Capellix™ 2000 Series Stackable SAN Switches

Overview

Capellix Chassis Switches The Gadzoox® Networks Capellix 2000 series is the industry's first line of stackable SAN switches. Comprised of three models, each with eight ports and a versatile expansion slot‚ the Capellix 2000 series offers a choice of affordable entry-level SAN switches with high-end expandability and extensibility. The choices include:

  • Capellix 2000G:
    Eight GBIC ports provide pay-as-you-grow flexibility and port-to-port media selection. Best for a configuration with mixed media, or when upgrading from a GBIC-based Fibre Channel hub, or for a configuration with a high number of long-wave ports.
  • Capellix 2000F:
    Eight dual-SC integrated optical ports offer the best value when three or more optical ports are needed. Integrated Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser (VCSEL) transceivers provide link reliability.

  • Capellix 2000C:
    Eight HSSDC integrated copper ports offer an entry-level price for building cost-effective clusters. Enables use of SAN switching in place of hub or problematic SCSI bus implementations. Best for primarily intracabinet connectivity or price-sensitive installations.

Each Capellix 2000 series model is designed to accommodate port expansion‚ multi-gigabit backbone uplinks and switch stacking capabilities via a plug-in module (PIM). Based on the same record-setting, high-performance switch engine as the Capellix 3000 modular switch‚ the Capellix 2000 series provides an optimum blend of price‚ performance‚ and scalability for Windows®, Linux®, and NetWare® environments.


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Features

  • Three Models
    2000G: 8 GBIC Ports
    2000C: HSSDC Ports (Copper)
    2000F: 8 Dual SC Ports (Multimode Fibre Optic)
  • 12 Gbps switch engine
  • 8 ports expandable to 11 with optional PIM (plug-in module)
  • Multi-Gbps uplink provided by optional PIM
  • Stackable scalability from 8 to 32 ports provided by optional PIM
  • Reflex™ II Name Server with intelligent state change notification
  • Ventana SANtools management
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Performance

The Capellix 2000 series is an extension of Gadzoox Networks’ market-leading Capellix family of switch products. Powered by a 12 Gbps switch engine‚ the Capellix 2000 series has the bandwidth to support additional ports which can be added via the plug-in module expansion slot. In addition to non-blocking throughput, the Capellix 2000 series’ native‚ hardware-based‚ FC-AL switching has the lowest latency of any SAN switch on the market today for demanding, high-transaction applications.

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Scalability and Modular Flexibility

The Capellix 2000 series can scale from 8 to 32 ports without the need to create complex meshes. To support enterprise-class, campus-wide SANs‚ the Capellix 2000 series can support fabric links to the SAN backbone and high-speed links through future PIM options. Unlike fixed-configuration switches that lack expansion options‚ the Capellix 2000 series grows with the needs of the SAN environment (Figure 1).

Hierarchical SAN Topology

Figure 1 - Capellix 2000 compliments the Capellix 3000
and Gibraltar hub in a hierarchical SAN topology

  • If you need an extra port or two, add the 3-port GBIC PIM to expand any Capellix 2000 model to an 11-port switch.
  • If you need an extra box or two, stack up to four Capellix 2000’s for 32 ports of Fibre Channel connectivity.
  • If remote backup or mirroring for high availability are a requirement, add the 3-port PIM to connect SAN clusters to the SAN backbone or other clusters up to 10km away, and still have eight ports available for cluster connectivity.
  • If 2 Gbps Fibre Channel uplinks are in your plans, you can help future-proof your storage cluster with any Capellix 2000 and its modular expansion slot.

No other eight-port switch on the market offers the scalability and flexibility of the Capellix 2000 stackable SAN switch series (Figure 2).

Port Expansion

Uplink

Stacking

Add three more ports to expand cluster connectivity to 11 ports.

Redundant uplinks (up to 10km) to SAN backbone, other SAN clusters, or future 2Gbps Fibre Channel products.

Stack up to four 2000’s to provide 32 switched Fibre Channel ports.


Figure 2 - Capellix 2000 PIM Modular Flexibility

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Interoperability

The Capellix 2000 series is a native FC-AL switch that uses the most common Fibre Channel protocol to enable "plug and play" solutions. No software upgrades or keys are required to get the switch up and running. The unique design enables the switch to work with current and future Fibre Channel fabric and loop HBAs‚ RAID controllers and storage devices.

