HPE SN6700B 64Gb 24-Port Short Wave SFP28 Integrated Fibre Channel Switch

The HPE SN6700B Fibre Channel Switch is a high-density SAN backbone crafted for modern data centers, cloud-scale infrastructures, and rapidly expanding storage environments. Built to power demanding applications and solid-state storage architectures, this switch delivers unmatched throughput and ultra-low latency across 64Gb links, enabling hyper-scale virtualization, large cloud deployments, and intensive storage workflows to run with confidence. With 24 ports of 32Gb Short Wave SFP28, the SN6700B provides a compact yet scalable solution designed to support dense storage arrays, fast data access, and enterprise-grade reliability in dynamic data center ecosystems.

• Impressive performance and efficiency: The SN6700B leverages 64Gb Fibre Channel technology to provide high-bandwidth fabric performance across the SAN. This enables rapid data movement between servers, storage controllers, and NVMe-based storage devices, dramatically reducing I/O wait times and speeding up backup, replication, and mission-critical workloads. Even under heavy IOPS pressure, the switch maintains low latency, helping applications sustain consistent response times and predictable performance. This combination of high throughput and low latency makes it ideal for mission-critical databases, large-scale virtualization clusters, and data-intensive analytics pipelines.
• Dense, scalable 24-port design with SFP28 optics: The SN6700B concentrates 24 ports of 32Gb Short Wave SFP28 into a compact form factor, providing a scalable footprint for growing SAN fabrics in space-constrained data centers. SFP28 optics enable compact cabling architectures, simplify fiber runs, and support flexible deployments from rack-level solutions to dense blade and hyper-converged environments. The 32Gb speed of each port ensures efficient bandwidth utilization for mixed workloads, including large file transfers, streaming data, and database replication across multiple storage targets.
• Optimized for hyper-scale virtualization and cloud-scale storage: This switch is purpose-built to integrate with modern virtualization platforms and cloud infrastructures, delivering the reliability and deterministic performance required for multi-tenant environments. The SN6700B supports scalable fabrics that can grow with your data footprint, enabling seamless expansion as workloads evolve. Its architecture is designed to minimize contention and to provide predictable I/O performance for virtual machines, containers, and software-defined storage solutions, ensuring smooth operation of clustered databases, analytics workloads, and data services at scale.
• Resilient fabric with robust management and security features: In data centers that demand continuous availability, the SN6700B offers features that ensure fabric resilience, including redundant paths, hot-swappable components, and streamlined fault isolation. Management capabilities simplify day-to-day operations, firmware updates, and fabric provisioning, while built-in security controls protect data in transit and prevent unauthorized access to the switch or network fabric. The result is a dependable SAN solution that supports business continuity, disaster recovery, and strict compliance requirements across enterprise deployments.
• Seamless integration with enterprise storage ecosystems: The HPE SN6700B is designed to integrate smoothly with existing storage arrays, virtualized storage pools, and backup targets. Its compatibility with prevalent Fibre Channel standards and multi-vendor storage environments helps maximize the value of current investments while providing a forward-looking path for future upgrades. IT teams can architect flexible SAN fabrics, perform non-disruptive fabric expansions, and optimize data flows between hosts, storage controllers, and NVMe-based devices, all while maintaining centralized control and consistent service levels.

Technical Details of HPE SN6700B 64Gb 24-Port Short Wave SFP28 Integrated Fibre Channel Switch

• Product family: HPE B-series SN6700B Fibre Channel Switch
• Port configuration: 24 x 32Gb Short Wave SFP28 Fibre Channel ports
• Interface speed: 64Gb Fibre Channel per link capability
• Fabric type: Fibre Channel SAN switch designed for high-density data center fabrics
• Performance characteristics: High-throughput, low-latency fabric optimized for storage networks and NVMe-over-Fibre Channel workloads
• Power and resilience: Redundant, hot-swappable components and fault-tolerant architecture to minimize single points of failure
• Management model: Centralized fabric management with integrated provisioning, monitoring, and health checks
• Security posture: Data-in-transit protection and access controls aligned with enterprise SAN requirements

how to install HPE SN6700B 64Gb 24-Port Short Wave SFP28 Integrated Fibre Channel Switch

• Plan your topology: Assess your current SAN layout, hosts, storage targets, and required redundancy. Determine fabric zoning strategies and path policies to optimize performance and resilience across the switch fabric.
• Prepare the hardware: If installing in a rack, ensure proper air flow, rack space, and power connections. Verify that replacement components and any required hot-swappable parts are accessible and within warranty coverage.
• Install in the chassis: Mount the SN6700B into the appropriate rack space or chassis slot, connect power supplies, and verify power-on indicators are active. Ensure the device is physically secure and properly cabled to hosts and storage devices.
• Connect fiber optics: Run 32Gb Short Wave SFP28 cables from the switch ports to storage arrays and host HBAs. Use proper fiber types and lengths, and verify connections with link status indicators on the ports to confirm healthy links.
• Establish management access: Connect to the switch’s management interface through the console or management VLAN. Access the management CLI or GUI, configure IP addresses, and set up secure access credentials for ongoing administration.
• Configure fabric and policies: Define zones, VPUs, and preferred path policies. Configure QoS where needed to prioritize storage traffic, enable any required security controls, and apply firmware versions recommended by HPE for your hardware revision.
• Perform validation and monitoring: Validate fabric connectivity, test failover scenarios, and monitor port utilization and latency. Schedule firmware updates and baseline performance checks to ensure the fabric remains in a healthy state as workloads evolve.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the HPE SN6700B used for? A Fibre Channel switch designed to build high-performance SAN fabrics for data centers, enabling fast, reliable storage connectivity for servers, storage arrays, and NVMe-based storage systems.
• Q: How many ports does the SN6700B have and what speeds are supported? A: The SN6700B features 24 ports of 32Gb Short Wave SFP28, supporting 64Gb Fibre Channel link speeds for high-throughput storage networking. The configuration is optimized for dense SAN deployments with low latency access to storage targets.
• Q: Is this switch suitable for hyper-scale virtualization? A: Yes. Its architecture is designed to support large-scale virtualization and cloud-scale storage workloads, delivering predictable performance and scalable fabric growth to accommodate increasing virtual machines and storage demands.
• Q: Can I integrate the SN6700B with existing SANs from other vendors? A: The SN6700B is built for interoperability within Fibre Channel SAN ecosystems. It works with standard Fibre Channel protocols and can be incorporated into multi-vendor storage fabrics, provided the devices adhere to common FC standards and zoning policies.
• Q: What about management and security? A: The switch includes centralized fabric management, monitoring, and security controls to safeguard data in transit and regulate access to the SAN fabric. Regular firmware updates and secure administration practices are recommended to maintain a robust security posture.
• Q: How do I plan for scalability? A: Start with a well-designed topology and zoning strategy, then plan for incremental growth by adding switches or expanding bandwidth as storage needs rise. The SN6700B is designed to scale with your data center, allowing you to extend SAN fabrics without disruptive migrations.