Comprehensive Product Overview

The Brocade G610 (BR-G610-24-32G-0) is a high-density, cost-effective Gen6 Fibre Channel (FC) switch designed by Broadcom (formerly Brocade) to address the performance and scalability needs of modern SMB and mid-market data centers. As a 1U rack-mountable solution with 24 active 32Gbps SFP+ ports (pre-configured with 24x 32G SWL transceivers), it delivers wire-speed FC performance, low-latency I/O, and robust fabric management capabilities.

Built for flash storage and NVMe environments, the G610 supports auto-sensing of 4G, 8G, 16G, and 32G FC speeds, enabling seamless integration with legacy and next-generation storage arraysBroadcom TechDocs. It leverages Brocade Fabric OS (FOS) and Fabric Vision technology to simplify SAN management, enhance visibility, and reduce operational costs. With a fixed single power supply and four integrated fans, the switch ensures high availability (99.999% uptime) and efficient cooling for continuous operation.

The BR-G610-24-32G-0 is ideal for organizations looking to deploy a compact, high-performance SAN switch that scales on demand—supporting dynamic Ports-on-Demand (PoD) for future expansion and compatibility with Brocade’s full fabric architecture (up to 239 switches per fabric).

Key Features & Business Benefits

Key Features

• 24x Active 32Gbps SFP+ Ports: Gen6 FC speed, auto-sensing 4/8/16/32G; universal ports (E_Port/F_Port/N_Port/D_Port)
• High Bandwidth & Low Latency: 768 Gb/s total line rate; 900ns local switching latency (with FEC).
• Brocade Fabric Vision Technology: Proactive monitoring, VM Insight, and diagnostic tools for end-to-end SAN visibility
• Dynamic Ports-on-Demand (PoD): Scale from 8 to 24 ports via license upgrades (no hardware replacement)
• Enterprise Reliability: 1U form factor, fixed single power supply, 4 integrated fans; 99.999% uptime
• ISL Trunking: Frame-based trunking up to 256 Gb/s (8x32G ports); exchange-based load balancing (DPS)
• Fabric Scalability: Supports up to 6,000 active nodes, 56 switches, 19 hops per fabric.

Business Benefits

• Flash & NVMe Ready: Delivers the speed and low latency required for NVMe flash arrays, accelerating application performance
• Cost-Effective Scaling: Pay-as-you-grow PoD eliminates over-provisioning; affordable Gen6 performance for SMBs
• Reduced Operational Costs: Fabric Vision simplifies management, automates troubleshooting, and minimizes downtime
• Seamless Integration: Auto-sensing ports work with legacy 4G/8G/16G and new 32G devices, protecting existing investments
• High Availability: Redundant cooling, automatic fan failover, and robust FOS ensure continuous operation for critical workloads

Technical Specifications

Ideal Application Scenarios

• Small-to-Medium Data Centers: Compact 1U design fits limited rack space; 24 ports balance density and affordability
• NVMe & Flash Storage Environments: 32Gbps speed and low latency optimize performance for all-flash arrays (AFAs) and NVMe-oF
• Enterprise SAN Consolidation: Connect servers, storage arrays, and tape libraries in a single fabric; support for mixed 16G/32G environments
• Virtualized & Cloud Workloads: VM Insight monitors virtual machine I/O health; seamless integration with VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM
• Disaster Recovery (DR): High-performance ISL trunking for remote replication; reliable connectivity for backup/restore operations
• Branch & Edge Data Centers: Cost-effective, low-power design for distributed enterprise locations; easy deployment and management

Supported Accessories & Modules

Supported Transceivers (Included & Optional)

• Included: 24x Brocade 32G SWL SFP+ transceivers (short-wave, 850nm, up to 100m over OM3/OM4 fiber)
• Optional 32G SFP+: 32G LWL (long-wave, 1310nm, up to 10km), 32G EWL (extended long-wave, 1550nm, up to 25km)
• Optional 16G/8G/4G SFP+: Brocade 16G SWL/LWL, 8G SWL, 4G SWL (for legacy device connectivity)

Supported Cables

• OM3/OM4 Multimode Fiber Cables: For 32G SWL transceivers (1m–100m)
• OS2 Single-Mode Fiber Cables: For 32G LWL/EWL transceivers (1km–25km)
• Direct Attach Copper (DAC) Cables: 32G SFP+ DAC (1m–5m) for short-range server/storage connections

Management & Accessories

• Rack Mount Kit: 19-inch rack brackets (included)
• Console Cable: RJ45-to-RS232 (included for local management)
• Power Cable: C13 power cord (included, port-side inlet)
• Fabric Vision License: Optional upgrade for advanced monitoring and analytics
• PoD License: 8-port or 16-port license for scaling from 8/16 to 24 ports

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the difference between G610 and G620 switches?

A: The G610 is a 1U, entry-to-mid-range Gen6 switch (8–24 ports) for SMBs, while the G620 is a higher-density 1U switch (24–64 ports) for enterprise data centers. The G610 offers a lower price point with core FOS features, while the G620 adds higher scalability and advanced capabilities.

Q2: Can I mix 16G and 32G devices in the same fabric?

A: Yes. The G610’s auto-sensing ports support 4G/8G/16G/32G speeds, allowing seamless integration of legacy 16G devices with new 32G equipment. The switch automatically negotiates the highest common speed between connected devices.

Q3: Does the BR-G610-24-32G-0 support NVMe over Fibre Channel (NVMe-oF)?

A: Absolutely. The G610 is optimized for NVMe-oF workloads, delivering the low latency (900ns) and high bandwidth (32Gbps) required to maximize NVMe flash array performance.

Q4: Is the power supply redundant?

A: No, the G610 uses a single fixed power supply (non-field-replaceable). However, it features four integrated fans with automatic failover to ensure cooling redundancy and continuous operation.

Q5: How do I scale ports on the G610?

A: The G610 supports Dynamic Ports-on-Demand (PoD). You can start with 8 or 16 active ports and upgrade to 24 ports via a license key (no hardware replacement required). The BR-G610-24-32G-0 comes pre-configured with all 24 ports active.

Q6: What management interfaces are supported?

A: The G610 supports multiple management options: CLI (SSH/Telnet), Brocade Web Tools (GUI), Brocade Network Advisor (enterprise management), and REST APIs for automation.

Q7: What is the maximum fabric size supported by the G610?

A: The G610 supports Brocade’s full fabric architecture, with a maximum of 239 switches per fabric, 6,000 active nodes, and 56 switches/19 hops (certified for FOS fabrics).