HP 254456-B21 StorageWorks FCA2257P 2GB/s 64-Bit 66-MHz PCI-X Fiber Channel HBA for Solaris

Product Description

The HP 254456-B21, identified as a StorageWorks FCA2257P, is a high-performance Fiber Channel Host Bus Adapter (HBA) engineered to facilitate robust connectivity between servers and Storage Area Networks (SANs). This adapter operates at a speed of 2 Gigabits per second (Gb/s), providing a substantial bandwidth for data transfer to and from enterprise-grade storage systems. The interface used is PCI-X, specifically a 64-bit version, which offers superior throughput compared to standard PCI, ensuring that the HBA can keep pace with the demands of modern SAN environments. This makes it suitable for applications requiring fast and reliable access to shared storage resources. A key characteristic of the HP 254456-B21 is its specific optimization and support for the Solaris operating system. This targeted design ensures seamless integration and optimal performance within Solaris-based server environments, which are often found in mission-critical enterprise deployments. The HBA features a single Fibre Channel port, adhering to the industry-standard Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP), which is the backbone of most SANs. This single-port design is often chosen for its cost-effectiveness and suitability for servers that may not require redundant SAN connectivity or where redundancy is handled at other layers. The Low Profile (LP) form factor of this HBA allows it to be installed in a wider range of server chassis, including those with limited internal space, such as 1U or 2U rack-mount servers. The HP 254456-B21 is built for reliability and is a crucial component for environments that depend on high-speed, stable access to centralized storage, such as database servers, application servers, and virtualization hosts running on Solaris. Its purpose is to bridge the gap between the server's processing capabilities and the storage system's capacity and performance, ensuring efficient data management.