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QLogic® SANbox® 9100 vs. Brocade
®
SilkWorm® 4900 Product Comparison
Choosing a Mid-Range Open Systems Core Switch
Today’s mid-size enterprises share many of the same data center requirements as their larger Fortune 500
counterparts. Although they operate within the constraints of real-world, cost/benefit-based budgets, these businesses nevertheless demand the performance, scalability and manageability of a world-class core switch.
To support robust data center environments, mid-size enterprises need a reliable, resilient fabric at the heart of
their SAN. Fabric management functionality must be powerful and extensible – but it must also be affordable and
easy to use to relieve the budgetary and staffing pressures common to IT departments in growing companies.
Above all, mid-size enterprises need flexibility to adapt to the expanding and changing requirements of their
business. From multi-protocol expansion options to granular scalability without performance degradation, they
must plan for future as well as current environments. The data center core switch is a strategic choice – and
mid-sized enterprises need a powerful solution to protect and enhance their valuable infrastructure investments
over the long term.
Top performance
“Pay as you grow” scalability
Cost-effective and non-disruptive upgrade path in the field
High port density for reduced space requirements
Multi-protocol, multi-function flexibility, now and in the future
Assured availability via key component redundancy
Powerful yet simple software tools to monitor, manage and configure
Low TCO and long-term ROI
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Customer Re quirements
Low-Cost Entry Point
High Availability
Room to Grow
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This table shows a
side-by-side
comparison of the
features of the two
products
SilkWorm 4900 and
SANbox 9100 Comparison
Compe titive C ompariso n
CO MP ET IT IVE C OM PA RIS ON
Feature SilkWorm 4900 SANbox 9100
Form factor 2U 4U
Ports per chassis Up to 64 Up to 128
4Gb Ports per U 32 32
Protocol options 4Gb FC 10Gb FC, 4Gb FC, iSCSI, FCIP,
Stora ge Services Platform
CPUs 1 1, upgradeable to 2
Power supplies 2 2
Minimum configuration 32 ports 16 ports
Maximum configuration 64 ports 128 ports, 256 when upgraded
to SAN box 9200
ISL Trunking No (chargeable option, Yes (up to 128 ports per trunk,
up to 8 ports per trunk) no additional license fees)
10Gb ISL options No Yes
iSCSI and FCIP No Yes
Monitor/Track configuration changes No Yes
Non-disruptive Code Load Yes Yes
and Activation (NDCLA)
Customer-replaceable hot-pluggable, No Yes
redundant components
Advanced management software Costs extra Bundled with Enterprise
Fabric Suite 2007
(including Fabric S ecurity package)
Cost with advanced $60K MSRP
management software $90K MSRP (lower-cost 16-port
(32 ports) versio n also available)
THE CLEAR CHOICE – QLogic SANbox 9100
The SANbox 9100 Model is the industry’s first stackable chassis switch Designed to the Core™ for
Open Systems environments. Now the benefits of large, expensive Director chassis switches are
available for mid-size Open Systems-based Storage Area Networks (SANs) that demand high availability, reduced complexity, increased configuration growth flexibility, high density with low power
consumption and more effective price/performance.
© 2006 QLogic Corporation. All ri ghts reserved. QLogic, the Q Logic Logo, the Powered by Q Logic Logo, SANbox, Enterprise Fabric Suite 2007, QuickTools, Designed to the Core, and HyperStac k are registered tradema rks or trademarks of QL ogic Corporation.
Information supplied by QL ogic is believed to be a ccurate and reliable. QLogi c Corporation assumes n o responsibility for an y errors in this brochur e. QLogic Corporation reser ves the right, without no tice, to makes changes in pr oduct design or specifica tions.
SN0130918-00 Rev B 507
Product Pic goes here
The Silkworm 4900 offers 64 fixed ports in a 2U enclosure. Ports may be activated incrementally in groups of 16 via purchased software licenses. Protocol coverage is limited to 4Gb Fibre Channel. No 10Gb Fibre Channel, iSCSI or FCIP I/O options
are provided. For an extra charge, manually-configured ISL trunking is offered for up to 8 ports per trunk. The 4900 provides
a power-on Self-Test (POST), online/offline diagnostics, error detection, fault isolation, remote notification of system events
and some non-disruptive software upgrades.
Although basic command line and limited GUI-based utilities are included, enterprise-class software features cost extra.
These costs can add 80% or more to the initial hardware cost, and are normally charged on a per-switch basis. For a starting
price of around $90K MSRP for 32 ports, the Silkworm 4900 does not provide the functionality, serviceability or upgradeability
required to be truly classified as a core switch.
Summary – High Cost, Limited Flexibility, No Upgrade Path
Option 1
Overview of the SilkWorm 4900
Option 2
Overview of the SANbox 9100
The SANbox 9100 Stackable Chassis Switch is a unique new class of core switch that combines the intelligence, scalability and
resilience of a Director with the affordability of QLogic’s industry-leading stackable fixed-port switches.
The 9100’s modular blade/chassis architecture allows almost unlimited expansion and upgrade capability. Scale to 128 ports
in a single high-density 4U chassis module - or upgrade to a 9200 and HyperStack™ two chassis modules for a 256-port
Director-class configuration. SANbox 9100 features I/O blade options for 4Gb and 10Gb Fibre Channel, iSCSI and FCIP, plus
a Storage Services Platform Blade to pool heterogeneous storage. Hot pluggable, redundant “Customer Replaceable Units”
(CRUs) provide high availability, while Adaptive Trunking automatically optimizes ISL bandwidth throughout the fabric for up to
128 4Gb or 10Gb FC of ports. SANbox 9100 provides non-disruptive firmware upgrades and power supply/fan CRU replacements, power-on Self-Test (POST), online/offline diagnostics with per-port statistics, error detection, fault isolation and remote
notification of events.
Priced affordably starting around $50K MSRP, the SANbox 9100 includes a powerful suite of advanced management software.
Bundled with every SANbox 9100 purchase, Enterprise Fabric Suite 2007™, along with Fabric Security, a comprehensive CLI
and the embedded QuickTools™ web interface, enables IT managers to configure, secure, monitor and expand their SAN as
needed across multiple fabrics, maintaining a cost-effective, high-value infrastructure throughout the life of the product.
Summary: Low-Cost, Multi-Protocol Flexibility, Field-Upgradeable to 9200
The SANbox 9100 offers the best growth strategy and the lowest entry cost for IT managers who need a flexible core switch
with long-term investment protection for their data center.
SANbox 9100’s modular architecture provides the flexibility and scalability for true core switch use in any environment. With
multi-protocol I/O blade options, plus the only 10Gb ISL capability and customer-replaceable components available, the 9100
offers a scalable, resilient and future-proof low TCO platform for growth.
World-class software features, bundled with the 9100 standard make this switch an attractive high-return investment. Midsized enterprise customers who purchase the 9100 know that as their business approaches Fortune 500 stature, their 9100
Stackable Chassis Switch will continue to maintain its vital contribution to the core of their data center.
4900 vs 9100
Choosing a Mid-Range Open Systems Core Switch
Compe titive C ompariso n
Designed to the Core
™
for Open Systems
BEST CHOICE
QLogic SANbox 9100
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