This document provides information on the Brocade VDX 6730 Converged Switch for IBM. It is a 10 Gigabit Ethernet and Fibre Channel over Ethernet switch that supports multiple protocols and streamlines management. It connects to Fibre Channel storage area networks and provides unified Ethernet storage connectivity options in two models with different port configurations. Key features include local switching, priority-based flow control, enhanced transmission selection, and data center bridging exchange capabilities.

1. IBM Systems and Technology System x
Data Sheet
Brocade VDX 6730
Converged Switch for IBM
Converged Ethernet and FC/FCoE switching for
simplified and efficient networking
Seeking better ways to build clouds and virtualized data centers, today’s
Highlights IT organizations are turning to high performance networking solutions
that increase flexibility through leading-edge technologies. Whether
10 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) FCoE switch
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organizations want to enhance their classic hierarchical network
with LAN and native Fibre Channel ports
architectures or deploy flatter scale-out fabrics for virtualized data cen-
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Supports multiple protocols including ters, the Brocade VDX 6730 Converged Switches for IBM deliver
Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE),
the innovative technology to enhance and simplify their networks.
iSCSI and NAS
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Streamlines management by utilizing IBM is partnering with Brocade, an industry-leading SAN Switch pro-
Brocade Network Advisor and available
vider, to deliver converged data center solutions. Converging FC storage
integration with IBM System Director
and regular Ethernet traffic on one platform allows administrators to
Ideal for customers looking to connect to
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reduce the number of adapters, simplify management and protect storage
existing Brocade SANs
investments by utilizing the existing SAN infrastructure. IBM delivers
interoperability by providing end-to-end FCoE testing with the latest
System x® servers, Brocade VDX 6730 Converged switches, IBM System
Storage SAN b-type and Brocade SAN switches and IBM Storage.
Brocade VDX 6730 switches
The Brocade VDX 6730 connects to FC storage area networks (SANs) in
addition to FCoE, iSCSI, and NAS storage, providing unified Ethernet
storage connectivity options. It is available in two models—the 2U
Brocade VDX 6730-76 with sixty 10 GbE LAN ports and sixteen 8 Gbps
native FC ports, and the 1U Brocade VDX 6730-32 with twenty-four
10 GbE LAN ports and eight 8 Gbps native FC ports. IBM models ship
with 8 Gbps FC SWL transceivers standard allowing for connections up
to 150 m. Both VDX models come with dual power supplies and custom-
ers have the choice of front-to-back or back-to-front airflow models.

2. IBM Systems and Technology System x
Data Sheet
Local switching delivers high performance for intra-rack
traffic in virtualized environments, providing latency of
600 nanoseconds for the same ASIC and 1.8 microseconds
across ASICs on the same switch. This helps organizations
design a network with no over-subscription and improved
application response time.
Features and benefits
The comprehensive set of VDX features enables organizations
to easily build and set up FCoE solutions. VDX Data Center Brocade VDX 6730 includes a rich set of traditional Layer 2
Bridging features include Priority-based Flow Control (PFC) Ethernet protocols and features. When communicating to
IEEE 802.1Qbb, Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS) the rest of the network, it uses protocols such as Link
IEEE 802.1Qaz and Data Center Bridging eXchange (DCBX). Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) and 802.1Q. The
These protocols are essential for protecting storage traffic. Brocade VDX 6730 is also ready for IPv4/IPv6 Layer 3 routing
capabilities that can be implemented in a future Brocade
Network OS release.
Brocade VDX 6730 Converged Switch for IBM at a glance
Product characteristics
Product numbers Brocade VDX 6730-32 Brocade VDX 6730-76
Rear-to-front airflow (System x) 8553-AF6 8553-BF8
Front-to-rear airflow (System x) 8553-AR5 8553-BR7
Rear-to-front airflow (Storage) 3759-C32 3759-C76
Form factor/height 1U 2U
1/10 GbE SFP+ ports 24 60
Dimensions and weight Width: 42.8 cm (16.9 in.) Width: 43.0 cm (17.0 in.)
Height: 4.37 cm (1.7 in.) Height: 8.7 cm (3.5 in.)
Depth: 38.4 cm (15.1 in.) Depth: 43.2 cm (17.0 in.)
Weight: 7.3 kg (16.3 lb) Weight: 15.3 kg (33.9 lb)
Fibre Channel ports 8 (SWL transceivers shipped standard) 16 (SWL transceivers shipped standard)
Switching bandwidth (data rate, 480 Gbps for Ethernet ports 896 Gbps for Ethernet ports
full duplex) 128 Gbps for FC ports 256 Gbps for FC ports
Port-to-port latency 600 ns within 10-port group 600 ns within 10-port group
FCoE features ●● ●
FCoE
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Native FCoE forwarding
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Multihop FCoE (available in 4Q 2012)
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FC-BB5 compliant Fibre Channel Forwarder (FCF)
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End-to-end FCoE (initiator to target)
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FCoE Initialization Protocol (FIP) v1 support for FCoE devices login and initialization
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Name Server-based zoning
2

3. IBM Systems and Technology System x
Data Sheet
Brocade VDX 6730 Converged Switch for IBM at a glance
DCB features ●● ●
Priority-based Flow Control (PFC) IEEE 802.1Qbb
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Enhanced Transmission Selection (ETS) IEEE 802.1Qaz
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Data Center Bridging eXchange (DCBX)
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DCBX Application Type-Length-Value (TLV) for FCoE and iSCSI
Layer 2 features ●● ●
Static MAC Configuration
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Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) IEEE 802.3ad/802.1AX
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VLAN Encapsulation IEEE 802.1Q
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Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP) IEEE 802.1D
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Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP) IEEE 802.1s
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Per-VLAN Spanning Tree (PVST+/PVRST+)
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STP PortFast and PortFast BDPU Guard
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STP Root Guard
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Layer 2 Access Control Lists (ACLs)
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IGMP v1/v2 Snooping
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Pause Frames IEEE 802.3x
Management and control ●● ●
IPv4/IPv6 management
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Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) IEEE 802.1AB
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MIB II RFC 1213 MIB
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Switched Port Analyzer (SPAN)
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Telnet
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SNMP v1/v2C,v3
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sFlow RFC 3176
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Out of Band management (standalone mode)
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RMON-1, RMON-2
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Management Access Control Lists (ACLs)
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Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
Security ●● ●
Port-based Network Access Control IEEE 802.1X
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RADIUS
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TACACS+
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Secure Shell (SSHv2)
Power
Power supplies Two hot-swappable, load-sharing
Cooling fans N+1 redundant, integrated into power supplies
Power inlet C13
Input voltage 100 V TO 240 V ~5 A – 2.5 A
Input line frequency 47 to 63 Hz
Inrush current 50 amps max
Maximum current 4 amps max (24-port switch); 7 amps max (60-port switch)
Maximum power consumption 131 W
Brocade VDX 6730-32
Maximum power consumption 321 W
Brocade VDX 6730-76
3

4. Tested FCoE configurations
IBM provides extensive FCoE testing to deliver network
interoperability. Customers should reference the System
Storage Interoperation Center (SSIC) web site for a full
listing of IBM supported FCoE and iSCSI configurations at:
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2012
ibm.com/systems/support/storage/ssic/interoperability.wss
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Produced in the United States of America
converged storage and server environments required by today’s June 2012
infrastructures.
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