HPE SN6700B 64Gb Short Wave Fibre Channel Switch – 24-Port / 56-Port 1U FC Fabric

Designed for enterprise data centers and growing SAN environments, the HPE SN6700B 64Gb Short Wave Fibre Channel Switch delivers exceptional performance, density, and manageability. Built to support rapid data access, this switch combines high-throughput 64 Gbit/s Fibre Channel connectivity with flexible optics (SFP56 and SFP+) in a compact 1U form factor. The port-side intake design enhances airflow within dense racks, helping to maintain peak performance under heavy I/O workloads. Whether consolidating multiple SAN fabrics, enabling large-scale virtualization, or streaming bandwidth-intensive workloads, the SN6700B is engineered to provide a reliable, scalable backbone for storage networks. Its robust management capabilities simplify provisioning, monitoring, and fabric administration, so IT teams can focus on delivering services and applications with consistent, predictable performance.

• 56 Fibre Channel ports delivering up to 64 Gbit/s per port for fast, scalable access to storage arrays and servers.
• Flexible optics support with SFP56 and SFP+ compatibility, enabling cost-efficient, future-proof fibre connectivity.
• 1U rack-mountable enclosure with 56.0 x Total Expansion Slots, designed for dense data-center deployments and scalable fabrics.
• Dense topography featuring 48 x SFP+ slots to accommodate high-performance server connections and rapid expansion of storage pathways.
• Manageable enterprise-grade switch with centralized management for provisioning, zoning, and fabric monitoring.

Technical Details of HPE SN6700B 64Gb Short Wave Fibre Channel Switch

• Ports: 56 Fibre Channel ports
• Data Throughput: 64 Gbit/s per port
• Expansion Slots: 56.0 x Total Expansion Slots
• Interface Types: SFP56, SFP+
• SFP+ Slots: 48 x SFP+ slots
• Form Factor: 1U Rack-mountable
• Port Side Intake: Integrated design for improved airflow in port-side configurations
• Manageability: Manageable

How to Install HPE SN6700B

Preparing for installation begins with confirming rack compatibility and ensuring your data center environment meets the SN6700B’s power, cooling, and cabling requirements. The SN6700B is a 1U, rack-mountable switch purpose-built for dense SAN deployments, so start by identifying an appropriate 19-inch rack location with adequate clearance and stable footing. Before you begin, gather the required SFP56 and SFP+ optics and fibre cables compatible with your uplinks and storage targets.

Step-by-step installation guidance:

• Power down procedures and safety: Ensure proper grounding and verify that your rack and power distribution units (PDUs) are rated to support the switch's power requirements. Follow your data center’s safety guidelines during installation.
• Rack mounting: Install the SN6700B into a suitable 1U rack bay. Use the provided mounting brackets or rails if included, ensuring the switch is securely fastened to prevent vibration and vibration-induced wear during operation.
• Cabling and port layout planning: Plan fibre connections to minimize cable tension and maintain clear airflow. Route SFP56/SFP+ cables neatly to reduce interference and facilitate future reconfigurations.
• Optic and fibre connections: Install SFP56 and SFP+ transceivers according to your fabric design. Connect 56 Fibre Channel ports to storage arrays and servers as required by your SAN architecture, and utilize the 48 SFP+ slots for additional server uplinks or expansion paths.
• Initial configuration: Power on the switch and access the management interface to configure basic settings such as IP address, name, and credentials. Establish fabric zoning and time synchronization as needed, then perform a health check to verify link status, port health, and traffic flow.
• Fabric integration: Integrate the SN6700B into your existing SAN fabric, align zoning with host and storage policies, and validate performance with controlled workloads to ensure the switch operates within expected latency and throughput parameters.
• Monitoring and maintenance: Enable proactive monitoring, set up alerts for port errors or temperature thresholds, and create backup configurations for disaster recovery planning. Schedule firmware updates and maintenance windows to keep the fabric secure and up to date.

Tip: Document your topology and port mappings during deployment. Clear records help network administrators troubleshoot issues quickly and ensure that storage paths remain optimized as your SAN evolves. The SN6700B’s manageability features support routine maintenance tasks, policy enforcement, and continuous fabric health checks, making it a solid foundation for modern data centers that rely on low-latency, high-throughput storage networks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the HPE SN6700B best used for?

The HPE SN6700B is designed as a high-performance Fibre Channel switch for enterprise SANs. It provides dense fiber channel connectivity, supports high-throughput 64 Gbit/s fabric links, and offers flexible optics (SFP56 and SFP+) to accommodate a wide range of storage targets, servers, and virtualization workloads. It is well-suited for consolidating SAN fabrics, enabling scalable storage networking, and delivering predictable latency in data-intensive environments.

How many ports does the SN6700B have and what speeds does it support?

The SN6700B features 56 Fibre Channel ports capable of 64 Gbit/s per port. It also includes 48 SFP+ slots to support additional high-speed connections, while optics compatibility with SFP56 and SFP+ enables flexible deployment options across storage and server interfaces.

What form factor and installation considerations should I know?

The SN6700B is a 1U rack-mountable switch designed for dense data-center racks. When installing, ensure proper airflow around the port-side intake design to maintain cooling efficiency, plan cable management to minimize strain on connectors, and verify compatibility with your existing SAN fabrics. Always follow proper electrical safety procedures and refer to the product’s installation guide for detailed rack-mount and cabling instructions.

Is the SN6700B manageable, and what management capabilities does it offer?

Yes. The SN6700B is an enterprise-grade, manageable switch with centralized management capabilities. It supports standard FC management features for provisioning, zoning, fabric monitoring, and performance reporting, enabling IT teams to configure, monitor, and optimize the SAN fabric efficiently from a single interface or via integrated management tools.

What deployment scenarios benefit most from the SN6700B?

Typical deployments include large-scale storage-area networks in data centers, environments requiring rapid backup and recovery with high bandwidth, virtualization-heavy workloads with demanding storage I/O, and organizations consolidating multiple SAN fabrics into a unified, easier-to-manage fabric. The SN6700B’s 64 Gbit/s per-port speed, dense port count, and flexible optics make it a strong choice for modern storage architectures looking to scale gracefully.