HP A7989A StorageWorks 4/256 SAN Director 256-Port 4Gb

Name: HP A7989A StorageWorks 4/256 SAN Director 256-Port 4Gb
Brand: HP
SKU: A7989A

MPN: A7989A·By: HP

Part #:A7989ANewIn stock

Ships from the US.

Price on request

We'll confirm availability and pricing for A7989A, usually within one business day.

Have questions?

Talk to our customer service team.

Phone Email

Product overview

The HP StorageWorks 4/256 SAN Director (A7989A) is an enterprise-grade Fibre Channel director designed for mission-critical Storage Area Networks. It features a 4Gb/s backplane supporting industry-leading 10Gb, 8Gb, and 4Gb/s Fibre Channel port speeds with up to 256 ports maximum capacity. The director delivers full performance at 4Gb/s across 128 ports using 16-port blades, or full performance at 2Gb/s across 256 ports using 32-port blades. It supports auto-speed negotiation for legacy 1, 2, and 4Gb/s devices, ensuring maximum flexibility. The 4/256 is engineered for continuous operation with five-nines (99.999%) availability. Optional 8Gb Fibre Channel blades enable ISL trunk aggregation up to 64Gb/s bandwidth. Extended Fabric software supports distances up to 500 kilometers, enabling data center replication and disaster recovery applications.

Up to 256 Fibre Channel ports with modular blade architecture
4Gb/s backplane supporting 10Gb, 8Gb, and 4Gb/s speeds
99.999% availability for mission-critical enterprise SANs
Optional 8Gb blades with ISL trunking up to 64Gb/s bandwidth
Extended Fabric software supports distances up to 500 kilometers
Auto-speed negotiation for legacy 1, 2, and 4Gb/s devices

Expedited and overnight shipping options are available at checkout, priced by destination and service.
Purchase orders accepted from qualified institutions.
Refunds within 14 days and replacements within 30 days of delivery with an RMA (25% restocking fee on customer-initiated returns), and every part carries our Standard 30-Day Warranty - see our return policy or contact US IT Hardware.

Featuring

Manufacturer part #	A7989A
Brand	HP
Condition	New
Model	4/256 SAN Director
Product Line	StorageWorks SAN Director
Product Type	Fibre Channel Power Pack Switch
Firmware Version	6.4.3f
Data Link Protocol	Fibre Channel

Network & Communication

Backplane Speed	4Gb/s
Data Transfer Rate	4 Gbps per port; Backplane 4Gb/s supporting 10Gb/8Gb/4Gb speeds

Power Consumption

Power Supplies	2

Physical Characteristics

Rack Units	Rack mountable with rack rails
Form Factor	External rackmount director chassis
Chassis Type	SAN Director Power Pack

Interface/Ports

Maximum Ports	384
16-Port Blades	Included option (A7990A)
32-Port Blades	Included option
48-Port Blades	Included option
Port Technology	SFP Fibre Channel ports up to 256 ports
Supported Port Speeds	10Gb, 8Gb, 4Gb/s Fibre Channel

Compatible systems

No specific compatibility lists found in sources

Best for

Enterprise Storage Networks
Ideal for large-scale SANs requiring up to 256 Fibre Channel ports with 4Gb/s backplane performance. Supports full performance at 4Gb/s across 128 ports or 2Gb/s across 256 ports using modular blade configurations.
Mission-Critical Data Centers
Designed for continuous operation with five-nines (99.999%) availability. Supports legacy 1, 2, and 4Gb/s devices through auto-speed negotiation, ensuring compatibility with existing infrastructure.
Disaster Recovery & Replication
Extended Fabric software enables distance support up to 500 kilometers. Optional 8Gb blades with ISL trunking provide up to 64Gb/s bandwidth for inter-data center replication and backup applications.
Virtualized Environments
Modular blade architecture with 16-port, 32-port, and 48-port 4Gb options provides flexibility to build high-port-count or highest-performing configurations for virtualized server environments.
Legacy Infrastructure Integration
Auto-speed negotiation supports legacy 1, 2, and 4Gb/s server and storage devices, making it suitable for phased SAN modernization without requiring simultaneous hardware replacement.

