Dell EMC MXG610s Fibre Channel Switch
Fibre Channel IO Module for MX7000 Chassis Deployments
Overview
The Dell EMC Networking MXG610s 32G Fibre Channel IO Module for the PowerEdge MX7000 is designed for mission-critical applications requiring access to external storage. It offers industry-leading performance with the latest generation of Fibre Channel, enabling enterprises to dynamically scale connectivity and bandwidth with Ports-on-Demand (PoD). The module provides consolidated management for an agile structure, simplified server and storage connectivity, and inherent security, with readiness for NVMe over Fibre Channel upgrades.
Optimized for flash storage and highly virtualized server environments, the MXG610s is a high-throughput, high-density, low-latency module purpose-built for the PowerEdge MX7000. It allows enterprises and mid-market companies to cost-effectively integrate the MX7000 chassis into industry-leading 32 Gbps and 16 Gbps Fibre Channel networks, combining cost-effectiveness with high-performance storage networking technology.
The MXG610s facilitates seamless integration with existing Dell EMC Connectrix or Brocade storage networking environments, leveraging Brocade's advanced fabric services for improved performance, visibility, and reliability.
The MXG610s is available in three models: 8-port, 16-port, and 16-port enterprise licensed models.
Key Capabilities
Administrators can achieve optimal bandwidth utilization, high availability, and load balancing by combining up to eight ISLs to form a single 256 Gbps logical trunk. Exchange-based Dynamic Path Selection (DPS) optimizes fabric-wide performance by routing data to the most efficient path. Access Gateway mode simplifies server and storage connectivity in blade environments, enhancing fabric connectivity, scalability, and management.
The MXG610s provides agile management for seamless integration into existing storage network infrastructures. Network analytics capabilities, including Brocade™ Fabric Vision™ technology and VMware integrations, offer intelligent management for dynamic data center environments.
The module offers inherent Fibre Channel security and is ready for NVMe over Fibre Channel implementations.
Combining market-leading Gen 6 throughput, high-density, and low latency, the MXG610s is an ideal choice for enterprises integrating the MX7000 into their data center infrastructure.
Flash-Ready Performance
Gen 6 (32 Gbps) Fibre Channel technology is purpose-built for flash storage and demanding network environments driven by high-density VM deployments. It delivers industry-leading reliability and flash-ready performance, offering up to 4X better performance compared to previous generations. Key benefits include:
- Operational stability: Always-on architecture with industry-leading availability.
- Seamless scalability: Supports tens of thousands of servers and storage connections.
- Security by design: Managed access on isolated networks.
Key Fabric Vision Features
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| IO Insight | Automatically detects degraded storage IO performance with integrated device latency and IOPS monitoring. |
| VM Insight* | Seamlessly monitors end-to-end VM performance through standards-based VM tagging. |
| Dashboards | Customizable health and performance dashboards with critical information on a single screen. |
| MAPS | Automation that simplifies policy-based monitoring and alerting. |
| Fabric Performance Monitoring | Quickly detects and alerts admins to high levels of latency, helping to identify/quarantine slow-drain devices. |
| COMPASS | Simplifies SAN configuration and maintains operational consistency. |
| Flow Vision | Identifies, monitors, and analyzes the performance of various storage traffic. |
| Clearlink Diagnostics | Cable and optic diagnostics to accelerate SAN deployments. |
* Not yet supported on Dell EMC Storage
Three Models for Maximum Flexibility
The Dell EMC MXG610s Fibre Channel I/O module is available in three models: 8-port, 16-port, and 16-port enterprise licensed models. All models support connection to installed Connectrix and other Brocade Fibre Channel networks in native Full Fabric Switch mode, as well as to third-party fabrics like Cisco with Access Gateway (NPIV) mode.
