technically sound option for your organization.
Contact us to analyze your SAN fabric needs and evaluate how the SN6620C aligns with your performance and scalability goals.
