Today's virtualized server environments require a new generation of SAN switch. With the highest port density and adaptive fabric Quality of Service features, the Brocade 5100 Switch delivers the functionality you need to meet I/O demands and maintain service level agreements.
Key Benefits
Enterprise-level 8Gb/sec performance and port scalability
Protects your investment in existing Brocade and McData switches
Enables consolidation, reducing cost and complexity
With 8 Gb/sec non-blocking, full-duplex performance on every port and the highest port density of all midrange switches, the Brocade 5100 delivers the performance you need to support mission-critical applications and virtual environments.
Up to 40 ports of 8 Gb/sec technology
Plus, the Brocade 5100 combines 40 ports and Ports-on-Demand capability to scale from 24 to 32 to 40 ports, enabling pay-as-you-grow scalability and a total bandwidth of 680 Gb/sec.
Enhanced features and functionality
Enhanced ISL Trunking with Dynamic Path Selection delivers switch-to-switch bandwidth of up to 68 Gb/sec in a single trunk using eight load-balanced inter-switch-links, further reducing expenses.
Adaptive Networking with Quality of Service (QoS) prioritization, Traffic Isolation and Ingress Rate Limiting capabilities optimize application performance in a virtualized server and storage environment. In addition, per-port routing increases flexibility and fabric scalability.
Provides Superior ROI and Investment Protection
Lower capital and operating expenses
The Brocade 5100's direct E_Port connectivity with McDATA Fabric Mode and Open Fabric Mode connectivity with Brocade M-EOS SANs to protect your existing investments in SAN infrastructure while enabling growth and scalability.
You can manage the Brocade 5100 from either Brocade Fabric Manager or Brocade EFCM, enabling your administrators to use the tools they're familiar with and reducing training and management costs.
Backward and forward compatibility
A single code stream supports the entire Brocade product line, providing full compatibility among Brocade switches. And the Brocade 5100's backward and forward compatibility provides long-term investment protection, and also helps you meet your long-term business needs.
Works with 1, 2, and 4 Gb/sec switches
The Brocade 5100's auto-sensing ports support backward compatibility with 1, 2, and 4, Gb/sec switches, reducing cost and complexity while ensuring compatibility with your installed switches.
Future-proofs your investment
If you're not ready to move to 8 Gb/sec devices, you can reduce costs by populating the Brocade 5100 with 4 Gb/sec optics today while preserving your ability to upgrade to 8 Gb/sec optics in the future. This future-proofs your current investment while also protecting existing investments.
FICON-ready
The Brocade 5100 is FICON, FICON cascading, and FICON CUP-ready, enabling you to use it in both mainframe and open systems environments.
Fabric services improve utilization
The switch also leverages advanced fabric services to improve utilization of existing storage and server assets, increase administrator efficiency, and lower the cost of storage management.
Enables Consolidation
Reducing cost and complexity
With up to 40 ports, the Brocade 5100 enables further consolidation of servers, storage, and your networking infrastructure, driving efficiencies and reducing costs. The switch supports new server and storage virtualization solutions and helps you optimize the performance and availability of upper-layer business applications and data.
Streamlining connectivity
Its 8 Gb/sec line rate performance on all ports streamlines connectivity and reduces management complexity. Plus, it enables SAN consolidation by enabling you to replace smaller fabric switches with the higher-density Brocade 5100, reducing your SAN footprint.
What's more, enhanced ISL Trunking delivers up to 68 Gb/sec in a single trunk, reducing the number of ISLs required and simplifying management. Integrated Routing provides an easy-to-implement solution for interconnecting SAN islands with both Brocade and Brocade M-series products.
Easy to use
Point and click and you're ready to go
From ordering and setup to integration and administration, the Brocade 5100 offers you unmatched ease of use. The Brocade EZSwitchSetup Wizard lets you deploy and manage with just three simple point-and-click steps.
A single GUI does it all
With the Brocade 5100, a single GUI configures, deploys, and zones switches, simplifying administration. Little or no management is required in small fabric configurations, and Brocade Web Tools provides intuitive, graphic management.
What's more, the Brocade 5100 is compatible with the Microsoft Simple SAN initiative, and a USB port streamlines firmware upgrades and downloads of system log files.
Reduces TCO
Energy-efficient design cuts power consumption
Continuing a Brocade tradition of industry-leading energy efficiency, the Brocade 5100 provides a 40 percent improvement in power consumption (Watts/GB/sec), enabling you to reduce energy costs and support green initiatives.
Rack-mountable
The Brocade 5100 is rack-mountable in a 19-inch EIA rack.
Hot swappable
Two hot-swappable, redundant, auto-ranging power supplies and field-replaceable fan units ensure enterprise-class availability.
Scale at low cost
As your business grows and your needs evolve, you can easily scale the Brocade 5100 in 8-ports increments at a low incremental cost.