- 16-port Enterprise Model: Ideal for enterprise customers deploying the MX7000 in densely populated blade servers or installed Connectrix/Brocade storage network environments. Includes eight SWL optical transceivers (SFP+) supporting 32/16/8 Gbps FC, Inter-Switch Links (ISL) Trunking, Fabric Vision, and Extended Fabric licenses pre-installed.
- Seamless ISL Trunking aggregates multiple physical links into one logical link for enhanced network performance and fault tolerance, operating in Brocade Access Gateway mode.
- Extended Fabric provides switched fabric connectivity for moving data over longer distances at a lower cost, extending scalability, reliability, and performance benefits of Fibre Channel storage networks for business continuity and disaster recovery solutions.
- 16-port Model: Suitable for deployment with third-party storage networks and densely populated blade servers. Includes four SWL optical transceivers (SFP+) supporting 32/16/8 Gbps FC. Does not include the enterprise software bundle.
- 8-port Model: A good fit for directly attaching an external storage array, especially in branch offices or deployments with sparsely populated chassis. Includes two SWL optical transceivers (SFP+) supporting 32/16/8 Gbps FC. Does not include the enterprise software bundle.
Both 8-port and 16-port models can be upgraded with the optional enterprise software bundle, which includes ISL Trunking, Fabric Vision, and Extended Fabric licenses.
Technical Specifications
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| MXG610s Fibre Channel IO Module | Full featured Gbps Fibre Channel IO Module in MXSeries I/O Sled form factor. |
| Total Fibre Channel Ports | Up to 16 internal server facing and up to 16 external fabric facing ports (8-port increments via Ports on Demand (PoD) license). The 16 internal server facing ports operate at either 16 Gbps or 32 Gbps speed. The 16 external fabric facing ports are available in two types: 8 external SFP+ ports (8Gbps, 16Gbps, or 32Gbps) and 2 external QSFP+ ports (4 ports each at 16Gbps or 32Gbps). |
| Supported Optics | Transceiver, 16Gbps FC, SWL SFP; Transceiver, 16Gbps FC, LWL SFP; Transceiver, 32Gbps FC, SWL SFP; Transceiver, 32Gbps FC, LWL SFP; Transceiver, 16Gbps FC, SW4 QSFP (supports 4x1 Breakout); Transceiver, 32Gbps FC, SW4 QSFP (supports 4x1 Breakout). |
| ANSI Fibre Channel protocol | Fibre Channel Physical and Signaling Interface standard (FC-PH). |
| Modes of operation | Fibre Channel Class 2 and Class 3. |
| Fabric initialization | Complies with FC-SW-3 Rev. 6.6. |
| Scalability | Full-fabric architecture with a maximum of 239 switches. 6,000 active nodes, 56 switches, 19 hops in a Fabric OS® fabrics. |
| Certified maximum | N/A (Implied by scalability). |
| ISL trunking | Frame-based trunking with up to eight ports per ISL trunk for up to 256 Gbps per ISL; supporting trunk Exchange-based load balancing across ISLs with DPS included in Fabric OS®. |
| Max. Switching bandwidth | 1024 Gbps (32 * 32 Gbps) in Full Fabric Switch mode. |
| Max. Throughput | 512 Gbps (16 * 32 Gbps) in Access Gateway mode (default mode). |
| Maximum port-to-port latency | Latency for locally switched ports is ≤ 900 ns (including FEC). |
| Maximum frame size | 2,112-byte payload. |
| Frame buffers | 2,000 dynamically allocated. |
| Classes of services | Class 2, Class 3, Class F (inter-switch frames). |
| Port types | F_Port, E_Port, M_Port, D_Port (ClearLink Diagnostic Port), N_Port. |
| Data traffic types | Fabric switch supporting unicast. |
