XBR-000217 Brocade 10G Fibre Channel LWL SFP+ Transceiver DCX 8510 6510

Brocade 10G Fibre Channel SFP+ Transceiver

The Brocade XBR-000217 is a high-performance 10G Fibre Channel long-wavelength SFP+ transceiver. Designed for enterprise-grade networking, this optical module ensures reliable single-mode fiber communication with extended reach and stable data transfer.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Brocade
• Part Number: XBR-000217
• Device Type: Transceiver

Technical Specifications

• Data Transfer Rate: 10 Gb/s
• Longwave optical transmission
• Extended reach up to 10 km

Optical Characteristics

• Wavelength: 1310 nm
• Connector Type: Duplex LC
• Single-mode fiber compatibility

Form Factor

• SFP+ hot-swappable design
• Compact and easy integration

Compatibility

• Brocade DCX 8510
• Brocade 6510

Key Benefits

• High-speed 10G Fibre Channel connectivity
• Reliable long-distance transmission up to 10 km
• Energy-efficient optical performance
• Hot-swappable for seamless deployment
• Designed for enterprise and data center environments

Overview of Brocade XBR-000217 10G LWL SFP+ Transceiver 

The Brocade XBR-000217 10G Fibre Channel LWL SFP+ Transceiver represents a high-performance optical networking component designed specifically for long-wave (LWL) Fibre Channel environments operating at 10Gbps speeds. Built for enterprise-grade storage area networks (SANs), this transceiver module is engineered to support mission-critical data transmission between switches, directors, and storage arrays, especially within high-density platforms such as the Brocade DCX 8510 and Brocade 6510 series.

In modern data centers where latency, reliability, and throughput are essential, optical transceivers like the XBR-000217 provide the backbone of seamless storage communication. Developed under the advanced engineering standards of this module ensures compatibility, stability, and optimized performance for Fibre Channel fabrics operating in complex virtualization and cloud environments.

Role of SFP+ Modules in Fibre Channel Architecture

Understanding Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus Technology

SFP+ (Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus) modules are compact, hot-swappable optical transceivers used extensively in high-speed networking environments. The XBR-000217 belongs to the 10G Fibre Channel class, making it suitable for environments where high-throughput storage communication is critical. The SFP+ architecture enables flexible port density, allowing network administrators to scale infrastructure without replacing entire switching systems.

Importance in Storage Area Networks

In SAN deployments, SFP+ modules serve as the physical interface between Fibre Channel switches and optical fiber cabling. The XBR-000217 specifically supports long-wave laser transmission, which is essential for extended-distance connectivity across data center floors, buildings, or campus-wide storage infrastructures. Its integration ensures consistent frame delivery and minimal packet loss across high-speed storage links.

Key Architecture and Optical Design

Long-Wave Laser Transmission Capabilities

The XBR-000217 operates using long-wave laser technology optimized for single-mode fiber optic cabling. This allows data transmission over significantly longer distances compared to short-wave variants. The module is designed to maintain signal integrity across extended ranges, making it suitable for backbone SAN links and inter-switch connections in geographically distributed data centers.

Signal Stability and Error Reduction

One of the defining features of this transceiver is its ability to reduce bit error rates (BER) through precise laser modulation and advanced optical alignment. The internal photonic components are calibrated to ensure minimal dispersion and attenuation, even under heavy traffic loads. This contributes to higher reliability in environments where continuous uptime is mandatory.

Heat Management and Power Efficiency

Designed with enterprise energy efficiency in mind, the module operates at low power consumption levels while maintaining optimal thermal output. Efficient heat dissipation ensures stable operation even in densely populated switch chassis like the DCX 8510 director class platform. This helps prevent thermal throttling and ensures consistent performance across all ports.

Compatibility with Brocade Director and Switch Platforms

Integration with DCX 8510 Series

The XBR-000217 is fully optimized for deployment within the DCX 8510 director class chassis, a high-end backbone switch system used in enterprise SAN environments. This compatibility ensures seamless interoperability with core switching blades, enabling ultra-low latency communication between storage nodes and server clusters.

Support for Brocade 6510 Switch Systems

In addition to director-class platforms, this transceiver is widely deployed in Brocade 6510 Fibre Channel switches. These switches are commonly used in mid-to-large-scale SAN deployments where scalability and performance must coexist. The module ensures consistent 10Gbps throughput across all supported ports, maintaining fabric stability under peak loads.

