C8R45B - HPE C8R45B SN6500B 16Gbps 96-Port FC Switch

Name: HPE C8R45B SN6500B 16Gbps 96-Port FC Switch
Brand: HPE
SKU: C8R45B

C8R45B - HPE C8R45B SN6500B 16Gbps 96-Port FC Switch | US IT Hardware

Product overview

The HPE StoreFabric SN6500B (part number C8R45B) is an enterprise-class Fibre Channel switch engineered for demanding SAN environments requiring high-density connectivity and performance. Delivering 16 Gbps per-port speeds with up to 96 total ports (48 active in base configuration) in an ultra-compact 2U form factor, the SN6500B achieves 1536 Gbps aggregate bandwidth and sub-900 nanosecond fabric latency. The switch features dynamic Ports on Demand (PoD) capability enabling cost-effective capacity expansion in 8-port increments, hybrid optics support for both 16Gb and 32Gb SFP+ transceivers, and NVMe-over-Fabric readiness for next-generation storage protocols. Advanced management via HPE PowerPack+ software, Smart SAN automation, and VM Insight virtual machine-level visibility simplify operations. Dual hot-swappable redundant power supplies, comprehensive monitoring, and ISL trunking technology (up to 512 Gbps full-duplex per trunk) ensure reliability and performance for virtualization, cloud infrastructure, and large-scale enterprise storage deployments.

1536 Gbps aggregate bandwidth with 16Gbps per-port speeds.
Up to 96 Fibre Channel ports in ultra-dense 2U form factor.
Sub-900 nanosecond locally switched fabric latency.
Dynamic Ports on Demand scalability in 8-port increments.
Dual hot-swappable redundant power supplies with 450W max.
ISL trunking supports up to 512 Gbps full-duplex per trunk.

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 #	C8R45B
Brand	HPE
Condition	New
Model Name	SN6500B
Product Line	StoreFabric B-series
Product Type	Fibre Channel Switch (Enterprise SAN)
Fabric OS Support	Supports Fabric OS with DPS (Dynamic Port Scalability) and advanced fabric features
Part Number (MPN)	C8R45B
Optics Media Types	Hot-pluggable B-Series SFP, LC connector; Short-Wave Laser (SWL), Long-Wave Laser (LWL); SFP+ (16/10/8 Gbps); 32Gb SFP+ supported
Management Software	HPE PowerPack+ with Smart SAN automation, VM Insight for virtual machine-level visibility

Compatible systems

The HPE StoreFabric SN6500B (C8R45B) integrates seamlessly with enterprise storage arrays from EMC, NetApp, Pure Storage, and Dell EMC via standard Fibre Channel fabric connectivity. Fully compatible with VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, KVM, Citrix XenServer, and OpenStack environments. Requires 16+ Gbps Fibre Channel HBAs, B-Series SFP/SFP+ transceivers, and standard fiber optic cabling. Supports optional Ports on Demand licenses and 32 Gbps optics for future scalability.

HPE StoreFabric
Model: SN6500B
Form factor: 2U Rack-mountable
Generation: B-series
Primary product; C8R45B is the official HPE part number for this model.
EMC VMAX/Unity
Model: All models
Form factor: N/A
Generation: Current and legacy
Compatible with EMC enterprise storage arrays via Fibre Channel fabric.
NetApp FAS/AFF
Model: All models
Form factor: N/A
Generation: Current and legacy
Supports NetApp all-flash and hybrid storage systems via FC connectivity.
Pure Storage FlashArray
Model: All models
Form factor: N/A
Generation: Current and legacy
Compatible with Pure Storage all-flash arrays for high-performance SAN deployments.
Dell EMC PowerVault/PowerMax
Model: All models
Form factor: N/A
Generation: Current and legacy
Integrates with Dell EMC enterprise storage platforms via Fibre Channel.

Details

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Real-Time Monitoring	Real-time power usage monitoring, comprehensive fabric visibility, performance analytics

Hybrid Optics Support	Supports both cost-effective 16Gb SFP+ and 32Gb SFP+ optics for flexible deployments

Management Interfaces	1x 10Base-T/100Base-TX Ethernet (RJ-45), 1x Console port (RJ-45), 1x USB Type-A

