P29156-001 HPE SN8700B 8 Slot Director Blade Switch.

P29156-001 HPE SN8700B 8 Slot Director SPS Core Blade Switch Overview

The P29156-001 HPE SN8700B 8 Slot Director SPS Core Blade Switch is a high-performance, enterprise-class networking component engineered for data center environments that demand uncompromising reliability, scalability, and throughput. As part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise's cutting-edge SN8700B switch series, this specific model supports extensive fiber channel capabilities, massive bandwidth, and superior redundancy, making it ideal for mission-critical workloads in large-scale enterprise or cloud data center environments.

Advanced Architecture of the HPE SN8700B Core Blade Switch

Designed with modular scalability in mind, the HPE SN8700B features an 8-slot chassis that can support a variety of blade configurations. Each blade is engineered to provide maximum throughput while maintaining minimal latency. The modular nature allows data center administrators to adapt the switch's performance based on current and future needs.

High-Speed Fabric Architecture

With the inclusion of the Director SPS (Switching Power Supply) core blade, the switch guarantees stable power distribution across the fabric modules. The high-speed backplane ensures that bandwidth is never a bottleneck, even under demanding traffic loads. The SN8700B switch series, including the P29156-001 model, is engineered to handle up to 512 Fibre Channel ports, each supporting speeds up to 64 Gbps.

Dynamic Slot Management

The switch’s 8-slot architecture supports a combination of control processor blades, core switching blades, and port blades. This separation of control and data paths improves system stability and performance under various configurations. It allows IT teams to tailor the hardware to exact operational demands while ensuring high availability.

Data Center-Class Performance and Reliability

The P29156-001 HPE SN8700B switch has been built to support enterprise-level redundancy and uptime. By incorporating hot-swappable components, dual redundant power supplies, and redundant cooling, it supports 24/7 operation without compromising performance or reliability.

Redundancy and High Availability Features

Every component within the SN8700B director-class switch is built with redundancy in mind. From power to cooling fans, everything is hot-swappable and operates under a non-disruptive architecture. Redundant switching cores ensure no single point of failure can jeopardize system uptime. Failover occurs instantly, allowing workloads to continue seamlessly.

Failover Capabilities

The SN8700B supports stateful failover for its control processor modules, ensuring that system states are retained during switchover events. This makes it ideal for financial, healthcare, and government applications where uptime is critical.

Firmware Upgrade Without Downtime

With features like non-disruptive firmware upgrades, enterprises can ensure their networking hardware stays up-to-date without any interruptions in service.

Flexible Deployment Scenarios and Use Cases

The modular design and robust feature set of the SN8700B 8-slot core blade switch allow it to be deployed in various environments, ranging from enterprise data centers to managed service provider (MSP) facilities and hyperscale cloud architectures.

Large-Scale SAN (Storage Area Network) Environments

The SN8700B supports high-density Fibre Channel connectivity, making it a premier choice for modern SAN deployments. It supports zoning, trunking, and multipathing, which are essential for managing complex storage networks.

Multi-Tenant Cloud and Virtualized Data Centers

The SN8700B’s ability to isolate and prioritize traffic through quality-of-service (QoS) policies allows cloud providers to manage tenant workloads efficiently. It supports NPIV (N_Port ID Virtualization) and virtual fabric technology, enabling maximum flexibility and scalability.

Comprehensive Management Capabilities

Managing the SN8700B is simplified through a suite of HPE and Brocade software tools designed for full visibility and control over data flow, hardware health, and security policies.

HPE SANnav Management Software Integration

HPE SANnav provides a centralized graphical user interface (GUI) and automation framework for managing SN8700B switches. This includes real-time monitoring, performance analysis, proactive alerting, and historical trending.

Command-Line Interface (CLI) and Scripting

Network administrators also benefit from a powerful CLI and RESTful API support, allowing for detailed configuration management and integration into DevOps workflows. Scripting and automation streamline operations, reducing manual errors and improving efficiency.

Security and Compliance Features

The SN8700B includes a suite of security features designed to meet enterprise compliance requirements. Features such as role-based access control (RBAC), RADIUS/TACACS+ authentication, and secure firmware downloads ensure the integrity of your network fabric.

Role-Based Access Control

RBAC ensures that different levels of administrative access are available for various users. This helps in limiting accidental or unauthorized changes while maintaining secure access protocols.

Encryption and Data Integrity

Although native encryption is handled primarily at the storage level, the SN8700B supports secure management sessions and encrypted communication channels between devices to ensure data in motion is protected.

Energy Efficiency and Environmental Considerations

The SN8700B switch is engineered to be energy efficient, with intelligent power and thermal management features. Each module is optimized for minimal power draw while delivering high data throughput.

Smart Cooling and Thermal Sensors

Integrated thermal sensors monitor internal temperatures, allowing the system to dynamically adjust fan speeds and power draw to reduce energy consumption. This supports enterprise sustainability initiatives without sacrificing performance.

Energy Star and RoHS Compliance

The SN8700B series adheres to global standards for energy efficiency and environmental compliance, including RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and Energy Star certifications. This ensures responsible energy use and environmental impact.

Scalability for Future Data Center Growth

As data centers continue to expand their virtualization and storage needs, the P29156-001 HPE SN8700B remains a future-proof investment. Its modular design and scalable performance allow enterprises to expand capacity without replacing the core infrastructure.

Seamless Expansion

Additional slot modules can be added without requiring downtime or disrupting service. This allows businesses to grow their infrastructure organically as demand increases, reducing the need for large upfront capital investment.

Support for Emerging Technologies

The SN8700B supports emerging storage technologies, including NVMe over Fibre Channel and Gen 7 Fibre Channel, preparing your data center for future standards and compatibility.

Compatibility with Existing HPE Infrastructure

The P29156-001 HPE SN8700B is designed for seamless integration with existing HPE ecosystem components, including HPE Primera, Nimble Storage, and HPE Alletra storage arrays. It ensures compatibility across your storage fabric, minimizing integration costs.

Unified Fabric Architecture

Using standardized interfaces and protocols, the SN8700B supports a unified fabric that simplifies infrastructure management while ensuring consistent performance across servers and storage arrays.

The P29156-001 HPE SN8700B for Enterprise Networks

The SN8700B offers exceptional benefits for enterprise IT departments looking to optimize their infrastructure for performance, scalability, and reliability. Whether you’re consolidating your data center, scaling up your SAN infrastructure, or moving toward cloud-native architectures, this director-class switch provides a strong foundation.

Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Thanks to its efficient design and robust management features, enterprises can reduce operational overhead and extend the lifecycle of their infrastructure investments.

Unmatched Performance

The high-density, low-latency design ensures that your network keeps pace with demanding workloads such as AI, big data analytics, and real-time transaction processing.

Extended Lifecycle Services

Lifecycle services include hardware health assessments, firmware upgrades, and optimization services to ensure your SN8700B is always performing at peak capacity.

Global Availability and Channel

The P29156-001 is available through HPE’s extensive network of global partners and authorized resellers, ensuring timely delivery, deployment, and local technical expertise.