IBM 88Y6413 QLogic 20 x Ports 8Gb/s Intelligent Pass-Thru Module

Product Description

The IBM 88Y6413 module is an Intelligent Pass-Thru designed by QLogic for integration into IBM BladeCenter chassis. Unlike a switch, a pass-thru module forwards traffic directly between the blade servers and the external network or SAN infrastructure without performing any switching operations. This module offers 20 ports operating at 8Gb/s, providing high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity for each blade server to connect to its designated external network fabric. The 'Intelligent' aspect of this pass-thru typically refers to enhanced management capabilities or features that simplify configuration and monitoring compared to a basic pass-thru. It allows administrators to manage the connectivity from the blade server ports directly to the external infrastructure, often providing visibility and control over the connections without the complexity of a full switch. This is particularly useful in environments where external SAN switches or network switches handle all the fabric intelligence and routing. By utilizing the IBM 88Y6413, organizations can achieve a simplified network topology, reducing potential points of failure and management overhead within the blade chassis itself. It ensures that each blade server has dedicated, high-speed access to the external network or storage, making it suitable for environments that require direct, unswitched connectivity for specific applications or network designs. The 8Gb/s speed ensures ample bandwidth for demanding workloads.