Cisco QLogic QLE2562 Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter

CiscoSKU: 10268072

Price:
Sale price$2,109.58

Description

Cisco QLogic QLE2562 Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter

The Cisco QLogic QLE2562 Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter is a rugged, enterprise-class solution designed to power today’s storage area networks with speed, reliability, and scalability. A dual-port, PCI Express FC HBA, the QLE2562 is built to meet the demanding needs of data centers, databases, virtualization hosts, and backup environments. With 8Gbps Fibre Channel per port and robust features such as NPIV support, fabric zoning, and strong fault tolerance, this adapter delivers consistent performance for mission-critical workloads while simplifying SAN deployments and maintenance.

  • Dual-port 8Gb Fibre Channel per port for high-throughput storage — Each port delivers up to 8Gbps in full-duplex mode, enabling fast data transfers, low I/O latency, and the ability to handle large-scale databases, virtual machines, and backups with ease. The dual-port design also supports active-active fabrics for load balancing and improved fault tolerance, helping to minimize downtime in busy data centers.
  • PCI Express interface for scalable bandwidth — The QLE2562 uses a PCI Express interface (Gen 2 x4) to connect the host server to storage networks, maximizing bandwidth between the host bus adapter and the server CPU. This design reduces bottlenecks, improves I/O responsiveness, and supports higher queue depths essential for virtualized environments and analytics workloads.
  • Advanced SAN features for reliability and virtualization — With NPIV support, zoning, and hardware-accelerated FC protocol handling, the QLE2562 enables virtualization-ready storage networks. NPIV allows multiple virtual HBAs to exist on a single physical adapter, simplifying VM-scale storage access while preserving isolation and security. Zoning and fabric management features help enforce access policies, improve data integrity, and streamline SAN administration.
  • Broad compatibility and enterprise-grade management — The QLE2562 is designed to work across a wide range of server platforms, operating systems, and SAN switches. It supports common enterprise OSes (Windows, Linux, VMware ESXi, and more) with vendor-supplied drivers and management utilities, ensuring straightforward deployment, ongoing health monitoring, and seamless firmware updates as part of your storage lifecycle.
  • Designed for data center resilience and efficiency — This FC HBA is built to withstand the rigors of 24/7 operation. It includes robust error handling, efficient queue management, and compatibility with redundant fabrics and failure domains. The result is improved uptime, predictable latency, and consistent performance that data centers rely on for mission-critical workloads, including OLTP databases, large-scale virtualization, and disaster recovery solutions.

Technical Details of Cisco QLogic QLE2562 Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter

  • Interface: PCI Express (PCIe) Gen 2 with x4 lanes for high-throughput host connectivity.
  • Ports: Dual 8Gb Fibre Channel ports for active-active operation, multipath I/O, and enhanced redundancy.
  • Fibre Channel speed: 8 Gbps per port, full-duplex, suitable for demanding SAN environments and large data transfers.
  • Performance and efficiency: Hardware-accelerated FC protocol processing with large onboard buffers to optimize queue depth and reduce host CPU overhead during intensive I/O operations.
  • Virtualization and management: NPIV support enabling multiple virtual HBAs, along with integration with standard SAN management tools and operating system drivers for streamlined deployment and ongoing administration.
  • Compatibility: Broad OS and hypervisor support, including Windows Server, major Linux distributions, and VMware ESXi, with vendor-provided drivers and ongoing firmware updates to maintain compatibility with evolving SAN fabrics.

How to install Cisco QLogic QLE2562 Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter

Installing the QLE2562 is a straightforward process that fits most standard server configurations. Follow these general steps to add the adapter to your system and connect to your SAN fabric:

Step 1: Power down the server and unplug it from the power source. Open the server chassis and locate an available PCIe slot that matches the adapter’s form factor.

Step 2: Remove the slot cover bracket and prepare the PCIe slot for the new card. Carefully align the QLE2562 with the slot and firmly press until it seats completely. Secure the card with the screw to the chassis to prevent movement during operation.

Step 3: Attach the Fibre Channel cables to the dual ports on the adapter. Route the cables to your SAN switches or storage fabric, ensuring proper fiber or copper connections as required by your environment and the optics in use.

Step 4: Reassemble the server chassis, reconnect power, and boot the system. Enter the operating system and verify that the server recognizes the new hardware. The device should appear in the hardware or PCIe configuration area of the OS.

Step 5: Install the required drivers and management utilities from Cisco/QLogic or the operating system vendor. This includes firmware updates if available and any fabric-provisioning tools needed to discover and register the adapter with your SAN.

Step 6: Configure the adapter within the SAN fabric. Create zoning policies, assign World Wide Names (WWNs) if necessary, and set up any NPIV configurations if you plan to host virtual HBAs. Validate path status and ensure multipath I/O (MPIO) is working for reliable failover and load balancing.

Step 7: Perform baseline validation. Run short I/O tests, verify redundancy under simulated path failures, and confirm that data paths are stable and performing as expected. Monitor the adapter’s health using the vendor tools and your SAN management software.

Step 8: Implement firmware and driver maintenance practices. Schedule regular firmware updates and driver refresh cycles in line with your change management process to preserve performance, fix known issues, and maintain compatibility with evolving SAN infrastructure.

Frequently asked questions

  • Q: What is the primary use of the Cisco QLogic QLE2562? A: It is a dual-port Fibre Channel host bus adapter designed to connect servers to SAN storage with high reliability, low latency, and scalability for enterprise data centers, databases, virtualization hosts, and backup systems.
  • Q: What speeds does it support? A: Each port supports 8 Gbps Fibre Channel, with full-duplex operation. The card provides dual-port connectivity for improved throughput and redundancy.
  • Q: Does it support NPIV? A: Yes. NPIV enables multiple virtual HBAs to be created on a single physical adapter, which is beneficial for virtualization environments and efficient resource utilization in the storage fabric.
  • Q: Which operating systems and hypervisors are supported? A: The QLE2562 is designed for broad compatibility, including Windows Server, major Linux distributions, and VMware ESXi, with driver and management tool support from Cisco/QLogic and the OS vendors.
  • Q: How do I maintain and update the adapter? A: Use the vendor’s driver packages and firmware updates, and apply them through standard OS update mechanisms or dedicated QLogic management utilities. Regularly check for new firmware to improve performance and reliability and follow your organization’s change-control procedures when applying updates.

Customer reviews

(0)

0 Out of 5 Stars


5 Stars
0
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Star
0


Showing - Of Reviews


You may also like

Recently viewed