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Technology and Architecture
Brocade continues to revolutionize the data center by developing innovative architectures and platforms, striving for the highest level of interoperability, and furthering standards development. Through industry-leading Brocade technologies, organizations can build next-generation data centers that are designed to provide maximum value today and well into the future.
Data Center Fabric (DCF) Architecture
The Brocade DCF architecture is an intelligent, policy-based framework designed to help build the most efficient, cost-effective data center fabrics based on an organization’s particular business needs.
Ethernet Technology
Brocade has made significant investments in developing and enhancing the technologies that address the needs and requirements of today and tomorrow's Ethernet network infrastructures.
Technology Platforms
Brocade incorporates intelligence directly into its storage networking solutions to create highly available, scalable, and secure environments for storage applications.
Standards Leadership
Through investments in new technologies and interoperability labs, Brocade continues to further standards development and facilitate end-to-end interoperability in heterogeneous environments.
Compatibility
Brocade offers the highest level of fabric switching and device compatibility, helping organizations maximize the value of their data center infrastructure investments.
Technology and Architecture Resources
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Glossaries
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Matrices
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Brocade Data Center Ready Compatibility Matrix (695.2 KB)
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Brocade Data Migration Manager Interoperability Matrix (93.7 KB)
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Brocade Fabric OS Features Summary (857.1 KB)
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Brocade Fabric OS Product Line Guide (314.6 KB)
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Brocade File Insight Compatibility Matrix (64.7 KB)
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Brocade File Lifecycle Management (FLM) Requirements (73 KB)
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Brocade File Management Engine (FME) Compatibility Matrix (58.2 KB)
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Brocade M-Series Products Fabric Guidelines (250.9 KB)
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Brocade Scalability Guidelines (117.8 KB)
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Brocade Server Connectivity and HBA Compatibility Matrix (68.7 KB)
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Brocade StorageX 6.0 Compatibility Matrix (120.3 KB)
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Brocade StorageX 6.1 and Brocade StorageX Migration Edition 6.1 Compatibility Matrix (125 KB)
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Data Center Ready Compatibility Matrix that includes 2 Gbit/sec platforms (917.5 KB)
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OPENready Product Compatibility Matrice (654.1 KB)
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SAN Health Support Matrix (31.5 KB)
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Transceiver Platform Support Matrix (339.1 KB)
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Technical Briefs
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Adaptive Networking - Advanced Data Center Fabric Technology (1.4 MB)
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Best Practices Guide: Brocade StorageX 6.1 (260.5 KB)
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Brocade Data Center Fabric Manager: End-to-End Fabric Management in the Evolving Data Center (2.3 MB)
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Brocade DCX Integration for M-Series Customers (1031.1 KB)
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Brocade Emulation and Tape Pipelining for FICON (354.7 KB)
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Brocade FME - Total Enterprise File Management (84 KB)
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Connecting Servers in a DMZ to a Fibre Channel SAN (362.7 KB)
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Extending Fabric Services from the Fabric to Brocade Fibre Channel (FC) Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) (2.5 MB)
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Introducing the Brocade Data Center Fabric Architecture (1.2 MB)
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Leveraging 8Gb Fibre Channel End to End in the Data Center (253 KB)
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Leveraging Brocade DCX for Server Virtualization (187.4 KB)
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Optimizing Data Center Consolidation with Server Virtualization and the Brocade Data Center Fabric (DCF) Architecture (269.6 KB)
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Quick Configuration Guide: Access Gateway NPIV with EFCM Management (680.9 KB)
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The Brocade DCF Architecture and the Brocade DCX Backbone (38.8 KB)
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The Brocade DCX Backbone and the Evolving Data Center (425 KB)
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Using the Brocade DCX Backbone to Transform a Brocade Storage Area Network into a Data Center Fabric (1.5 MB)
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Virtualizing SAN Connectivity with VMware Infrastructure 3 and Brocade Data Center Fabric Services (254 KB)
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Why Fibre Channel over Ethernet? (240.9 KB)
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White Papers
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A Real-World Look at Data Center Relocation (269.8 KB)
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Benchmarking Microsoft SQL Server Using VMware ESX Server 3.5 (993.9 KB)
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Best Practices Guide: Cabling the Data Center (11.6 MB)
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Brocade Data Center Fabric Manager: End-to-End Fabric Management in the Evolving Data Center (2.3 MB)
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Brocade StorageX Executive Overview (225.3 KB)
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Building a Reliable Foundation for Expanded Data Center Virtualization (820.7 KB)
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Creating Tiered Storage Architecture (538.8 KB)
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Data Mangement Challenges in the Internet Computing Era (99.7 KB)
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DCX for Mainframe (366.9 KB)
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Facilitating a Holistic Virtualization Solution for the Data Center (166.6 KB)
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FICON Over Extended Distances (231.6 KB)
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Maximizing Efficiency in Block-Level Data Migration (291 KB)
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Native Fabric Connectivity for Today's SANs (337.3 KB)
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Optimizing Storage Data Transfers Over FC ISLs and Long-Distance FCIP WAN Links with FastWrite (153.8 KB)
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Previewing Brocade FCoE Server Connectivity Solutions (146.7 KB)
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Simplifying Data Migration in Hetrogeneous Storage Environments (186.4 KB)
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The Benefits of Upgrading a SAN Infrastructure Using Brocade Technology (102.7 KB)
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The Brocade Data Center Fabric (300.3 KB)
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The Brocade Global Namespace Advantage (222.3 KB)
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The Growing Need for Security in Storage Area Networks (779.4 KB)
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Understanding the Capabilities of the Emerging FCoE Protocol (384.5 KB)
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Utilizing Brocade Storage Application Services with EMC RecoverPoint (1047.8 KB)
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Virtualizing Embedded Switches: The Next Generation of SAN Connectivity (291.9 KB)
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Browse a complete listing of all Brocade resources. View All Resources
Abstract:
Based on compatibility testing and existing product installations, Brocade has developed the following guidelines. Solutions created by members of the Brocade Developer Program have undergone rigorous interoperability testing by Brocade and are certified as Brocade Data Center Ready.
