What are the port specifications of the IBM SAN32B-3?

The switch features 32 auto-sensing ports supporting 1/2/4 Gbps Fibre Channel speeds. All ports 0-31 are licensed and operational through the switch fabric, providing flexible connectivity for SAN fabrics without additional expansion cards.

Is the SAN32B-3 rack-mountable and what is its form factor?

Yes, it is a 1U rack-mountable Fibre Channel fabric switch, designed for standard 19-inch racks. This compact form factor with dual power supplies optimizes space and redundancy in enterprise data centers.

What power configuration does it have?

It includes dual power supplies for high availability, ensuring continuous operation if one fails. This redundancy is essential for mission-critical SAN environments handling 32 ports at up to 4 Gbps.

What speeds does the SAN32B-3 support?

Ports auto-sense 1/2/4 Gbps Fibre Channel per port, enabling compatibility with diverse host bus adapters and storage devices. This supports mixed-speed fabrics without performance bottlenecks.

What is the product line and type?

Part of IBM System Storage, it is a Fibre Channel fabric switch (model SAN32B-3, SKU 2005-B5K) for enterprise SAN deployments. It integrates seamlessly into IBM storage networking architectures.

How many ports are operational out-of-the-box?

All 32 ports (0-31) are licensed and operational via the switch fabric, ready for immediate use in SAN configurations. No additional licensing is required for full capacity.

2005-B5K - IBM SAN32B-3 Switch

Name: 2005-B5K - IBM SAN32B-3 Switch
Brand: IBM
SKU: 2005-B5K
Price: 875 USD
Availability: InStock

2005-B5K - IBM SAN32B-3 Switch | US IT Hardware

Product overview

The IBM SAN32B-3, part of the System Storage product line, is a 32-port Fibre Channel fabric switch designed for enterprise-level Storage Area Networks (SAN). It features 32 auto-sensing ports supporting 1/2/4 Gbps Fibre Channel speeds, enabling flexible connectivity for servers and storage arrays. The 1U rack-mountable form factor with dual power supplies ensures high availability and efficient space utilization in data centers. All 32 ports (0-31) are licensed and operational via the switch fabric, providing scalable expansion without additional hardware. Ideal for mid-sized SAN deployments, it supports Fibre Channel SAN fabric integration, delivering reliable performance for data-intensive applications like virtualization, backups, and database clustering. Procurement teams value its proven IBM reliability for building robust, non-blocking fabrics that handle mixed-speed traffic while minimizing latency and power draw.

32 auto-sensing 1/2/4 Gbps FC ports for scalable SAN
1U rack-mountable with dual redundant power supplies
Full 32 licensed ports 0-31 via switch fabric
Fibre Channel fabric for enterprise storage networks
Supports mixed 1/2/4 Gbps speeds per port
System Storage line for IBM SAN compatibility

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Featuring

Manufacturer part #	2005-B5K
Brand	IBM
Condition	Refurbished
Model	SAN32B-3
Web Tools	Included
Fabric Watch	Included
Product Line	System Storage
Product Type	Fibre Channel Fabric Switch
Advanced Zoning	Included

Power Consumption

Power Supplies

Compatible systems

Compatible with IBM N Series MetroCluster configurations

IBM N Series
Fabric-attached MetroCluster Systems

Best for

Enterprise SAN Fabrics
Builds scalable Fibre Channel SAN with 32 auto-sensing 1/2/4 Gbps ports for connecting multiple servers to storage arrays. Supports full fabric operations across ports 0-31.
Data Center Expansion
1U rack-mountable design with dual power supplies fits dense environments, enabling rapid port activation up to 32 without downtime.
Virtualization Hosts
Provides reliable 4Gbps FC speeds per port for high-throughput VM storage access in clustered environments.
Backup and DR Sites
Dual PSUs ensure redundancy for continuous data protection workflows using the switch fabric's operational ports.

Frequently asked questions

Details

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Rack Units	1U
Form Factor	1U rack mountable

Interface/Ports

Port Speed	4Gb/s
Network Ports	32 auto-sensing ports; Supports 1/2/4 Gbps Fibre Channel
Ethernet Speed	1/2/4 Gbps Fibre Channel per port
Expansion Slots	32 licensed and operational ports 0-31; Switch Fabric
Network Interfaces	Fibre Channel SAN fabric

IBM SAN32B-3 Switch