Brocade offers the industry's leading end-to-end DCB/FCoE server I/O consolidation solution, enabling organizations to deploy all the elements needed to introduce Data Center Bridging (DCB) and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) technologies into their data centers. As a result, they can transform the links from access layer servers to DCB/FCoE switches into converged configurations, allowing storage traffic and networking traffic to be transported on common lossless Ethernet links.

The DCB/FCoE combination consolidates Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) and Network Interface Card (NIC) adapters into a single server adapter called a Converged Network Adapter (CNA). These new adapters can transport the converged storage and networking traffic to DCB/FCoE switches that inspect the incoming traffic, separate it into storage and Ethernet streams, and forward it to the intended destinations.

Early deployment of DCB/FCoE server I/O consolidation takes place in the access layer servers. Organizations can deploy top-of-rack solutions such as Brocade VDX Data Center Switches, the Brocade 8000 Switch, and Brocade CNAs, or deploy end-of-row solutions using the Brocade FCOE10-24 Blade in Brocade DCX Backbones. Either way, organizations can reduce the cost of acquisition by decreasing the number of server adapters, cables, and switch ports required. Organizations can also save on operating costs, as a result of lower power consumption and cooling costs.

In addition to providing all the required components for building simplified and consolidated server I/O solutions, Brocade offers Brocade Data Center Fabric Manager (DCFM) and Brocade Network Advisor, a unifying management application for existing Fibre Channel SANs and new DCB/FCoE resources.

• Solution Guides

  • Deploying the Brocade 8000 Switch to Introduce Server I/O Consolidation into the Data Center (400.3 KB)

• Technical Briefs

  • Unlocking the Value of I/O Server Consolidation (1.7 MB)

• White Papers

  • Brocade FCoE Solutions for Server I/O Convergence (206.8 KB)