| Fabric Services | Monitoring and Alerting Policy Suite (MAPS); Flow Vision; Brocade Adaptive Networking (Traffic Isolation, QoS); Fabric Performance Impact (FPI) Monitoring; Slow Drain Device Quarantine (SDDQ); Brocade Advanced Zoning; Dynamic Fabric Provisioning (DFP); Dynamic Path Selection (DPS); Brocade Extended Fabrics; Enhanced BB credit recovery; FDMI; Frame Redirection; Frame-based Trunking; FSPF; Brocade ISL Trunking; Management Server; NPIV; NTPv3; Registered State Change Notification (RSCN); Reliable Commit Service (RCS); Simple Name Server (SNS); Read Diagnostics Parameter (RDP), VM Insight. (Note: Some fabric services may not apply or are unavailable in Access Gateway mode.) |
| Supported management software | HTTP, SNMP v1/v3 (FE MIB, FC Management MIB), SSH; Auditing, Syslog; Brocade Advanced Web Tools; Command Line Interface (CLI); SMI-S compliant; Administrative Domains; trial licenses for add-on capabilities. |
| Security | DH-CHAP (between switches and end devices), FCAP switch authentication; HTTPS, IPsec, IP filtering, LDAP with IPv6, OpenLDAP, Port Binding, RADIUS, TACACS+, User-defined Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Secure Copy (SCP), Secure RPC, Secure Syslog, SFTP, SSH v2, SSL, Switch Binding, Trusted Switch. |
| Management access | 1 micro USB type B port for console/management. |
| Diagnostic | ClearLink optics and cable diagnostics, including electrical/optical loopback, link traffic/latency/distance; flow mirroring; built-in flow generator; POST and embedded online/offline diagnostics, including environmental monitoring, FCping and Pathinfo (FC traceroute), frame viewer, non-disruptive daemon restart, optics health monitoring, power monitoring, RAStrace logging, and Rolling Reboot Detection (RRD). |
Physical Specifications
Form Factor: Full featured Gbps Fibre Channel IO Module in MXSeries I/O Sled form factor.
Port: 1 micro USB type B port for console/management port access.
Dimensions: 1.08" H x 8.44" W x 9.49" D
Weight: 3.79 lbs (1.72 kg)
Power Consumption: Max. 60 Watts; Typ. 57 Watts.
Operating Conditions:
- Standard Operating Temperature: -5°C to 50°C (23°F to 122°F)
- Operating Relative Humidity: 5% to 95%, non-condensing
Non-Operating Conditions:
- Storage Temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)
- Storage Humidity: 5% to 95% (RH) with 33°C (91°F) maximum dew point
- Expanded Operating Temperature, Continuous Operation: 5°C to 50°C at 5% to 85% RH with 29°C dew point
Redundancy: Redundant Power and Cooling provided by Dell EMC PowerEdge MX7000 Chassis.
Regulatory Compliance
Safety
- UL/CSA 60950-1, Second Edition
- EN 60950-1, Second Edition
- IEC 60950-1, Second Edition Including all National Deviations and Group Differences
- EN 60825-1 Safety of Laser Products Part 1: Equipment Classification Requirements and User's Guide
- EN 60825-2 Safety of Laser Products Part 2: Safety of Optical Fiber Communication Systems
- FDA Regulation 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11
Emissions
- Australia/New Zealand: AS/NZS CISPR 32:2015, Class A
- Canada: ICES-3/NMB-3, Class A
- Europe: EN 55024:2010 (CISPR 24:2010), Class A
- Japan: VCCI V-3/2010.04 Class A
- USA: FCC CFR 47 Part 15, Subpart B:2011, Class A
Immunity
- EN 300 386 V1.6.1 EMC for Network Equipment
- EN 55024:2010
- EN 61000-3-2: Harmonic Current Emissions
- EN 61000-3-3: Voltage Fluctuations and Flicker
- EN 61000-4-2: ESD
- EN 61000-4-3: Radiated Immunity
- EN 61000-4-4: EFT
- EN 61000-4-5: Surge
- EN 61000-4-6: Low Frequency Conducted Immunity
RoHS
- EN 50581:2012: All MXG610s components are EU RoHS compliant.
* Partial support
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