IBM Flex System FC3052 2-port 8Gb FC Adapter

The network architecture on the IBM Flex System platform has been specifically designed to address network challenges, giving you a scalable way to integrate, optimize, and automate your data center. The IBM Flex System™ FC3052 2-port 8Gb Fibre Channel Adapter enables high-speed access for IBM Flex System compute nodes to an external storage area network (SAN). This adapter is based on the proven Emulex Fibre Channel stack, and works with any of the 8 Gb or 16 Gb IBM Flex System Fibre Channel switch and pass-thru modules.

The performance bottleneck with Fibre Channel storage typically exists in the switching. By moving to 8 Gb adapters and switches, you can localize the bottleneck to the storage controller, where it can be managed by expanding the disks attached to storage. When compared to the previous generation 4 Gb adapters, the new generation 8 Gb adapters double the throughput speeds for Fibre Channel traffic. As a result, you can manage increased amounts of data and possibly benefit from a reduced hardware expense.

The adapter connects to the midplane directly, without having to use cables or small form-factor pluggable (SFP) modules. By eliminating these components for up to 14 servers, the resulting savings alone can cover the investment in the chassis.

Features:

The IBM Flex System FC3052 2-port 8Gb FC Adapter has the following features and specifications:

• Based on the Emulex "Saturn" 8Gb Fibre Channel I/O Controller (IOC) chip
• Multifunction PCIe 2.0 device with two independent FC ports
• Auto-negotiation between 2-Gbps, 4-Gbps, or 8-Gbps FC link attachments
• Complies with the PCIe base and CEM 2.0 specifications
• Enablement of high-speed and dual-port connection to a Fibre Channel SAN
• Comprehensive virtualization capabilities with support for N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) and Virtual Fabric
• Simplified installation and configuration using common HBA drivers
• Common driver model that eases management and enables upgrades independent of HBA firmware
• Fibre Channel specifications:
• Bandwidth: Burst transfer rate of up to 1600 MBps full-duplex per port
• Support for point-to-point fabric connection: F-Port Fabric Login
• Support for Fibre Channel Arbitrated Loop (FC-AL) and FCAL-2 FL-Port Login
• Support for Fibre Channel services class 2 and 3
• Single-chip design with two independent 8 Gbps serial Fibre Channel ports, each of which provides:
• Reduced instruction set computer (RISC) processor
• Integrated serializer/deserializer
• Receive direct memory access (DMA) sequencer
• Frame buffer
• Onboard DMA: DMA controller for each port: Transmit and receive
• Frame buffer first in, first out (FIFO): Integrated transmit and receive frame buffer for each data channel
• Support for IBM Fabric Manager
• Support for UEFI
• Uses same FC/FCoE drivers as IBM Flex System CN4054 10Gb Virtual Fabric Adapter