P08476-B21 HPE 16GB 24-Port Fibre Channel Module

Details of HPE 16GB 24-Port Fibre Channel Module

The HPE P08476-B21 Virtual Connect 16GB 24-Port Fibre Channel Module is engineered for seamless integration within the HPE c-Class BladeSystem. This advanced connectivity solution delivers high-speed Fibre Channel networking with simplified management and optimized cabling efficiency.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard Enterprise
• Part Number: P08476-B21
• Device Category: Fibre Channel Switching Module

Technical Specifications

• 24 active Fibre Channel interfaces
• 16 internal downlink connections to blade servers
• 8 external uplink ports supporting 16Gb SFP+ modules

Performance & Bandwidth

• Line speed: 16 Gbps per port
• Total throughput: Up to 768 Gbps switching fabric
• Latency: Ultra-low ~700ns fabric delay
• Backward compatibility: Auto-negotiation for 8Gb and 4Gb Fibre Channel

Blade Infrastructure Compatibility

• Designed for HPE BladeSystem c3000 enclosures
• Optimized for HPE BladeSystem c7000 c-Class chassis

Key Benefits

• Enhanced scalability for enterprise workloads
• Reduced cabling complexity and improved efficiency
• Seamless integration with HPE BladeSystem infrastructure
• Future-ready support for legacy Fibre Channel environments

HPE P08476-B21 16GB 24-Port Fibre Channel Module Overview

The HPE P08476-B21 Virtual Connect 16GB 24-Port Fibre Channel Module is designed to simplify storage networking for HPE BladeSystem c-Class environments while delivering exceptional Fibre Channel connectivity, performance, scalability, and management capabilities. Organizations deploying virtualization, enterprise databases, cloud infrastructure, private data centers, and mission-critical applications require reliable Storage Area Network (SAN) connectivity that minimizes complexity without compromising speed or availability. This Virtual Connect Fibre Channel module fulfills those requirements by providing high-performance 16Gb Fibre Channel connectivity with intelligent virtualization features specifically engineered for HPE BladeSystem c-Class enclosures.

Modern enterprise storage infrastructures require consistent throughput, simplified administration, and resilient connectivity to support rapidly expanding workloads. The HPE P08476-B21 module integrates seamlessly into BladeSystem c-Class environments, enabling administrators to create flexible SAN fabrics while reducing cabling complexity and simplifying server deployment. Rather than requiring extensive Fibre Channel switch configuration for every server addition or replacement, Virtual Connect technology abstracts server identities from the physical infrastructure, making hardware lifecycle management considerably easier.

Enterprise Fibre Channel Connectivity for Blade Infrastructure

High-performance storage connectivity is essential for organizations running business-critical applications. The HPE P08476-B21 Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Module provides 24 Fibre Channel ports operating at up to 16Gb speeds, enabling blade servers to communicate efficiently with enterprise storage systems while maintaining low latency and consistent performance.

Unlike conventional networking architectures that require administrators to reconfigure SAN switches whenever servers are replaced or relocated, Virtual Connect technology allows administrators to preserve server identities independently of the underlying hardware. This capability significantly reduces deployment time while minimizing configuration errors that can affect storage availability.

Optimized Storage Traffic Management

Storage traffic differs significantly from standard Ethernet communication because it demands predictable latency, high throughput, and minimal packet loss. The HPE Virtual Connect 16Gb Fibre Channel Module is engineered specifically for SAN environments where reliable block-level storage communication is critical. By supporting high-speed Fibre Channel protocols, organizations can efficiently connect blade servers to centralized storage arrays without introducing unnecessary complexity.

Designed for HPE BladeSystem c-Class Platforms

The module is purpose-built for HPE BladeSystem c-Class enclosures, ensuring seamless compatibility with supported blade servers, interconnect bays, Virtual Connect management tools, and enterprise storage infrastructure. Its architecture complements existing BladeSystem deployments while allowing organizations to modernize storage connectivity without redesigning the complete data center network.

16Gb Fibre Channel Performance for Modern Workloads

Enterprise applications continue to demand greater storage bandwidth as virtualization density, analytics workloads, and transactional databases increase. The HPE P08476-B21 module supports 16Gb Fibre Channel technology, delivering significantly improved performance compared to previous Fibre Channel generations.

Higher bandwidth enables faster storage access for applications that process large datasets, execute frequent database transactions, or support hundreds of simultaneous virtual machines. The increased speed also contributes to shorter backup windows, accelerated storage replication, and improved disaster recovery operations.

Support for Virtualized Data Centers

Virtualization platforms rely heavily on shared storage infrastructures. Multiple virtual machines simultaneously accessing centralized storage require reliable Fibre Channel connectivity capable of sustaining continuous I/O operations. The Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Module enables virtualized environments to maintain consistent storage performance while simplifying infrastructure management.

Efficient Workload Consolidation

Organizations increasingly consolidate multiple applications onto fewer physical servers to maximize hardware utilization. As consolidation increases, storage traffic also grows. The HPE 16Gb Fibre Channel module supports these evolving environments by providing scalable connectivity capable of handling intensive storage communication across multiple blade servers.

Virtual Connect Technology Simplifies Infrastructure

One of the defining characteristics of the HPE Virtual Connect family is infrastructure abstraction. Instead of binding server identities directly to physical networking components, Virtual Connect creates logical server profiles that remain consistent even when hardware changes occur.

This abstraction significantly reduces operational complexity. Administrators can replace blade servers without modifying SAN zoning, storage mappings, or network identities, allowing faster maintenance while reducing operational risk.

Logical Server Profiles

Server profiles define Fibre Channel addresses, connection assignments, and other identity parameters independently from the physical blade hardware. These profiles can be reassigned when hardware is replaced, reducing downtime and simplifying hardware lifecycle management.

