Data Sheet
Brocade
DCX
Backbone
FAMILY
Data Center
A Platform for Evolving Data Center Fabrics
Highlights
•Provides a highly robust 8Gb platform in two modular form factors for enterprise data centers supporting open system and System z environments
•Delivers over four times the performance of competitive offerings to meet data growth and access demands, expand virtualization, and consolidate resources
•Provides a future-built multiprotocol architecture for consolidating server connectivity as low-latency, lossless technology options such as FCoE and CEE emerge
•Delivers ten times the energy efficiency of competitive offerings, enabling data centers to support more server and storage equipment
•Offers fabric-based applications, including secure data encryption and Adaptive Networking that helps optimize fabric behavior and maximize service levels
•Enables logical partitioning of platforms and fabrics into virtual data and management domains without sacrificing performance, scalability, security, or reliability
•Extends ROI by operating natively with Brocade B-Series and M-Series fabrics, and with common management tools
Brocade® DCX® Backbones are highly robust network switching platforms that combine breakthrough performance, scalability, and energy efficiency with long-term investment protection. Supporting open systems and
System z environments, Brocade DCX Backbones are designed to address the data growth and application demands of evolving enterprise data centers; enable server, SAN, and data center consolidation; and reduce infrastructure and administrative costs.
CHOICE AT THE CORE AND AT THE EDGE
Brocade DCX Backbones are available in two modular form factors. Built for large enterprise networks, the 14U Brocade DCX has eight vertical blade slots to provide up to 384 Fibre Channel ports using Brocadebranded 4Gb or 8Gb SFPs. Built for midsize networks, the 8U Brocade DCX-4S has four horizontal blade slots to provide up to 192
Fibre Channel ports.
Both models feature ultra-high-speed InterChassis Link (ICL) ports to connect two backbones, providing extensive scalability and flexibility at the network core. At the network edge, organizations can utilize Brocade 8Gb switches, Brocade 48000 Directors, or—for complete backbone-class capabilities—the Brocade DCX-4S.
HIGHEST PERFORMANCE AND SCALABILITY
Both Brocade DCX models provide 256 Gbit/sec of bandwidth per slot
(512 Gbit/sec aggregate data rate).
When combined with unique Brocade local switching capabilities—data traffic within the same port group does not consume
slot bandwidth—the Brocade DCX family provides over four times the performance of competitive offerings. Performance capabilities include:
•Brocade DCX:
–384 ports operating simultaneously at full 8Gb speed
–3 Tbit/sec of chassis bandwidth
–512 Gbit/sec of ICL bandwidth (freeing up to 64 8Gb ports per chassis for server, storage, and fabric connections)
•Brocade DCX-4S:
–192 ports operating simultaneously at full 8Gb speed
–1.5 Tbit/sec of chassis bandwidth
–256 Gbit/sec of ICL bandwidth (freeing up to 32 8Gb ports per chassis)
FLEXIBLE, MULTIPROTOCOL ARCHITECTURE
Brocade DCX Backbones include a Virtual Fabrics 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 alleviates the need for special-purpose blades or routers to connect servers and storage in separate fabrics. And optional SAN extension over long-distance IP connections accelerates offsite replication, backup, and restore.
The Brocade DCX family supports 1/2/4/8/10Gb Fibre Channel and FICON®,
FCIP, and IPFC. Both models are also compatible with the Brocade 8000 top-of-rack switch for consolidating server connectivity using emerging Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) and Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) in open systems environments. Direct FCoE/CEE server connections to Brocade DCX Backbones will be enabled in the future through the simple addition of a blade.
PLUG-IN FABRIC-BASED APPLICATIONS
Brocade FS8-18 Encryption Blades can encrypt data-at-rest at up to 96 Gbit/sec per blade with highly secure 256-bit AES and integrated support for leading key management. The Brocade FA4-18
Application Blade delivers continuous data protection without impacting server resources through tight third-party application integration.
Transparent Frame Redirection enables implementation of fabric-based applications using current zoning practices and across heterogeneous environments.
Figure 1. Brocade DCX Backbones provide the core platform of the Brocade Data Center
Fabric (DCF) architecture.
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Data Center Fabric Branch
Office
Client/Server
LAN
Virtual and
Standalone Servers
INTELLIGENT MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING
To help maximize network performance and reduce operational expense, Brocade Data Center Fabric Manager (DCFM™) provides intuitive system configuration, comprehensive management, and a topology-centric view across Brocade data center solutions. Brocade DCFM Enterprise supports both backbone models, while the no-cost Brocade DCFM Professional supports the Brocade DCX-4S.
TRAFFIC MEASUREMENT AND ADAPTIVE NETWORKING
The Brocade DCX family offers Top Talkers (part of Advanced Performance Monitoring) and Adaptive Networking, a suite of tools including Ingress Rate Limiting, Traffic Isolation, and QoS. Managed through
DCFM or a command line interface, these advanced capabilities help optimize fabric behavior and ensure ample bandwidth for critical applications.
Top Talkers measures the top bandwidthconsuming traffic in real time over a physical device connection or throughout a network switch. Ingress Rate Limiting restricts data flow from less-critical hosts at preset bandwidths. Traffic Isolation dedicates paths in the fabric to high-bandwidth data flows. And QoS expedites critical traffic in the event of congestion while keeping all traffic flowing.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY, RELIABLITY, AND INVESTMENT PROTECTION
Brocade DCX Backbones are highly effective at reducing power consumption, cooling, and carbon footprint in data centers. While providing unmatched performance and scale, both models use less than one-half watt per Gbit/sec—making them 10 times more efficient than competitive offerings.
To help minimize downtime costs, the Brocade DCX family builds upon years of innovation and leverages the core technology of Brocade systems performing at greater than 99.999 percent uptime in the world’s most demanding data centers. And to maximize return on existing investments, Brocade DCX Backbones connect natively to Brocade B- and M-Series fabrics without disruption. Unlike competitive offerings that claim interoperability through reverse engineering, Brocade enables expansion and consolidation of existing fabrics with minimum risk or training.
COMPLETE, BEST-IN-CLASS SOLUTIONS
Through longstanding partner relationships and extensive compatibility testing, Brocade provides organizations with broad choice to implement best-in-class solutions. Moreover,
Brocade and its partners offer complete solutions that include cable management, education, support, and services. For more information, contact a Brocade sales partner or visit www.brocade.com.
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