Brocade 4920 Fibre Channel switch BR-4920-0001-A Data Sheet
Product codes
BR-4920-0001-A
The Brocade 4900 utilizes Brocade fifth-
generation ASIC technology featuring eight
8-port groups. As a result, an Inter-Switch
Link (ISL) trunk can have up to eight ports
supplying as much as 32 Gbit/sec of data
throughput. In addition to reducing congestion
between switches and providing greater
total bandwidth, enhanced ISL Trunking
utilizes ISLs more efficiently to free up the
number of usable switch ports (see Figure 1).
generation ASIC technology featuring eight
8-port groups. As a result, an Inter-Switch
Link (ISL) trunk can have up to eight ports
supplying as much as 32 Gbit/sec of data
throughput. In addition to reducing congestion
between switches and providing greater
total bandwidth, enhanced ISL Trunking
utilizes ISLs more efficiently to free up the
number of usable switch ports (see Figure 1).
Flexible SAN deployment advantages
include the following:
include the following:
• A high-port-count, high-availability switch
is an ideal SAN core solution when
requirements include limiting the cost
and complexity of the SAN.
requirements include limiting the cost
and complexity of the SAN.
• Enterprise-class SANs built with a core-to-
edge topology feature highly redundant
configurations requiring the use of
many ports for ISLs to provide a failover
capability. The Brocade 4900 provides
more usable ports in a large core-to-edge
design by requiring fewer switches overall,
and thus fewer ports dedicated to ISLs.
configurations requiring the use of
many ports for ISLs to provide a failover
capability. The Brocade 4900 provides
more usable ports in a large core-to-edge
design by requiring fewer switches overall,
and thus fewer ports dedicated to ISLs.
ENtERPRisE-ClAss AVAilABilitY
FOR BUsiNEss CONtiNUANCE
With enterprise-class availability features
such as hot-swappable redundant fans and
power supplies, the Brocade 4900 provides
a reliable foundation for disaster recovery
and business continuance. Moreover, hot
code activation helps maximize application
uptime with faster system upgrades and
maintenance that reduce the dependency
on scheduled outages. Combined with
a wide range of Brocade diagnostic and
monitoring functions, these capabilities help
provide a high-availability SAN environment.
such as hot-swappable redundant fans and
power supplies, the Brocade 4900 provides
a reliable foundation for disaster recovery
and business continuance. Moreover, hot
code activation helps maximize application
uptime with faster system upgrades and
maintenance that reduce the dependency
on scheduled outages. Combined with
a wide range of Brocade diagnostic and
monitoring functions, these capabilities help
provide a high-availability SAN environment.
To support disaster recovery and business
continuance operations, the Brocade 4900
enables connectivity distances up to 500
kilometers at 1 Gbit/sec and 100 kilometers
at 4 Gbit/sec. This capability facilitates the
deployment of high-performance, long-
distance SAN solutions such as data center
consolidation and disaster recovery.
continuance operations, the Brocade 4900
enables connectivity distances up to 500
kilometers at 1 Gbit/sec and 100 kilometers
at 4 Gbit/sec. This capability facilitates the
deployment of high-performance, long-
distance SAN solutions such as data center
consolidation and disaster recovery.
HigH sCAlABilitY WitH
PORts ON DEMAND
Delivering up to 64 ports in a single domain,
the Brocade 4900 combines the cost-
effectiveness of a switch designed for
high-port-count requirements with highly
scalable Ports on Demand capabilities. It
comes with a minimum of 32 ports enabled,
and organizations can easily expand the
number of ports to 48 or 64 by activating
a license as their requirements change.
Because the Brocade 4900 is easily
upgradable, it extends the Brocade modular
“pay-as-you-grow” approach to support
cost-effective business growth.
the Brocade 4900 combines the cost-
effectiveness of a switch designed for
high-port-count requirements with highly
scalable Ports on Demand capabilities. It
comes with a minimum of 32 ports enabled,
and organizations can easily expand the
number of ports to 48 or 64 by activating
a license as their requirements change.
Because the Brocade 4900 is easily
upgradable, it extends the Brocade modular
“pay-as-you-grow” approach to support
cost-effective business growth.
sUPERiOR ROi AND
iNVEstMENt PROtECtiON
The Brocade 4900 combines strategic
performance, availability, and scalability
advantages with investment protection for
existing SAN environments. For instance,
auto-sensing capabilities for 1, 2, and
4 Gbit/sec ports enable rapid implementation
in existing SAN environments—reducing both
deployment cost and complexity.
performance, availability, and scalability
advantages with investment protection for
existing SAN environments. For instance,
auto-sensing capabilities for 1, 2, and
4 Gbit/sec ports enable rapid implementation
in existing SAN environments—reducing both
deployment cost and complexity.
The Brocade 4900 utilizes the same Brocade
Fabric oS
Fabric oS
®
code stream that supports the
Brocade product line—from the base
8-port Brocade 200E to the 384-port
Brocade 48000. This helps ensure full
forward and backward compatibility among
Brocade switches while simplifying software
maintenance and field upgrades. As a result,
the Brocade 4900 enables organizations to
better leverage their current training, tools,
devices, and processes.
8-port Brocade 200E to the 384-port
Brocade 48000. This helps ensure full
forward and backward compatibility among
Brocade switches while simplifying software
maintenance and field upgrades. As a result,
the Brocade 4900 enables organizations to
better leverage their current training, tools,
devices, and processes.
OPEN sAN MANAgEMENt
By networking Fibre Channel switches such
as the Brocade 4900 under a common
platform, Fabric OS greatly simplifies SAN
management. An embedded real-time
operating system, Fabric oS includes
standard management interfaces, a full
range of management tools, and support for
third-party SAN management applications.
as the Brocade 4900 under a common
platform, Fabric OS greatly simplifies SAN
management. An embedded real-time
operating system, Fabric oS includes
standard management interfaces, a full
range of management tools, and support for
third-party SAN management applications.