What port configurations does the IBM SAN64B-6 support?

It includes 48 auto-sensing 32-Gbps SFP+ ports (groups 0-7, 8-15, 16-23) supporting 4/8/10/16/32 Gbps speeds and universal modes (F_Port, E_Port, EX_Port, N_Port, D_Port). Plus 4 QSFP ports for 128 Gbps (4x32 Gbps) uplinks to another SAN64B-6, with management via Ethernet RJ-45, serial console, and USB.

What is the maximum switching capacity of the SAN64B-6?

The single ASIC fabric provides 2 Tbps aggregate bandwidth across up to 64 ports. It supports frame-based ISL trunking with up to eight 32 Gbps ports per trunk (256 Gbps max), exchange-based load balancing, and cut-through routing at 32 Gbps for minimal latency.

How does port scaling work on this switch?

Dynamic Ports on Demand (PoD) starts at 24 ports, scaling to 64 via two 12-port SFP+ licenses and one 16-port QSFP license. This allows pay-as-you-grow from base 48 SFP+ plus QSFP expansion without hardware changes.

What management interfaces are available?

Features a 1000Base-T/100Base-TX/10Base-T RJ-45 Ethernet port, UART RJ-45 serial console, and USB for configuration. Status monitoring via bicolor system status and power LEDs. Integrates with Fabric OS for fabrics up to 239 switches.

What Fibre Channel speeds and protocols are supported?

Ports auto-sense 4.25/8.5/10.53/14.025/28.05 Gbps line rates (4/8/10/16/32 Gbps effective). Complies with FC-PH, FC-SW-3 Rev 6.6, Class 2/3 operations, and FCIP 2.3. Supports extended distance FC and 10Gbps for DWDM metro links.

Is the SAN64B-6 suitable for large fabrics?

Yes, certified for 6,000 active nodes, 56 switches, 19 hops; scales to 239 switches in full-fabric architecture. Ideal for enterprise SANs with high node counts and multi-hop topologies.

SAN64B-6 - IBM SAN64B-6 48x32Gbps SFP+ 4xQSFP FC Switch

Name: IBM SAN64B-6 48x32Gbps SFP+ 4xQSFP FC Switch
Brand: IBM
SKU: SAN64B-6

SAN64B-6 - IBM SAN64B-6 48x32Gbps SFP+ 4xQSFP FC Switch | US IT Hardware

Product overview

The IBM SAN64B-6 is an enterprise-grade Fibre Channel switch from the IBM SAN Storage Networking product line, model SAN64B-6 (SKU: SAN64B-6). It features 48 auto-sensing 32-Gbps SFP+ ports organized into port groups (0-7, 8-15, 16-23) supporting 4/8/10/16/32 Gbps speeds and universal port types (F_Port, E_Port, EX_Port, N_Port, D_Port). Up to four 128-Gbps QSFP uplink ports enable 4x32-Gbps connectivity to another SAN64B-6 for ISL trunking up to 256 Gbps. A single ASIC switching fabric provides 2 Tbps aggregate bandwidth in a unified domain with up to 48 ports. Management options include 1000Base-T Ethernet, UART serial console, and USB ports. Status is monitored via system power and status LEDs. Dynamic Ports on Demand scales from 24 to 64 ports. Ideal for hyper-scale virtualization, cloud infrastructures, and flash storage with low-latency cut-through switching. Supports Fabric OS for fabrics up to 239 switches and 6,000 nodes.

48x auto-sensing 32Gbps SFP+ ports for dense FC connectivity
4x 128Gbps QSFP uplinks with 256Gbps ISL trunking
2 Tbps single ASIC switching fabric, cut-through routing
Dynamic PoD scales 24-64 ports without hardware changes
Supports 4/8/10/16/32Gbps auto-negotiation per port
1U design for hyper-scale data center consolidation

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Featuring

Maximum Domain Ports
Manufacturer part #	SAN64B-6
Brand	IBM
Condition	New
Model	SAN64B-6
Status LEDs	System status LED; System power LED
Product Line	IBM SAN Storage Networking
Product Type	Fibre Channel Switch
Battery Removal	Removable battery with documented removal procedure on page 67 of Installation Guide
Port Technology	High-performance 32-Gbps SFP+ technology; supports auto-sensing
Switching Fabric	Single ASIC connecting all ports in unified switching domain

Compatible systems

IBM SAN64B-6 is a Fibre Channel switch designed for enterprise SAN environments; compatibility determined by Fibre Channel protocol support rather than OS

IBM SAN Storage Networking
Model: SAN64B-6
Form factor: Switch
Generation: Not specified
Can connect to other IBM SAN64B-6 devices via QSFP ports

Best for

Enterprise Data Centers
Provides 48 auto-sensing 32-Gbps SFP+ ports and 2 Tbps switching capacity for consolidating storage traffic in dense 1U form factor, supporting up to 239-switch fabrics.
Cloud Infrastructure
128-Gbps QSFP uplinks enable high-bandwidth ISL trunking up to 256 Gbps between SAN64B-6 switches, ideal for scalable private cloud storage networking.
Hyper-Scale Virtualization
Single ASIC fabric with cut-through routing at 32 Gbps minimizes latency for VM workloads, with Dynamic PoD scaling from 24 to 64 ports.
Flash Storage Arrays
Auto-sensing 4-32 Gbps ports and 6,000-node fabric support accelerate all-flash array performance in large-scale environments.

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Details

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Boot Flash	16 MB Parallel NOR flash embedded memory
Main Memory	2 GB DDR3L SDRAM with 8-bit ECC, SORDIMM package, operating at 1200 MT/s
eUSB Module	2 GB

Max Wattage	204 W @100 VAC input (with 2 PSUs)
Power Supplies	2

Depth	35.56 cm (14 in.)
Width	44.0 cm (17.32 in.)
Height	4.39 cm (1.73 in.)
Weight	7.73 kg (17 lb) with two power supplies, without transceivers
Form Factor	1U

Operating Altitude	0 to 3000 m (9,842 feet)
Operating Humidity	10% to 85% (non-condensing)
Operating Temperature	0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F)

Interface/Ports

USB Port	USB port for management and configuration
SFP+ FC Ports	48 auto-sensing 32-Gbps SFP+ ports organized as: ports 0-7 (8 ports), ports 8-15 (8 ports), ports 16-23 (8 ports), with four upper and four lower port groups
QSFP Uplink Ports	Up to four 128-Gbps QSFP ports (4 x 32-Gbps) for connecting to another IBM SAN64B-6 device
Serial Console Port	UART RJ-45 serial console port
Management Ethernet Port	1000Base-T/100Base-TX/10Base-T RJ-45 Ethernet management port

IBM SAN64B-6 48x32Gbps SFP+ 4xQSFP FC Switch

Product overview

Featuring

Compatible systems

Best for

Frequently asked questions

Details

Shipping, warranty & returns

Customer reviews

Storage

Power Consumption

Physical Characteristics

Environmental

Interface/Ports