NVMe-over-Fabric Support	Ready for NVMe-over-Fabric protocols

Network & Communication

ISL Trunking	Up to eight 16 Gbps ports per trunk, 128 Gbps per trunk; up to 512 Gbps full-duplex with eight 32Gb ports; no limit to trunk groups
Load Balancing	Exchange-based load balancing across ISLs with DPS (Fabric OS)
Classes of Service	Class 2, Class 3, Class F (Inter-switch frames)
Data Traffic Types	Fabric switches supporting unicast
Maximum Frame Size	2112-byte payload
Aggregate Bandwidth	1536 Gbps full-duplex
Ports on Demand (PoD)	Dynamic scalability in 8-port increments; up to 96 FC ports total
Fabric Latency (FEC Enabled)	400 nanoseconds additional between E_Ports
Fabric Latency (Locally Switched)	700 nanoseconds
Fabric Latency (With Encryption/Compression)	5.5 microseconds per node

Power Consumption

AC Input Current	5 to 2.5 A
AC Input Voltage	85 to 264 V AC
Input Line Frequency	47 to 63 Hz
Power Supply Configuration	Dual, hot-swappable, redundant power supplies with 1+1 failover
Power Consumption (Empty Chassis)	350 W (no optics installed)
Power Consumption (Fully Populated)	450 W (all 96 ports with 16 Gbps SWL optics)

Form Factor	2U Rack-mountable

Environmental

Operating Shock	20G, 6 ms half-sine
Storage Altitude	Up to 12 km (39,370 ft)
Airflow Direction	Back-to-front only
Operating Altitude	Up to 3000 m (9,842 ft)
Operating Humidity	10% to 90% (non-condensing)
Operating Temperature	0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)

Interface/Ports

Port Types	Universal (E, F, M, D, EX), Diagnostic (D_Port), E_Port, EX_Port, F_Port, M_Port (Mirror), U_Port
Port Speeds	Auto-sensing 4/8/16/32 Gbps per port
Fibre Channel Ports (Total)	96 ports (48 active base, expandable via Ports on Demand)
Fibre Channel Ports (Active Base)	48 x 16Gb SFP+ ports

Frequently asked questions

What is the maximum aggregate bandwidth and port density of the HPE C8R45B?

The C8R45B delivers 1536 Gbps aggregate bandwidth with up to 96 total Fibre Channel ports (48 active in base configuration, expandable via Ports on Demand). Each port supports 4/8/16/32 Gbps auto-sensing speeds. In a fully populated 96-port configuration with 16 Gbps SFP+ optics, the switch achieves maximum throughput while maintaining sub-900 nanosecond fabric latency.

How does Ports on Demand (PoD) scalability work for capacity expansion?

Ports on Demand enables cost-effective capacity expansion in 8-port increments without requiring hardware replacement. Organizations purchase PoD upgrade licenses to activate additional ports on the same chassis, minimizing upfront capital investment while supporting future growth. This approach reduces deployment time and eliminates the need for forklift upgrades when storage capacity requirements increase.

What latency performance does the SN6500B deliver for time-sensitive applications?

The switch provides 700 nanoseconds locally switched port-to-port latency and sub-900 nanoseconds with encryption/compression enabled. ISL trunking adds 400 nanoseconds between E_Ports when FEC is enabled. This ultra-low latency is critical for financial trading systems, real-time analytics, and high-frequency database access requiring microsecond-level response times.

What optics and media types does the C8R45B support?

The switch supports hot-pluggable B-Series SFP transceivers with LC connectors, including Short-Wave Laser (SWL) and Long-Wave Laser (LWL) variants. It accommodates SFP+ optics at 16/10/8 Gbps and 32 Gbps SFP+ for hybrid deployments. Distance capabilities vary by fiber type and port speed, enabling flexible multi-site fabric architectures with cost-optimized optics selection.

What management and monitoring capabilities are included?

HPE PowerPack+ software provides centralized management with Smart SAN automation reducing configuration time from hours to minutes. VM Insight delivers virtual machine-level visibility for performance optimization. Management interfaces include SNMP (v1/v3), SSH, HTTP, CLI, and Syslog. Real-time power usage monitoring enables data center resource optimization and energy efficiency tracking.

What redundancy and reliability features protect against downtime?

The SN6500B includes dual hot-swappable redundant power supplies (AC 85-264V, 450W max), comprehensive fan redundancy, and 1+1 power supply failover. Exchange-based load balancing across ISL trunks prevents single points of failure. The switch supports Class 2 and Class 3 Fibre Channel services with fabric-level error recovery, ensuring continuous operation in mission-critical environments.

Is the C8R45B compatible with NVMe-over-Fabric and all-flash storage arrays?

Yes, the SN6500B is NVMe-over-Fabric ready, supporting next-generation storage protocols beyond traditional Fibre Channel. The sub-900 nanosecond latency and 1536 Gbps aggregate bandwidth are optimized for all-flash array deployments requiring high IOPS and low latency. It seamlessly integrates with modern storage platforms while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy FC arrays.

HPE C8R45B SN6500B 16Gbps 96-Port FC Switch