Description
Product Overview for the HPE 874061-B21 Ethernet Switch
The HPE 874061-B21 Apollo is a high-performance, feature-rich Ethernet switch that offers 2 X 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 4 X 40 Gigabit Ethernet expansion slots. This switch is designed for enterprise and data center environments, providing essential connectivity solutions for today’s complex network needs. The HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch is a powerful networking solution that offers 2x 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 4x 40 Gigabit Ethernet expansion slots. This optical fiber switch utilizes Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+) technology and is a fully manageable switch.
Key Features of HPE 874061-B21 40 Gigabit Ethernet Switch
Before we delve into the specifics of the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch, let’s take a moment to highlight some of its key features:
- Expansion Slots: This switch is equipped with 2 X 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 4 X 40 Gigabit Ethernet expansion slots. These slots allow for flexible and scalable network configurations, making it suitable for a variety of applications.
- Optical Fiber Support: The switch supports optical fiber connections, ensuring reliable and high-speed data transmission over long distances. This is essential for data centers and networks that require high bandwidth and low latency.
- Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+): The use of QSFP+ connectors in this switch enables high-density port configurations. These connectors are commonly used for high-speed data transmission and support a variety of data rates.
- Manageability: The HPE 874061-B21 Apollo is a manageable switch, meaning it can be configured and monitored to meet specific network requirements. It offers features like VLAN support, Quality of Service (QoS), and remote management, enhancing network control and performance.
Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these features and understand their significance in more detail.
High-Speed Connectivity
The HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch offers two 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports. These ports provide the network with high-speed connectivity, ensuring that data transfer within the network is swift and efficient. The 10 Gigabit Ethernet standard is increasingly popular in modern network infrastructure due to its ability to deliver high bandwidth and low latency.
These high-speed ports are suitable for various network applications, such as data-intensive processes, virtualization, and cloud services. Whether you’re running a data center or managing a complex network, the 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports of the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch ensure that your network can handle demanding workloads without bottlenecks.
Expansion Slots for Scalability
One of the standout features of the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch is its four 40 Gigabit Ethernet expansion slots. These expansion slots provide essential scalability for your network. As the demands on your network grow, you can add more devices and services without the need for a complete infrastructure overhaul.
Scalability is crucial in today’s dynamic business environment. With the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch, you have the flexibility to adapt and expand your network as your organization’s needs evolve. This can save you time and resources while ensuring that your network remains responsive and capable of handling increased traffic.
Manageability
The Ethernet management capabilities of this switch are a critical component of its appeal. Administrators can configure and monitor the switch through an easy-to-use management interface, ensuring that the network operates smoothly and securely.
Optical Fiber Compatibility
The switch is designed to work seamlessly with optical fiber connections. Optical fiber offers key advantages such as high bandwidth, low latency, and resistance to electromagnetic interference, making it an ideal choice for mission-critical applications.
Expansion Slots for Versatile Network Configurations
The HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch is equipped with a combination of 2 X 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 4 X 40 Gigabit Ethernet expansion slots. These expansion slots play a crucial role in shaping the network capabilities of this switch.
10 Gigabit Ethernet: The inclusion of 2 X 10 Gigabit Ethernet slots means that the switch can support high-speed data transfer at 10 gigabits per second (Gbps) per slot. These slots are compatible with various 10GbE modules, allowing for flexible connectivity options. This is particularly valuable in environments where speed and bandwidth are essential, such as data centers, cloud computing, and high-performance computing.
40 Gigabit Ethernet: The 4 X 40 Gigabit Ethernet expansion slots provide even greater bandwidth capacity. Each 40GbE slot supports data transmission at 40 Gbps, making it ideal for handling large volumes of data quickly. This is particularly advantageous for data-intensive applications, such as streaming media, big data processing, and virtualization.
The combination of these expansion slots allows network administrators to tailor their network infrastructure to meet specific demands. For example, they can choose to allocate more 10GbE slots for devices that require high-speed connections, while reserving 40GbE slots for interconnecting switches or servers in a high-capacity, low-latency network.
Optical Fiber Support for Reliable Data Transmission
In addition to its expansion slots, the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch is notable for its optical fiber support. Optical fiber is a transmission medium that uses light signals to carry data, and it offers several advantages over traditional copper cabling.
High Speed: Optical fiber can transmit data at incredibly high speeds. In the case of this switch, it’s essential for supporting the 10GbE and 40GbE slots, ensuring that the network can operate at its full capacity without bottlenecks.
Long-Distance Connectivity: Optical fiber allows for long-distance connectivity without significant signal degradation. This is especially important for connecting devices and servers that are located far apart within a data center or across a campus.
Immunity to Interference: Fiber optic cables are immune to electromagnetic interference, which can degrade the quality of data transmission. This makes optical fiber a reliable choice for mission-critical applications where network stability is paramount.
The inclusion of optical fiber support in the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch means that it is well-suited for environments that demand high-speed, long-distance, and interference-free data transmission. It’s particularly valuable in scenarios where data integrity and network uptime are critical, such as financial institutions, healthcare facilities, and research institutions.
Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus
The HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch features Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus (QSFP+) connectors. These connectors are a key component of the switch’s high-performance capabilities.