Abstract:
This Matrix shows correlations between Fabric OS Features and Brocade products.
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Based on testing and existing product installations, Brocade has developed the following compatibility guideline
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This document provides the requirements for running Brocade FLM 4.0.
Abstract:
Based on testing and existing product installations, Brocade has developed the following compatibility guideline
Abstract:
This matrics includes Brocade M-Class directors, switches, and routers as well as legacy McDATA SAN products.
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This document details the metrics required to establish whether or not Brocade supports a particular fabric and/or metaSAN configuration. It provides scalability guidelines that can be used to design and deploy extremely stable Fibre Channel SANs.
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The Brocade Server Connectivity Compatibility Matrix covers compatibility for the Brocade 410 FC HBA (4 Gbit/sec, single port) and the Brocade 420 FC HBA (4 Gbit/sec, dual ports). It includes current component versions and server OS, switch, storage, multipath software, and tape library support.
Abstract:
Based on testing and existing product installations, Brocade has developed the following compatibility guideline
Abstract:
Based on testing and existing product installations, Brocade has developed the following compatibility guideline
Abstract:
Based on compatibility testing and existing product installations, Brocade has developed the following guidelines. Solutions created by members of the Brocade Developer Program have undergone rigorous interoperability testing by Brocade and are certified as Brocade Data Center Ready.
Abstract:
This matric includes Brocade M-Class directors, switches, and routers as well as legacy McDATA SAN products.
Abstract:
The Brocade Data Center Fabric is a foundation for designing, building, and managing enterprise data centers. A critical advanced technology integrated into the fabric is Brocade Adaptive Networking services, which provides Quality of Service to ensure fabric support for critical application service levels.
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Enterprise data centers are undergoing a transformation driven by the need to reduce costs and increase performance. The evolving data center fabric exploits developing virtualization technologies for a data- and application-driven solution that reduces complexity and enables unified management on a common framework.
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Describes and illustrates scenarios that demonstrate how the Brocade DCX Backbone platform can be added non-disruptively into the core of existing Storage Area Networks (SANs) and new data center fabrics.
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This paper delves into the experiences of 30 IT managers who relocated their data centers, analyzing the primary drivers, issues, strategies, and lessons learned.
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The results of a benchmarking study performed in Brocade test labs demonstrate that SQL Server can be deployed on VMware ESX Server 3.5 for Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) applications in very favorable server consolidation ratios to meet corporate IT business requirements.
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This guide describes best practices for incorporating cabling in a typical data center, plus tips for selecting cabling components and information on data transmission media.
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This paper explores how key capabilities within Brocade Data Center Fabric Manager (DCFM) help simplify infrastructure management.
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This paper describes how Brocade StorageX software utilizes global namespace technology to provide comprehensive file management services.
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This paper shows how Brocade StorageX enables tiers of storage across Windows and NetApp storage to align storage practices with organizational objectives.
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This paper describes how System z users can leverage the Brocade DCX Backbone to address their most pressing business challenges while preparing for future technologies.
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This paper examines how FICON channel architecture greatly expands the distance, throughput, and scale of implementation for IBM mainframe environments.
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This paper explores the challenges of block-level data migrations and how Brocade Data Migration Manager increases data migration efficiency while reducing risk and operational costs.
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This paper explores the various approaches Brocade is taking toward heterogeneous fabric connectivity following its acquisition of McDATA.
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This paper describes how FastWrite, a Brocade capability available in Brocade SAN Routers, addresses the performance issues of SCSI write operations over long-distance, high-latency links.
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This paper describes the basics of Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), how FCoE solutions fit into data centers, and how Brocade is driving standardization efforts.
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This paper explains how the Brocade Data Center Fabric enables organizations to build next-generation data centers with reduced cost, increased flexibility, and minimized risk.
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This paper describes how Brocade StorageX global namespace technology provides comprehensive data management services for enterprise storage environments.
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This paper outlines key aspects of SAN security and ways that new features in Brocade Fabric OS 6.0 help increase SAN security in enterprise environments.
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This detailed paper explains the technical story behind the emerging Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) protocol, including how it helps extend existing Fibre Channel investments.
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This paper examines how Brocade Storage Application Services enable EMC RecoverPoint to support heterogeneous fabric-based data replication for all open-system server solutions across any distance.
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This paper examines the fundamentals and benefits of the Brocade Access Gateway, the latest evolution in Fibre Channel SAN connectivity built on blade server technology.