IBM Ethernet Switch B48Y
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IBM Ethernet Switch B48Y
IBM System x at-a-glance guide
The IBM Ethernet Switch B48Y is a high-performance, feature-rich, easy-to-manage 1 GbE solution for
network device access. Purpose-built for the data center with a wire-speed, non-blocking architecture,
high-availability features including optional redundant and hot-swappable power supplies and fans, and
rack-friendly airflow, the B48Y enables organizations to scale easily in virtualized and non-virtualized data
center environments.
The switch comes fully featured with Layer 2 and Layer 3 capabilities, giving organizations ultimate
flexibility in deployment options. With the optional 4-port 10 GbE interface module, a row of up to eight
switches can be unified into a single logical chassis with 384 ports using IronStack technology, greatly
simplifying management and increasing virtual machine mobility.
The switch runs a feature-rich and mature IronWare operating system with an industry-standard
command-line interface (CLI), minimizing re-training and operational costs. Supporting a full range of RFC
and IEEE standards for interoperability, along with compatibility for vendor-specific protocols such as
Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) and Per-VLAN Rapid Spanning Tree Plus (PVRST+), the B48Y
integrates seamlessly into existing network infrastructures.
Figure 1. IBM Ethernet Switch B48Y with optional 4-port 10 GbE SFP+ interface module (front view)
Figure 2. IBM Ethernet Switch B48Y (back view)
Did you know
As server utilization increases due to virtualization on more powerful hardware such as the IBM innovative
eX5 architecture, so does the average and burst bandwidth utilization on the switches in the network. To
alleviate these performance bottlenecks, the B48Y is capable of supporting four 10 GbE uplinks, double
the bandwidth of most standard 1 GbE switches, to enable near 1:1 subscription during periods of heavy
traffic flows with extremely low port-to-port latencies. Even with its outstanding performance, the B48Y is
highly power efficient, using up to 36% less power than competing switches.