HPE SN6720C 64Gb 48/48 Short Wave SFP+ Fibre Channel v2 Switch

Experience enterprise-grade storage networking with the HPE SN6720C 64Gb 48/48 Short Wave SFP+ Fibre Channel v2 Switch. This high-performance Fibre Channel switch is engineered for all-flash arrays and virtualized workloads, delivering consistent 64 Gbps per-port performance (with configuration options for 32 Gbps) across every FC port. Built to handle dense data center fabrics, the SN6720C unlocks fast, predictable access to mission-critical storage, enabling seamless data mobility, rapid migration of virtualized workloads, and scalable growth as your storage needs evolve. With an aggregate bandwidth of up to 3 Tbps, this switch provides headroom for traffic spikes, high IOPS, and ultra-low latency in demanding environments, ensuring your data center stays responsive under load.

• Consistent per-port performance: Each Fibre Channel port on the SN6720C delivers 64 Gbps (with an option for 32 Gbps in certain configurations), ensuring uniform, low-latency access across the entire fabric and simplifying QoS and performance planning for all-flash arrays and virtualized workloads.
• Massive aggregate bandwidth: An impressive up-to-3 Tbps aggregate fabric bandwidth enables dense storage fabrics, large-scale virtualization, and rapid data movement within SANs, even as capacity and workloads grow.
• 48-port Short Wave SFP+ design: 48 Fibre Channel ports built on Short Wave SFP+ technology provide high-speed, scalable connectivity to storage arrays and switches, optimizing data center footprint and cabling complexity.
• Optimized for all-flash and virtualized environments: Engineered to maximize performance for modern storage architectures, including all-flash arrays, server virtualization, and dynamic workload consolidation in enterprise data centers.
• Resilient and scalable fabric: The v2 switch architecture is designed to support growing SAN fabrics with reliable performance, flexible zoning and fabric services, and straightforward administration for IT teams managing large storage networks.

Technical Details of HPE SN6720C 64Gb 48/48 Short Wave SFP+ Fibre Channel v2 Switch

• Port configuration: 48 Fibre Channel ports designed for high-density SAN fabrics.
• Per-port speed: 64 Gbps per port, with support for 32 Gbps in compatible configurations.
• Aggregate bandwidth: Up to 3 Tbps, enabling fast data transfers across large storage fabrics.
• Transceiver type: Short Wave SFP+ Fibre Channel modules enabling high-speed connectivity and flexible cabling.
• Switch family: v2 architecture, tailored for modern storage networks and all-flash arrays.
• Primary use cases: All-flash arrays, virtualized workloads, and data-center SAN fabrics requiring low latency and predictable performance.
• Security and zoning: Built to support standard Fibre Channel fabric provisioning and zoning approaches for controlled access and data isolation.
• Form factor and deployment: Designed for rack-mount deployment in enterprise data centers with consideration for cable management and modular expansion.

how to install HPE SN6720C

Installing the HPE SN6720C Fibre Channel switch is straightforward for data centers upgrading or expanding their SAN fabric. Begin by locating a suitable 19-inch rack with adequate ventilation and clearance for cable routing and future expansion. Mount the SN6720C securely in the rack using the provided rails, ensuring that seismically secure installation practices are followed as per data center standards. Verify that the power sources meet the switch’s requirements and that power redundancy options are in place if your environment supports high-availability fabric designs.

Connect the switch to the storage fabric using 64 Gbps Short Wave SFP+ fibre cables. Attach the appropriate transceivers to each port, ensuring that the cabling is consistent with your storage arrays and adjacent switches. After cabling, connect the management interface (or out-of-band management port) to a management network that IT staff can reach for initial configuration. Power on the device and verify that all fans and LEDs indicate normal operation, with no faults on power supplies or management interfaces.

Proceed with initial configuration by logging into the switch’s management console. Set a stable management IP address, subnet mask, gateway, and administrative credentials. Configure fabric parameters such as fabric zoning, name server entries, and any required domain or alias information to align with your existing SAN. If you are integrating with an existing HPE storage ecosystem, reference your documented zoning policies and storage policies to ensure seamless data access for hosts and storage systems.

Conduct a dry run to validate connectivity: verify that hosts can discover storage targets across the fabric, check that I/O paths are correctly established, and confirm that failover paths function as intended. Monitor latency, throughput, and error counters to detect any misconfigurations or cabling issues early. Finally, implement standard monitoring and alerting for the switch through its management interface or your centralized network management system so you can respond rapidly to fabric events and performance deviations.

For ongoing operation, implement regular firmware updates, review zoning and masking policies, and perform periodic fabric health checks. Consider integrating fabric-aware QoS policies to prioritize latency-sensitive storage traffic, particularly for virtualized workloads and databases. Maintain clear change-control records for SAN upgrades and be prepared with validated backup and recovery plans should you need to remediate any fabric-related issues.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the HPE SN6720C designed for? It is a Fibre Channel switch optimized for all-flash storage arrays and virtualized workloads, delivering high, consistent performance across the fabric and supporting scalable SAN architectures.
• What per-port speeds does it support? The SN6720C delivers 64 Gbps per Fibre Channel port, with configurations available to support 32 Gbps per port as needed for compatibility with mixed legacy environments.
• How many ports are available on this switch? It features 48 Fibre Channel ports to connect storage arrays, servers, and other SAN switches within the fabric.
• What is the aggregate fabric bandwidth? The switch provides up to approximately 3 Tbps of aggregate bandwidth, enabling rapid data movement and low-latency I/O across the SAN.
• What environments is it best suited for? It is well-suited for all-flash array deployments, virtualized workloads, and dense data center SAN fabrics that demand predictable latency and scalable growth.
• How should I install and manage it? Install in a standard 19-inch rack with proper ventilation, connect 64 Gbps Short Wave SFP+ transceivers, configure management access, and implement fabric zoning and QoS policies to optimize performance and reliability.