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum port capacity of the HP 4/256 SAN Director?

The 4/256 supports up to 256 Fibre Channel ports using 32-port 4Gb/s blades, delivering full performance at 2Gb/s. Alternatively, using 16-port blades provides full performance at 4Gb/s across 128 ports. The modular blade architecture allows customization based on performance and capacity requirements.

Does the 4/256 support higher-speed Fibre Channel connections?

Yes. The 4Gb/s backplane supports industry-leading 10Gb, 8Gb, and 4Gb/s Fibre Channel port speeds. Optional 8Gb Fibre Channel blades enable ISL trunk aggregation up to 64Gb/s bandwidth. A 10Gb blade is also available for organizations utilizing dark fiber to fully utilize 10Gbit/sec links.

Can the 4/256 work with older Fibre Channel devices?

Yes. The director features auto-speed negotiation to support legacy 1, 2, and 4Gb/s server and storage devices, providing maximum flexibility for mixed-generation storage environments. This eliminates the need for simultaneous hardware replacement during infrastructure upgrades.

What availability rating does the 4/256 provide?

The 4/256 SAN Director is designed for continuous operation and supports five-nines (99.999%) availability, meeting mission-critical enterprise requirements. This high availability rating ensures minimal unplanned downtime for production storage networks.

Does the 4/256 support disaster recovery applications?

Yes. Optional Extended Fabric software increases distance support to 500 kilometers depending on speed. ISL trunking extends data transfer capabilities between data centers, enabling disaster recovery and inter-site replication with up to 64Gb/s bandwidth using optional 8Gb blades.

What blade options are available for the 4/256?

The director supports flexible blade configurations: 48-port, 32-port, and 16-port 4Gb/s blades for device connectivity, plus optional 8Gb 16-port blades for high-performance ISL trunking. This modularity allows organizations to build configurations optimized for their specific performance and capacity needs.

Is the 4/256 suitable for virtualized environments?

Yes. The modular blade architecture and flexible port configurations make it ideal for virtualized environments requiring high-port-count connectivity. Organizations can scale from 128 to 256 ports and customize blade combinations to support dynamic virtual machine deployments and storage consolidation.

Details

Shipping, warranty & returns

Customer reviews

No reviews yet — be the first to review this part.

Free ground shipping over $100

Secure SSL checkout. Visa, Mastercard, Amex and Discover accepted. ACH / wire available for businesses.

Buy with confidence

New, certified-refreshed and OEM stock with guaranteed compatibility, backed by warranty on every part.

Business account benefits

Net payment terms
Dedicated account rep
Warehousing & scheduled releases
Stock testing reports

Set up your business account →

Govt, federal & edu procurement

We process quotes, POs, stock documentation and compliance invoicing.

[email protected]

Manufacturer part #

A7989A

Brand

Condition

New

Model

4/256 SAN Director

Product Line

StorageWorks SAN Director

Product Type

Fibre Channel Power Pack Switch

Firmware Version

6.4.3f

Data Link Protocol

Fibre Channel

Backplane Speed

4Gb/s

Data Transfer Rate

4 Gbps per port; Backplane 4Gb/s supporting 10Gb/8Gb/4Gb speeds

Rack Units

Rack mountable with rack rails

Form Factor

External rackmount director chassis

Chassis Type

SAN Director Power Pack

Maximum Ports

384

16-Port Blades

Included option (A7990A)

32-Port Blades

Included option

48-Port Blades

Included option

Port Technology

SFP Fibre Channel ports up to 256 ports

Supported Port Speeds

10Gb, 8Gb, 4Gb/s Fibre Channel