Brocade BR-G720-24-32G-R 24-Port 32Gbps Gen7 FC SAN Fibre Channel Switch 64Gbps Ready NVMe-Optimized
The Brocade BR-G720-24-32G-R (G720) is an ultra-dense, Gen7 Fibre Channel (FC) switch built for modern NVMe and enterprise SAN environments. Delivering 32Gbps line speed across 24 active SFP+ ports (auto-sensing 4/8/16/32/64G) in a compact 1U form factor, it scales up to 64 ports via Ports on Demand (PoD). Engineered with Gen7 technology for 50% lower latency than Gen6, it supports autonomous SAN capabilities, seamless NVMe/SCSI coexistence, and mission-critical workloads. Ideal for data center consolidation, virtualization, and high-performance flash storage environments.
Comprehensive Product Overview
The Brocade G720 (BR-G720-24-32G-R) is a next-generation Gen7 FC switch designed to address the most demanding storage networking requirements of modern dynamic data centers. As part of Broadcom’s Brocade Gen7 portfolio, it builds on 20+ years of FC innovation to deliver unmatched performance, scalability, and autonomous management for NVMe and traditional SCSI storage environments.
Housed in a 1U rack-mountable chassis, the G720 provides 24 active 32Gbps SFP+ ports (auto-sensing 4/8/16/32/64G) with a total capacity of 48×64Gbps SFP+ ports and 8×2×64Gbps SFP-DD portsBroadcom Inc.。 It features a non-blocking shared-memory architecture with ultra-low latency to support high-IOPS flash arrays and NVMe-oF workloads.
A key differentiator is its Ports on Demand (PoD) scalability: start with 24 base ports and activate up to 64 ports via license upgrades, eliminating costly hardware refreshesBroadcom Inc.。 The switch runs on Brocade Fabric OS (FOS) v9.0+, supporting advanced fabric services, autonomous SAN capabilities (self-learn, self-optimize, self-heal), and robust security features。
With dual hot-swappable redundant power supplies, four hot-swappable fans, and rear-to-front airflow cooling, the G720 ensures carrier-grade reliability and continuous operation。 It seamlessly integrates into existing Brocade fabrics, enabling gradual migration to NVMe while protecting investments in legacy infrastructure.
Key Features & Business Benefits
1. Gen7 64Gbps Performance & Ultra-Low Latency
24×32Gbps SFP+ ports (auto-sensing 4/8/16/32/64G); scalable to 64 ports total.
50% lower latency vs. Gen6 switches; optimized for NVMe flash workloads.
Automated monitoring, diagnostics, and fault resolution; minimizes downtime
Dynamic Fabric Provisioning (DFP) and Fabric Vision for end-to-end visibility
Business Benefit: Cuts operational overhead by 50%; eliminates human error; accelerates troubleshooting for large-scale fabrics.
3. NVMe-Ready & Seamless Coexistence
Native NVMe-oF support (end-to-end NVMe); flash-optimized performance.
Concurrent NVMe/SCSI operation on the same fabric; no rip-and-replace required.
Priority-based QoS for NVMe traffic; ensures consistent performance
Business Benefit: Future-proofs SAN investments; enables gradual migration to NVMe while supporting legacy SCSI systems.
4. Flexible Scalability with Ports on Demand (PoD)
Base 24 ports → scale to 64 ports total (48 SFP+ + 8 SFP-DD) via PoD licenses.
Non-disruptive port activation; no chassis replacement or reboot.
Supports full fabric scaling up to 239 switches (56 domains, 19 hops)
Business Benefit: Reduces upfront costs; aligns SAN capacity with business growth; simplifies capacity planning.
5. Ultra-Dense 1U Form Factor
64 ports in 1U; 2x higher density than Gen6 2U switches.
Optimized for data center rack density; reduces floor space and power/cooling costs.
Business Benefit: Lowers TCO; maximizes rack utilization; reduces energy consumption (349W max)。
6. Enterprise-Grade Reliability & Redundancy
Dual hot-swappable AC power supplies (redundant, load-sharing; 100–240V)
Four hot-swappable fan assemblies (rear-to-front airflow; redundant cooling)
Non-blocking architecture; 99.999% uptime for mission-critical operations.
