ESG Lab Review
D
D
i
i
s
s
t
t
r
r
i
i
b
b
u
u
t
t
i
i
n
n
g
g
C
C
o
o
n
n
n
n
e
e
c
c
t
t
i
i
v
v
i
i
t
t
y
y
t
t
o
o
t
t
h
h
e
e
E
E
d
d
g
g
e
e
Just as stackable switches provide a right-sized and scalable alternative to rack-mounted and chassis
switches in the Ethernet networking market, the expanding line of stackable SANbox switches from
QLogic is bringing pay as you grow flexibility to the storage switching market. Ranging from an entry-level
switch with 8 ports up to the recently announced SANbox 9000, which supports up to 256 ports using an
I/O bladed architecture, switches can be stacked to accommodate future growth.
QLogic introduced the concept of stackable switches into the storage market. SANbox stackable switches
are connected together using 10 Gbps FC InterSwitch Links (ISLs). SANbox ISLs provide a simply
elegant alternative to the trunking technology of traditional storage switch architectures. Instead of
combining user ports together to create a trunk as needed when interconnecting traditional storage
switches. SANbox switches have built-in dedicated 10 Gbps ports which create a cost-effective highway
for shared traffic between switches.
SANbox switches support availability features like non-disruptive code load support and redundant hot
swappable power supplies. Stackable SANbox solutions have been qualified and are now supported by
major storage and systems vendors.
The SANbox 9000 is the latest addition to the SANbox line of stackable switches. For maximum port
density, the low-profile 4u chassis of the SANbox 9000 supports up to eight 4 Gbps I/O blades for a total
of 128 ports. For maximum performance, the SANbox 9000 can also support up to eight 10 Gbps I/O
blades for a total of 32 ultra-high-bandwidth ports. Blade types can be intermixed within a frame, and two
chassis can be stacked for a maximum of 256 ports. In the future, QLogic will provide additional blades
that can be installed in the SANbox 9000. Storage routing and storage services available today in the
SANbox 6000 and 8000 series platforms will be offered in I/O blade form factors.
ESG Lab Review
As shown in Figure Three, a SANbox 9000 ultra-high density “Designed to the Core” switch was used to
implement a core storage network. The SANbox 9000 at the core was connected to a pair of SANbox
5600s and a SANbox 5200 towards the edge. An entry level ten port SANbox 1400 switch was used by a
simulated workgroup performing video editing.
Figure Three – Distributed Switching – from Core to Edge and Remote
Enterprise Strategy Group
5