Reduced Administrative Overhead

Traditional Fibre Channel environments often require multiple teams to coordinate storage, networking, and server configuration changes. Virtual Connect streamlines these processes by allowing many configuration tasks to be completed through centralized management interfaces.

24-Port Fibre Channel Architecture

The twenty-four Fibre Channel ports provide extensive connectivity options for blade server environments requiring high availability and scalable storage networking. Multiple uplinks allow organizations to design redundant SAN fabrics while supporting future expansion as storage requirements increase.

Flexible SAN Topologies

The HPE P08476-B21 module supports deployment in various enterprise storage architectures. Whether organizations operate dual-fabric SANs, redundant storage controllers, clustered environments, or geographically distributed infrastructures, the module accommodates flexible connectivity requirements while maintaining enterprise-grade reliability.

High Availability Design

Redundant Fibre Channel paths improve fault tolerance by allowing storage communication to continue even if individual links experience failures. This redundancy supports mission-critical applications requiring continuous storage access with minimal interruption.

Optimized for Enterprise Storage Arrays

Enterprise storage arrays from leading vendors rely on Fibre Channel connectivity to deliver low-latency access for databases, virtualization clusters, and transactional workloads. The HPE Virtual Connect 16Gb Fibre Channel Module integrates efficiently with these storage environments, supporting dependable communication between blade servers and SAN infrastructure.

Organizations deploying all-flash arrays, hybrid storage systems, or high-capacity enterprise storage benefit from the bandwidth and reliability offered by 16Gb Fibre Channel technology.

Database Performance

Relational databases generate continuous storage transactions that require consistent throughput and predictable latency. The Fibre Channel module supports these demanding environments by providing stable connectivity that enables efficient database operations.

Storage Consolidation

Many organizations centralize storage resources to improve utilization, simplify management, and enhance backup strategies. Centralized SAN architectures become easier to manage when Virtual Connect technology minimizes configuration complexity for blade server deployments.

Scalability for Growing Enterprise Environments

Business growth frequently requires expanding compute resources without disrupting production services. The HPE P08476-B21 module supports scalable BladeSystem deployments by allowing additional blade servers to be integrated into existing SAN infrastructures with minimal configuration changes.

Support for Expanding Virtual Infrastructure

As virtualization clusters grow, storage connectivity must expand proportionally. The Virtual Connect Fibre Channel module provides sufficient bandwidth and connectivity to support increasing virtual machine density while maintaining efficient storage communication.

Centralized Infrastructure Management

Managing complex enterprise infrastructure becomes increasingly difficult as server counts grow. Virtual Connect management capabilities simplify configuration by allowing administrators to centrally manage storage connectivity across multiple blade servers from unified interfaces.

This centralized approach reduces repetitive configuration tasks while improving deployment consistency throughout the data center.

Simplified Provisioning

Provisioning new blade servers traditionally involves configuring Fibre Channel switches, storage zoning, host bus adapter settings, and server identities. Virtual Connect automates much of this process through reusable server profiles that accelerate deployments.

Operational Consistency

Standardized configuration templates help ensure consistent storage connectivity across production, development, testing, and disaster recovery environments, reducing operational variation that can introduce troubleshooting complexity.

Support for Business-Critical Applications

Organizations rely on Fibre Channel infrastructure to support workloads where storage responsiveness directly influences business operations. Enterprise resource planning systems, financial databases, healthcare applications, engineering software, analytics platforms, and virtualization clusters all benefit from reliable SAN connectivity.

The HPE Virtual Connect 16GB Fibre Channel Module provides dependable communication between compute and storage resources, enabling applications to maintain consistent access to critical datasets.

Mission-Critical Reliability

High availability remains a primary objective for enterprise storage environments. Redundant Fibre Channel paths, centralized management, and enterprise-grade hardware contribute to infrastructure resilience that supports continuous business operations.

Consistent Storage Access

Predictable storage performance is essential for applications requiring uninterrupted access to shared storage resources. The Virtual Connect architecture helps maintain consistent connectivity throughout normal operations and maintenance activities.

Compatibility Within HPE Infrastructure

The HPE P08476-B21 Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Module is designed specifically for HPE BladeSystem c-Class infrastructure, allowing organizations to maximize existing investments while benefiting from integrated management capabilities. Compatibility across supported HPE blade servers, enclosures, and management software simplifies deployment and ongoing administration.

Integration with Existing Data Centers

Organizations operating established BladeSystem environments can introduce the module into existing SAN architectures without fundamentally redesigning their infrastructure. This compatibility supports incremental modernization strategies that minimize operational disruption.

Enterprise-Class Reliability Standards

HPE enterprise hardware is engineered for continuous operation within demanding data center environments. The Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Module follows these design principles by supporting dependable connectivity, long-term operational stability, and efficient infrastructure management.

Advantages of 16Gb Fibre Channel Technology

Compared to earlier Fibre Channel generations, 16Gb technology provides substantially improved throughput while maintaining backward compatibility with many existing SAN investments. Organizations upgrading legacy storage infrastructures can realize improved performance without replacing every component simultaneously.

Higher bandwidth enables storage arrays to serve increasing numbers of workloads while supporting modern applications that generate intensive storage traffic. The improved efficiency also contributes to better utilization of enterprise storage resources.

Improved Storage Efficiency

Faster storage communication allows applications to complete data-intensive operations more efficiently. Database queries, virtualization workloads, backup operations, and storage replication processes all benefit from increased Fibre Channel performance.

Enhanced Resource Utilization

Efficient storage connectivity helps organizations maximize utilization of enterprise storage arrays, blade servers, and virtualization infrastructure while maintaining responsive application performance.