Business Benefit: Eliminates single points of failure; ensures continuous availability for financial, healthcare, and government applications.
Technical Specifications
Category
Specifications
Model
Brocade BR-G720-24-32G-R
Form Factor
1U rack-mountable
Ports (Active)
24×SFP+ (32Gbps FC, auto-sensing 4/8/16/32/64G)
Total Ports (Max)
64 (48 SFP+ + 8 SFP-DD) via PoD\.
Aggregate Bandwidth
4.096Tb/s
Latency
50% lower than Gen6; NVMe-optimized <700ns.
Fabric OS
Brocade FOS v9.0+
Scalability
Max fabric: 239 switches; 56 domains, 19 hops
Power Supplies
Dual, hot-swappable, redundant AC (100–240V); 349W max
Fans
Four hot-swappable, redundant; rear-to-front airflow
Dimensions (H×W×D)
43.9mm × 440mm × 355.6mm (1U × 19″ × 14″)
Weight
~7.7kg (17lbs) (fully configured)
Certifications
CE, UL, FCC, RoHS, EPEAT
Warranty
3-year factory warranty
Ideal Application Scenarios
NVMe Flash Storage Environments: Optimized for all-flash arrays (AFAs) and NVMe-oF deployments; delivers low latency and high IOPS for Oracle, SQL Server, VMware vSphere, and cloud-native apps.
Enterprise SAN Consolidation: Replaces multiple low-density switches with a single 1U G720; reduces management complexity and TCO for large-scale data centers.
Virtualization & Cloud Workloads: Supports dense VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM environments; provides high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity for VMs and storage arrays.
Mission-Critical Applications: Ideal for financial services, healthcare, and government sectors requiring 99.999% uptime; redundant components and autonomous SAN ensure continuous operation.
Big Data & AI/ML: Accelerates Hadoop, Spark, and AI/ML workloads with 64Gbps throughput and ultra-low latency; supports high-volume data processing and analytics.
Mainframe & FICON Environments: Native FICON support for mainframe connectivity; seamless integration with IBM zSystems for enterprise-grade storage access。
PoD Licenses: 24-port SFP+, 32-port SFP-DD activation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the difference between G720 and G630 switches?
A: The G720 (Gen7) offers 64Gbps port speeds, 50% lower latency, autonomous SAN capabilities, and a 1U form factor. The G630 (Gen6) supports up to 32Gbps, traditional management, and a 2U form factor.
Q2: Is the G720 compatible with older Brocade switches (e.g., G620, G630)?
A: Yes. The G720 runs FOS v9.0+ and interoperates with Brocade Gen5 (16Gbps) and Gen6 (32Gbps) switches in the same fabric. It supports seamless ISL connections at 16Gbps, 32Gbps, or 64Gbps.
Q3: Can I mix NVMe and SCSI devices on the same G720 fabric?
A: Absolutely. The G720 supports concurrent NVMe and SCSI traffic on the same fabric. You can gradually migrate from SCSI to NVMe without disrupting existing workloads.
Q4: What is the maximum distance supported by 32Gbps/64Gbps SFP+ transceivers?
A: 32Gbps SWL: Up to 100m (OM4) / 50m (OM3); 32Gbps LWL: Up to 10km (SMF). 64Gbps SWL: Up to 50m (OM4); 64Gbps LWL: Up to 10km (SMF)
Q5: Does the G720 support FICON for mainframe environments?
A: Yes. The G720 includes native FICON support for IBM zSystems mainframes, enabling high-speed, reliable storage connectivity for mainframe workloads。
Q6: How do I activate additional ports with PoD licenses?
A: PoD licenses are activated via FOS CLI or Brocade Network Advisor (BNA). After purchasing a license key, enter it into the switch to activate the desired number of ports (24-port SFP+ or 32-port SFP-DD). Activation is non-disruptive and requires no chassis reboot.
