IBM System Networking RackSwitch G8332
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IBM System Networking RackSwitch G8332
IBM Redbooks Product Guide
This IBM® Redbooks® Product Guide describes the IBM System Networking RackSwitch™ G8332 switch
(RackSwitch G8332). The RackSwitch G8332 provides low latency, lossless performance, and a
feature-rich design with key virtualization features, such as Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE)/Data
Center Bridging (DCB)¹, high availability, and enterprise class Layer 2 and Layer 3 functions. In addition,
the RackSwitch G8332 also delivers excellent cost savings as you consider acquisition costs, energy
costs, operational expenses, and ease of use and management for a 40 Gbps class switch. The
RackSwitch G8332 has 32 QSFP+ ports and is suitable for clients using 10 Gigabit Ethernet or 40 Gigabit
Ethernet connectivity (or both).
The RackSwitch G8332 enables customers to easily build an end-to-end flat 2-tier network that is based
on industry standards using IBM switches and servers. For example, the RackSwitch G8332 is an ideal
tier two switch to use when connecting a number of IBM switches, such as IBM System Networking
RackSwitch G8264, IBM System Networking RackSwitch G8264T, or IBM System Networking
RackSwitch G8264CS, or embedded Ethernet offerings for Flex Systems (SI4093, EN4093/R, or
CN4093) with a 40 Gigabit Ethernet uplink ports at the access layer. Other clients like the RackSwitch
G8332 for the investment protection. These clients can use it with their 10 Gigabit Ethernet environments
today, but can also use it in the future as they move to 40 Gigabit Ethernet.
With latency below 600 nanoseconds, the RackSwitch G8332 is among industry leaders. This fact and
the 2.56 Tbps throughput makes the RackSwitch G8332 an ideal offering for latency-sensitive
applications, such as high-performance computing, financial applications, hosting environments, and
cloud designs in Enterprise, Web 2.0, and VM Centric data centers. In addition, IBM supports IBM
VMready® with Virtual Vision, which enables the network to be virtual machine (VM) aware, and provides
the capability to have a virtualization environment that is simpler and less expensive with exceptional
performance. Figure 1 shows the RackSwitch G8332.
Figure 1. IBM System Networking RackSwitch G8332
Did you know?
Here are the key features of the RackSwitch G8332:
Supports several types of configurations: 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 40 Gigabit Ethernet, Converged
Enhanced Ethernet (CEE/DCB)1, and iSCSI.
With exceptional port density and flexibility with break-out cables, the RackSwitch G8332 can support
up to 96x 10 Gigabit Ethernet connections and still have 8x 40 Gigabit Ethernet uplinks.