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Resiliency

Moves‚ adds‚ changes‚ power cycles and bad cables are all events that can cause the complete reset of the typical Fibre Channel switch. To help ensure network stability and to contain normally disruptive events that would compromise data streaming applications‚ the Capellix 2000 series incorporates the Reflex II Name Server with intelligent‚ policy-based state change notification. The name server provides management of LIP events and address conflict resolution with selective state change notification. Unlike typical switches which support FC-AL through software emulation without an active name server‚ the Capellix 2000 is designed to provide unmatched stability for environments that use the FC-AL protocol. This capability makes the Capellix 2000 series with the Reflex II Name Server the optimum solution for streaming environments such as tape backup and digital video.

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Management

The Capellix 2000 series is managed by Gadzoox Networks’ proven Ventana SAN management software:

Ventana SANtools GX‚ the basic version of the management software‚ comes pre-configured with every Capellix 2000 series switch. Once configured, intelligent agents monitor the link health, helping systems and network administrators to meet customers’ expectations for high levels of service to ensure access to business critical applications.

Ventana SANtools GXS‚ an advanced version of the management software‚ offers a value-added software package for SAN administrators who require web-based management. Also provided in Ventana SANtools GXS is the SNMP support required to manage a Capellix 2000 series switch with third-party enterprise and storage management frameworks.

Ventana SANtools Management

GX

GXS

FC-AL Support

Fabric Support

PIM Support

Reflex II Name Server

Zoning

Telnet

Menu-driven Interface

FC MIB 2.2

 

Web Management

 

SNMP

 

Third-Party Snap-ins

 

 

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Reliability and Serviceability

Embedded agents in the Capellix 2000 series enable the user to configure and monitor the fans‚ power supply‚ PIMs‚ GBICs‚ and ports. Performance monitoring includes per-port statistics on frames transmitted and received‚ link utilization and tenancy counts. Ventana SANtools upgrades are supported via a direct ethernet network interface or TFTP downloads.

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Technical Specifications

Functional Specifications:

  • Switch Engine: 12 Gbps
  • Communications modes: Full Duplex, Diplex
  • Data transfer latency: <500 nanoseconds, 280 nanoseconds typical
  • Number of pim slots: 1
  • Protocols supported:
    • FC-AL
    • FC-AL-2
    • FC-PH
    • FC-PH-2
    • FC-PH-3
    • FC-PLDA
    • FCP
  • Management Access: Local Console via RS232, SNMP via 10Base-T, Telnet
  • Management Interface: ASCII via RS232, Ventana SANtools via 10Base-T
  • Management Standards: IETF Fibre Channel Management MIB, Fabric Element MIB

Model Offerings:

  • Capellix 2000G: 8 GBIC Ports
  • Capellix 2000C: 8 HSSDC Ports (Copper)
  • Capellix 2000F: 8 Dual SC Ports (Multi-mode Fiber Optic)

Chassis Physical Specifications:

  • 1U, Rackmountable
  • H)1.66in/42mm W)17.3in/439mm D)16.26in/413mm
  • Weight: Net - 10.9lbs (4.94kg)

Chassis Electrical Specifications:

  • AC Voltage: 100-240 VAC, 50-60 Hz
  • Power Supply: (1) 1.5A, 100W, Fixed

PIM Option:

  • Model 210: 3-port GBIC 1Gbps Fibre Channel Switch Plug-in Module

Environmental Specifications:

  • Operating Temperature: +10ºC to +40ºC
  • Storage Temperature: -30ºC to +60ºC
  • Operating Humidity: 20% to 80% Non-condensing

Safety Compliance:

  • USA: UL 1950, 1995 3rd Edition
  • Canada: CSA C22.2 No. 950-95, 3rd Edition
  • European Union (EU) & Nordic:
    • EN 60950:1992 A1/A2/A3/A4/A11
    • EMKO - TSE (74- sec) 207/94
  • Other Countries:
    • IEC 60950: A1/A2/A3/A4
    • CB Scheme Report to Bulletin 94A1

EMC Compliance:

  • USA: CFR 47, Part 15, Subpart b:1998, Class A
  • Canada: ICES-003, Class A
  • European Union (EU):
    • EN 55022:1994 Class A;
    • EN 61000-3-2: 1995
    • EN 61000-3-3: 1995
    • EN 50024: 1998
  • Japan:
    • VCCI v3: 1997, Class A
    • JEIDA Guideline for the Suppression of Harmonics: 1993
  • Australia / New Zealand: AS/NZS 3548/95, Class A
  • Other Countries: CISPR 22: 1997, CISPR 24: 1997

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