MEDIA RELEASE PR36249
Brocade Further Evolves Its Industry-Leading DCX Data Center Backbone Platform through Advanced
Functionality and Partner Support
SINGAPORE, Sept. 23 /PRNewswire-Asia-AsiaNet/ --
Continues to Extend Customer Choice with Modular and Fixed Solutions for Data Center-to-Data Center
Connectivity and Server I/O Consolidation
Brocade(R) (Nasdaq: BRCD) announced today it has further strengthened its industry-leading, next-
generation Brocade DCX(R) Backbone family with the introduction of two new modular solutions: the Brocade
FX8-24 Extension Blade designed to connect two or more data centers to enhance business continuity and
disaster recovery, and the Brocade FCoE10-24 Blade, which provides Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE)
capabilities for server I/O consolidation in the data center.
These advancements continue to extend the value of the Brocade DCX as one of the industry's most
strategic and flexible data center networking platforms through constant innovation and third-party support.
According to a recent report from AT&T, customers intend to prioritize business continuity and security
solutions in terms of IT projects that will get funded over the next 12 months as companies prepare for an
economic turnaround. The data center-to-data center connectivity solutions from Brocade are essential to
implementing effective business continuity and disaster recovery plans, enabling companies to replicate data
and digital files over high-performance metro-area and wide-area networks on a real-time or near-real-time
basis.
Brocade server I/O consolidation solutions based on FCoE and Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE) are
designed to provide the scalability needed in highly demanding, virtualized server environments to meet the
dynamic needs of evolving enterprise data centers. These networking solutions will help companies build their
next-generation data center networks and better support emerging technologies such as server virtualization
and cloud computing.
Leading the Way in Data Center-to-Data Center Connectivity Solutions
Designed specifically for larger enterprise data centers and multisite environments, the new Brocade FX8-
24 Extension Blade for the Brocade DCX Backbone family addresses the most demanding extension and
storage networking requirements with unmatched Fibre Channel and FCIP bandwidth, port density, and
throughput for maximum application performance over WAN links.
The extension blade offers twelve 8-gigabit per second (Gbps) Fibre Channel ports, ten 1-gigabit Ethernet
(GbE) ports, and up to two optional 10 GbE ports. Organizations can install up to two Brocade FX8-24 blades
in a Brocade DCX or DCX-4S Backbone and can double the aggregate bandwidth to 40 Gbps by activating
the optional 10 GbE ports. The platform also introduces FCIP Trunking, the industry's only solution enabling
FCIP tunnels with up to 10 Gbps bandwidth using 10 GbE ports and 4 Gbps using 1 GbE ports, with full
failover and load balancing capabilities for resiliency and performance. Additional new features and
enhancements include Adaptive Rate Limiting, FCIP Quality of Service (QoS), and more effective
compression.
In addition, Brocade continues to offer more flexible deployment options with these solutions also available
as dedicated, standalone network devices. Brocade is also announcing the availability of the Brocade 7800
Extension Switch, which offers the same functionality as the Brocade FX8-24 Extension Blade but as a fixed-
configuration switch. The Brocade 7800 provides a cost-effective choice for smaller data centers and remote
offices implementing point-to-point disk replication in open systems environments.
The Brocade 7800 leverages cost-effective IP wide-area network (WAN) transport to extend open systems
and mainframe storage applications over extended distances. It provides up to sixteen 8 Gbps Fibre Channel
ports and six 1 GbE ports, and can be easily upgraded through software licensing to provide the scalability
and investment protection needed to support growing business requirements.
Both extension products will be available through EMC, Hitachi Data Systems and HP.
Broadening CEE/FCoE Solution Leadership
Part of a unified solution that includes the Brocade 1010/1020 Converged Network Adapters (CNAs) and
centralized management, the new Brocade FCoE10-24 blade leverages the multiprotocol architecture and
breakthrough performance of Brocade DCX Backbones to deliver the first high-density, end-of-row option for
consolidating server I/O connectivity. The blade features twenty-four 10 Gbps CEE ports and provides rich
Layer 2 Ethernet functionality for local area network (LAN) traffic. Storage traffic is delivered to the storage
area network (SAN) through 8 Gbps Fibre Channel blades in the Brocade DCX Backbone chassis.
For organizations that prefer a top-of-rack switch with FCoE capabilities, Brocade offers the Brocade 8000
Switch. To meet current and future needs, organizations now have the flexibility of initially deploying the
Brocade 8000 as a 10 GbE Layer 2 Ethernet top-of-rack switch and activating only the CEE ports. For SAN
connectivity in the future, they can add an optional license to activate the Fibre Channel ports and FCoE
capabilities, providing a seamless path for server I/O consolidation.
The Brocade FCoE 10-24 Blade for the Brocade DCX Backbone will be available through EMC, Hitachi
Data Systems, HP, and NetApp (supported by NetApp FAS and V-Series unified storage systems).
Right-Sized End-to-End SAN Management Options
Brocade also debuted today Brocade Data Center Fabric Manager (DCFM) Professional Plus, created
specifically for midsized organizations and departments. DCFM Professional Plus leverages the same
architecture and supports most of the features of Brocade DCFM Enterprise edition to provide a seamless
upgrade path for growing environments.
In addition, Brocade has released DCFM version 10.3, delivering new FCIP management capabilities that
help simplify configuration and administration of Fibre Channel and FCIP network infrastructures. It also
enables broader management of CEE/FCoE environments along with enhancements to simplify end-to-end
administration of large virtualized server environments.
More Information
Product Photos
-- Brocade FX8-24 Extension Blade
-- Brocade FCoE 10-24 Blade
-- Brocade 7800 Extension Switch
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About Brocade
Brocade(R) (Nasdaq: BRCD) develops extraordinary networking solutions that enable today's complex,
data-intensive businesses to optimize information connectivity and maximize the business value of their data.
Brocade, the B-wing symbol, BigIron, DCX, Fabric OS, FastIron, IronPoint, IronShield, IronView, IronWare,
JetCore, NetIron, SecureIron, ServerIron, StorageX, and TurboIron are registered trademarks, and DCFM,
Extraordinary Networks, and SAN Health are trademarks of Brocade Communications Systems, Inc., in the
United States and/or in other countries. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be
trademarks or service marks of, and are used to identify, products or services of their respective owners.
(C) 2009 Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
BROCADE CONTACTS
APJ Media and Analyst Relations
Joyce See
Tel: +65-63172435
Email: jsee@brocade.com
SOURCE: Brocade
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