High Data Rates: QSFP+ connectors support high data rates, making them suitable for high-bandwidth applications. They can handle data rates of 40 Gbps or even 100 Gbps, depending on the specific module used. This is crucial for ensuring that the switch can keep up with the demands of modern networks.
High Port Density: QSFP+ connectors are compact, which means that they support high port density. This is important in data centers and network environments where space is at a premium. A single QSFP+ port can provide multiple channels or lanes, allowing for efficient use of physical space.
Flexibility: QSFP+ connectors are versatile and can be used with various types of cables, including direct-attach copper cables and optical cables. This flexibility enables network administrators to choose the most suitable cable type for their specific application.
The use of QSFP+ connectors in the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch ensures that it can deliver the high-speed, high-density performance required in modern data centers and enterprise networks.
Manageability Features for Network Control
An essential aspect of any network switch is its manageability. The HPE 874061-B21 Apollo is a manageable switch, which means that it offers a range of features and tools that allow network administrators to configure, monitor, and optimize their network.
VLAN Support: Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) are used to segment a larger network into smaller, isolated networks. This switch supports VLANs, enabling administrators to separate traffic for security, organization, and efficiency purposes. VLANs can improve network performance by reducing broadcast domains and isolating network issues.
Quality of Service (QoS): QoS is a set of techniques that prioritize certain types of network traffic to ensure that critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth and low latency. The HPE 874061-B21 Apollo offers QoS features, which are essential in environments where different types of data (e.g., voice, video, data) compete for network resources.
Remote Management: The switch can be managed remotely, which is valuable for network administrators who need to monitor and configure the switch from a central location. Remote management tools make it easier to troubleshoot network issues and make changes without physically accessing the switch.
Security Features: The switch may include security features such as access control lists (ACLs), which allow administrators to control which devices can access the network and which specific services they can use. These security features are crucial for protecting the network from unauthorized access and potential threats.
Traffic Monitoring and Analysis: Many manageable switches, including the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo, offer traffic monitoring and analysis tools that help administrators identify performance bottlenecks and troubleshoot network issues. These tools provide valuable insights into network traffic patterns.
Overall, the manageability features of the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch empower network administrators to have better control over their network, ensuring optimal performance, security, and efficiency.
Use Cases for HPE 874061-B21 Apollo
Now that we have explored the key features and capabilities of the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo switch, let’s discuss some of the common use cases where this switch excels:
- Data Centers: Data centers are the nerve centers of modern businesses, and they require high-performance networking equipment to support the rapid transmission of data. The HPE 874061-B21 Apollo is an excellent choice for data centers, thanks to its high-speed expansion slots, optical fiber support, and manageability features. It can efficiently handle the network traffic generated by numerous servers and storage devices.
- Cloud Computing: Cloud service providers and enterprises that rely on cloud infrastructure can benefit from the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo’s high-density port configuration. The switch’s ability to support both 10GbE and 40GbE connections ensures that it can meet the demands of virtualized environments, where scalability and flexibility are crucial.
- High-Performance Computing (HPC): In HPC environments, where complex scientific and engineering simulations are run, a robust and fast network is essential. The HPE 874061-B21 Apollo’s support for 40GbE connections is especially valuable here, as it enables researchers and engineers to exchange data rapidly and collaborate effectively.
- Media and Entertainment: The media and entertainment industry relies on high-speed networks to transfer large video files and stream content. The HPE 874061-B21 Apollo’s optical fiber support and high-speed QSFP+ connectors make it an excellent choice for studios, broadcasting facilities, and content delivery networks.
Main Specifications for the HPE 874061-B21
- Manufacturer: HPE
- Part Number or SKU# 874061-B21
- Product Type: Ethernet Switch
Technical Information of the 10 Gigabit Ethernet Switch
- Uplink Port: Yes
- Modular: Yes
- Stack Port: No
- 4 x 40 Gigabit Ethernet Expansion Slot
- 2 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet Expansion Slot
- Number of Total Expansion Slots: 6
- Shared SFP Slot: No
- Number of SFP+ Slots: 2
- Layer Supported: 2
- Manageable: Yes
Ethernet Technology
- 10 Gigabit Ethernet
- 40 Gigabit Ethernet
- 100 Gigabit Ethernet
Network Technology
- 40GBASE-X
- 10GBASE-X
In summary, the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo is a powerful and versatile Ethernet switch that offers 2 X 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 4 X 40 Gigabit Ethernet expansion slots. With its support for optical fiber, QSFP+ connectors, and manageability features, it is well-suited for a range of network applications, from data centers and cloud computing to high-performance computing and media and entertainment.
Before selecting this switch or any networking equipment, it’s crucial to carefully assess your network’s specific requirements and consider factors such as budget, compatibility, scalability, manageability, redundancy, and security. By making an informed decision, you can ensure that your network operates efficiently and reliably, meeting the demands of your organization’s digital infrastructure.
In the ever-evolving world of networking, equipment like the HPE 874061-B21 Apollo plays a pivotal role in keeping businesses and institutions connected, secure, and competitive. As technology continues to advance, network switches like this one will continue to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of our digital world.
