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 Stacking
 

What Is Stacking?

Next-Generation SANs for Today’s Infrastructure

Stackable switches, long familiar to Ethernet users, were introduced for Fibre Channel by QLogic in 2003. Stacking reduces complexity and cuts costs by providing a stable, highly-expandable transport for aggregate ISL traffic – eliminating the disruption, port waste and management hassles associated with using device ports as ISLs.

  

True Backbone Value

In a stackable architecture, each switch features dedicated ports for inter-switch links (ISLs) – that is, for connecting to other switches. These ports run at a much higher bandwidth than the regular data/device ports, and therefore require far fewer connections to achieve specific bandwidth goals.

Need more server or storage ports? Simply add another switch to the stack – no need to move existing cables or to disrupt devices. It’s like having the performance and hands-off convenience of an expensive chassis switch, without the cost overhead of a chassis!

  

Affordable Now – Big Savings Later
  • Low initial cost – Out of the box, dual-speed SANbox 5000 products provide superior performance at a price-per-port competitive with single-speed, non-stacking edge switches.

  • Reduced expansion costs – Multi-switch SANbox networks require up to 50% fewer switches to achieve the same device port counts. And since each stacking port matches the throughput of three device ports, SANbox ISL connections are far less expensive per unit of bandwidth. For instance, a single 20Gb connection (25.5 Gbps actual bandwidth) saves six 8Gb device ports for devices – and eliminates the need for six expensive 8Gb SFPs. Stacking has never made more sense from a budget versus performance perspective!

  • Longer product and topology lifespan – Other vendors force customers to take a non-linear “rip and replace” approach to SAN growth, offering a limited solution at the low end, followed by a radically different (and much more expensive) architecture as the installation matures. QLogic’s modular ISL backbone helps customers pace investments and deployment activities predictably over time, with fewer wrong turns and reversals – even when corporate strategies and directions change.

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 Bandwidth_on_Demand
 

20Gb Bandwidth on Demand

More bandwidth per $ than any other ISL method!

QLogic, the original pioneer of 10Gb Fibre Channel, now leads the market to new levels of performance with the introduction of 20Gb stacking ports on SANbox 5802V switches.

20Gb gives customers a perfectly-matched inter-switch-link (ISL) backbone to accommodate the increased bandwidth needs of 8Gb devices. IT managers can plan to achieve the full benefits of advanced multi-core server technologies, knowing they have all the necessary network headroom to connect current or future virtualized server/storage ports or bandwidth-hungry applications such as rich media.


  

Unlock the potential of your SAN – at your pace!

20Gb is available as an easy-to-activate license option on the SANbox 5802V. It does not need to be purchased initially and may be applied non-disruptively whenever SAN traffic patterns dictate. Whether you turn on the extra speed now or choose to wait until your device port bandwidth requirements increase, 20Gb provides maximum hardware investment protection and performance insurance, guaranteeing your SANbox solution will continue to handle known and unknown business challenges far into the future.

20Gb FAQs

Is 20Gb Fibre Channel proprietary? No. T11-endorsed 20Gb Fibre Channel is simply an extension of the 10Gb Fibre Channel standard using the same physical layer.
Does 20Gb require new cabling infrastructure?
No. 20Gb Fibre Channel runs on the same XPAK media as 10Gb. You won’t have to touch a cable or change your topology when you upgrade. Activating your 20Gb ISL fabric is like getting an entirely new SAN with the click of a mouse!  
Is 20Gb interoperable with 10Gb? 20Gb Fibre Channel is 100% interoperable with 10Gb. Customers can mix and match 20Gb and 10Gb ports of any SANbox generation within the same stack at any time. The 20Gb ports auto-negotiate back to 10Gb for those connections that require it – always enabling the highest possible data rate.
Do I have to upgrade my entire fabric at the same time?

No. The 20Gb license is applied on a per-switch basis – all four XPAK ports being upgraded with a single key.

This feature lets customers choose whether to activate 20Gb on all or just some of their SANbox 5802V switches in the early stages of 8Gb migration. The upgrade may be deployed selectively to alleviate bandwidth “hot spots” in the SAN environment – allowing customers to phase in 20Gb as they phase in 8Gb.

Will I need to reset my switches or disrupt devices? No. There is no device disruption or need to reset the switch – only the ISL port itself is reset.
How fast is 20Gb, really?

20Gb Fibre Channel runs at an actual line speed of 25.5 Gbps. That’s three times the speed of the 8Gb device ports – and six times the speed of ports running at 4Gb!

In other words, with a relatively inexpensive 20Gb upgrade, the four stacking ports on each SANbox 5802V provide the bandwidth equivalent of twelve 8Gb ISL ports, or twenty-four 4Gb ports!

And for customers who only need 4Gb device speeds, the “always on” 10Gb stacking ports are like getting twelve extra 4Gb ISLs at no charge with every switch!

BOTTOM LINE: Whether the stacking ports are running at 20Gb or 10Gb, the SANbox 5802V offers more bandwidth and a much simpler, less disruptive method of connecting switches – an unbeatable cost-saving combination!

Are distances limited compared with 10Gb?

As defined by the Fibre Channel standard, faster speeds run over shorter distances. For instance, using the same media, 8Gb will run half as far as 4Gb – therefore, 20Gb runs half the distance of 10Gb. QLogic offers integrated copper XPAK cables in the following lengths. Data can run at full 20Gb speed over any of these cables.

  • 3 inches
  • 9 inches
  • 2 meters (78 inches)
  • New! 8 meter (26 feet)

IMPORTANT: The stacking ports on any SANbox product can also communicate over much larger distances using standard 10Gb short-wave (up to 300m) or long-wave (up to 2km) optical transceivers.

Do I need 20Gb optics? 20Gb optics are not yet available in the industry – however, 20Gb Fibre Channel supports distances up to 8 meters (26 feet) over low-cost integrated copper XPAK cables.
Is 20Gb more expensive to run than 10Gb? No. Since 20Gb uses the same copper media as 10Gb, there are no additional costs beyond the license upgrade.
Aren’t stacking cables more expensive than ISLs using device ports?

Not for equivalent bandwidth. The improved connection density of stacking always saves costs over the long run. Stacking cables are actually cheaper on a per-bandwidth basis than the multiple ISL links required using regular 8Gb device ports. Remember a single integrated copper XPAK cable replaces at least three fiber optic runs – and at least six expensive SFPs!

IMPORTANT: The cost of competitors’ “device port” ISLs goes up with 8Gb, thanks to the higher cost of SFP optics. However, the cost of 20Gb ISL cables remains the same as 10Gb! Stacking makes more financial sense than ever with 20Gb!

Additional benefits:

  1. The simplicity of stacking reduces management costs.
  2. The stability of stacking reduces device disruption costs.
  3. The efficiency of stacking eliminates unnecessary switch purchases to create ISL ports – maximizing return on investment over time.
When should I upgrade to 20Gb?

Running most of your ports at 4Gb? Most customers in this situation will choose to defer costs by leaving their XPAK ports at the default 10Gb setting.

Beginning to populate the majority of your 5802V ports with 8Gb devices – or simply want to have the fastest Fibre Channel network on earth? Apply one or more 20Gb ISL licenses non-disruptively…and let ‘er rip!

20Gb ISL Bandwidth on Demand
Upgrade your entire SAN with the click of a mouse!  

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