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HP AE821A Brocade B-Series 8/24c BladeSystem SAN Switch
- Product Type: SAN Switch
- Brand: HP (Brocade B-Series)
- Model: 8/24c BladeSystem SAN Switch
- Connectivity: Fibre Channel
- Designed for HP BladeSystem enclosures.
- Provides 8 internal ports for blade servers.
- Offers 24 external ports for SAN connectivity (configurable).
- Enables high-speed, reliable storage access for multiple servers.
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Product Overview
The HP AE821A is a Brocade B-Series 8/24c BladeSystem SAN Switch. It is designed to provide high-performance Fibre Channel connectivity for blade servers within HP's BladeSystem environment. This switch enables efficient storage area network (SAN) access for multiple blade servers.
Technical Information
| Product Type | SAN Switch |
| Brand | HP / Brocade |
| Series | B-Series |
| Model | 8/24c BladeSystem SAN Switch |
Additional Specifications
| SKU | AE821A |
| Internal Ports | 8 x Fibre Channel (for blade servers) |
| External Ports | 24 x Fibre Channel (configurable) |
| Form Factor | BladeSystem Module |
Product Description
The HP AE821A is a specialized Storage Area Network (SAN) switch designed specifically for integration into HP's BladeSystem infrastructure. Manufactured by Brocade, a leader in SAN technology, this switch leverages the B-Series architecture to deliver robust and high-performance Fibre Channel connectivity. Its primary function is to bridge the gap between blade servers housed within the BladeSystem enclosure and the external storage resources available on the SAN. The '8/24c' designation indicates its port configuration: it provides 8 internal Fibre Channel ports that connect directly to the backplane of the BladeSystem, allowing each installed blade server to access the SAN. Additionally, it offers 24 external Fibre Channel ports, which are used to connect the switch to the broader SAN fabric, including storage arrays and other SAN switches. This high port density allows a single switch module to serve a significant number of blade servers, consolidating network connections and simplifying management. By utilizing Fibre Channel technology, the AE821A ensures high-speed, low-latency, and reliable data transfers between servers and storage. This is critical for demanding applications such as databases, virtualization platforms, and high-performance computing environments where storage I/O is a key performance factor. The integration within the BladeSystem simplifies cabling and management, offering a streamlined approach to SAN connectivity for HP's modular server solutions.