Backward and Forward Fabric Interoperability

The optical module supports interoperability across multiple Fibre Channel generations, enabling integration with legacy SAN infrastructure while maintaining compatibility with modern high-speed fabrics. This ensures that enterprises can upgrade incrementally without disrupting existing storage networks.

Deployment Scenarios in Enterprise Data Centers

High-Density Virtualized Environments

In virtualized environments where multiple virtual machines share storage resources, the XBR-000217 ensures consistent and predictable access latency. Its high bandwidth capacity allows storage arrays to communicate efficiently with compute nodes, reducing bottlenecks in hyperconverged infrastructures.

Cloud Infrastructure and Private Data Centers

Private cloud environments depend heavily on reliable storage connectivity. The module plays a critical role in enabling high-speed SAN fabrics that support cloud orchestration platforms. Whether used in OpenStack-based architectures or proprietary virtualization platforms, it ensures stable storage performance.

Disaster Recovery and Multi-Site Replication

Long-wave optical transmission makes this transceiver suitable for inter-site replication strategies. Organizations implementing disaster recovery solutions rely on its extended reach capabilities to replicate data across multiple geographic locations while maintaining synchronization and data integrity.

Performance Characteristics and Operational Benefits

10Gbps Dedicated Fibre Channel Throughput

Operating at 10Gbps, the XBR-000217 ensures consistent data flow across SAN environments. This throughput is essential for handling large-scale database transactions, virtualization workloads, and high-performance computing storage demands.

Low Latency Data Transfer

Latency reduction is a core advantage of Fibre Channel architecture, and this transceiver enhances that benefit by ensuring rapid optical signal conversion. The module minimizes buffering delays, enabling near real-time data access for enterprise applications.

Frame-Level Integrity and Loss Prevention

The module is engineered to preserve frame integrity across long-distance transmissions. Advanced error detection and correction mechanisms ensure that data loss is minimized, making it highly suitable for mission-critical storage operations.

Engineering Standards and Manufacturing Quality

Precision Optical Component Design

Each unit of the XBR-000217 is manufactured using precision-aligned optical components that meet strict industry tolerances. This ensures consistent performance across large-scale deployments where hundreds of transceivers may operate simultaneously within a single fabric.

Quality Assurance in Enterprise Hardware

Rigorous testing procedures are applied to each module to validate performance under stress conditions. These include thermal cycling, signal attenuation testing, and interoperability validation with Brocade switching platforms. The result is a highly reliable component suitable for 24/7 operations.

Lifecycle Stability and Maintenance Efficiency

Designed for long operational lifecycles, the module reduces the need for frequent replacements. This lowers maintenance overhead in enterprise environments and contributes to improved total cost of ownership (TCO) for SAN infrastructure.

Network Optimization and Fabric Efficiency

Enhanced Fibre Channel Fabric Scalability

The XBR-000217 enables scalable SAN fabric architectures where additional switches and storage arrays can be integrated without compromising performance. Its consistent signal output ensures uniform performance across all connected nodes.

Load Balancing in Storage Networks

In high-demand environments, traffic distribution across multiple links is essential. This transceiver supports efficient load balancing by maintaining stable throughput across all active connections, preventing congestion in storage pathways.

Redundancy and High Availability Support

Enterprise SAN architectures rely on redundancy to ensure uninterrupted operations. The module supports redundant link configurations, enabling automatic failover in case of hardware or link failure, thus maintaining continuous data availability.

Physical Design and Installation Considerations

Hot-Swappable Design for Operational Flexibility

The SFP+ form factor allows the XBR-000217 to be installed or replaced without shutting down the system. This hot-swappable capability is critical in enterprise environments where downtime must be minimized.

Compact Form Factor for High-Density Switches

Its compact design enables high port density in switches and directors, allowing network architects to maximize infrastructure efficiency while maintaining airflow and cooling performance.

Fiber Optic Cabling Compatibility

The module is designed for use with single-mode fiber optic cabling, ensuring compatibility with long-distance optical networks. Proper alignment and connector standards ensure stable and secure physical connections.

Strategic Importance in Modern SAN Infrastructure

Role in Digital Transformation Initiatives

As enterprises continue to modernize their IT infrastructure, high-speed storage connectivity becomes increasingly important. The XBR-000217 supports digital transformation by enabling scalable, high-performance SAN environments that underpin cloud computing, big data analytics, and AI workloads.

Support for Hybrid IT Architectures

Hybrid infrastructures combining on-premises and cloud resources rely on robust storage networking components. This transceiver ensures seamless data flow across hybrid environments, maintaining consistency between distributed storage systems.