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IBM

IBM 42D0491 System X 1 X Fc Fibre Channel switch module

SKU CH-9R4F-2RJVG

Single-port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel switch module with PCI Express x4 host interface and 1 MB SRAM plus 2 KB NVRAM

  • Single-port 8 Gbps Fibre Channel connectivity
  • PCI Express x4 host interface for high throughput
  • Backward compatible with PCI Express 1.0a
  • On-board 1 MB SRAM and 2 KB NVRAM
  • New condition ready for deployment

Single-port Fibre Channel module

The IBM 42D0491 System X module adds one 8 Gbps Fibre Channel port to a server through a PCI Express x4 slot. It is built for direct connection to a Fibre Channel SAN where a single fabric path is sufficient. On-board memory consists of 1 Mb SRAM and 2 Kb NVRAM. The card is backward compatible with PCI Express 1.0a.

Single-path SAN attachment

This module suits administrators who need a single, dedicated Fibre Channel link for boot-from-SAN, tape backup or clustered storage access. It does not serve environments that require multiple concurrent fabric connections or higher port density. Builders without an available PCI Express x4 slot cannot install it.

PCI Express x4 host interface

The card requires one PCI Express x4 slot and negotiates down to PCI Express 1.0a if the platform does not support a newer generation. Confirm the slot type and physical clearance before purchase.

How it compares

Measured against everything we stock in Switch Modules, Transceivers & Add-Ons, at today’s prices. Recalculated every night.

Price $29.99
Cheaper than about 78% of the 1,517 comparable items (median $68.99).

Specifications

Product
Brand nameIBM

Questions about this item

Does the 42D0491 module ship with cables or SFP transceivers, or must those be purchased separately?

The module provides one 8Gbps Fibre Channel port via a PCIe x4 host interface; cables and transceivers are not included and must be sourced separately.

The spec lists 1 Mb SRAM and 2 Kb NVRAM — is that the only memory option or are larger buffers available?

The 42D0491 ships with 1 Mb SRAM and 2 Kb NVRAM as standard; no alternative memory capacities are offered for this module.

What real-world throughput can I expect from the 8Gbps Fibre Channel link when the card is installed in a PCIe 1.0a x4 slot?

In a PCIe 1.0a x4 slot the host bus caps at roughly 16 Gbps, so the 8Gbps Fibre Channel port can run at line rate without host-side bottleneck.

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