HPE 8Gb SW Transceiver

HPE 8Gb SW Transceiver – High-Speed Fibre Channel for Reliable SAN Performance

The HPE 8Gb SW transceiver is a shortwave SFP+ module specifically engineered for high-speed, low-latency Fibre Channel communication within enterprise Storage Area Networks (SANs). Designed to deliver up to 8 Gbps full-duplex data rates over multimode fiber (MMF), this compact optical transceiver offers reliable performance for demanding storage environments using OM3 and OM4 cabling standards.

With a reach of up to 150 meters on OM4 and 100 meters on OM3, the HPE 8Gb SW is an ideal choice for short-range interconnections between HPE switches, storage arrays, and servers. Whether used in primary data centers, backup sites, or disaster recovery environments, this transceiver supports uninterrupted and error-free Fibre Channel communication.

Key Features of HPE 8Gb SW

• Interface: 8G Fibre Channel (Shortwave)

• Data Rate: 8.5 Gbps (full duplex)

• Form Factor: SFP+

• Wavelength: 850 nm

• Fiber Type: Multimode (OM3/OM4)

• Connector: LC Duplex

• Reach: 150m on OM4 / 100m on OM3

• Hot-Pluggable: Yes

• Monitoring: Digital Optical Monitoring (DOM) supported

• Compliance: FC-PI-4, SFP+ MSA, RoHS

The HPE 8Gb SW transceiver is optimized for HPE Fibre Channel SAN switches and storage platforms like HPE 3PAR, HPE Primera, HPE MSA, and SN6000 series.

Applications and Use Cases of HPE 8Gb SW

The HPE 8Gb SW module is widely used in scenarios where speed, availability, and integrity are paramount:

• SAN Fabric Connections – Linking Fibre Channel switches with storage arrays and other switches

• Server-to-SAN – Providing direct 8Gbps connections between compute resources and Fibre Channel storage

• Virtual Environments – Supporting high IOPS virtualized workloads (VMware, Hyper-V, etc.)

• Data Protection – Ensuring rapid replication and backup operations across multiple SAN zones

• Multi-Site Storage – Supporting failover and disaster recovery between primary and secondary sites

The flexibility and robust nature of the HPE 8Gb SW make it suitable for enterprise-level deployments where uptime and data integrity are non-negotiable.

Benefits of Choosing HPE 8Gb SW Transceiver

• ✅ Vendor-Certified Compatibility – Designed for seamless use with HPE infrastructure

• ✅ Hot-Swappable – Replace or upgrade without network downtime

• ✅ Performance Consistency – Stable bandwidth and error-free transmission

• ✅ Scalable Design – Backward compatible with 4G and 2G Fibre Channel speeds

• ✅ Low Latency – Ideal for latency-sensitive applications such as database access and high-volume storage traffic

Unlike generic alternatives, the HPE 8Gb SW offers full support under HPE’s warranty and management tools such as HPE SAN Network Advisor.

Why Fibre Channel? Why HPE 8Gb SW?

While Ethernet-based storage protocols like iSCSI and NFS have grown in popularity, Fibre Channel remains the gold standard for block-level storage performance. The HPE 8Gb SW transceiver ensures lossless, predictable, and low-latency connectivity ideal for:

• Mission-critical business applications

• Enterprise databases (e.g., Oracle, SAP, SQL Server)

• Real-time analytics and data warehousing

• Tape backup and long-term archival storage

In addition, Fibre Channel isolates storage traffic from traditional LAN traffic, helping maintain network stability and security.

Enhanced Compatibility and Long-Term Value

The HPE 8Gb SW transceiver is engineered to integrate flawlessly with a wide range of HPE SAN switches and storage platforms, including HPE 3PAR StoreServ, MSA storage arrays, and Virtual Connect modules. This certified compatibility guarantees not just easy deployment but also long-term stability across complex storage architectures. IT administrators can rely on consistent firmware integration, diagnostic support, and real-time monitoring through HPE’s management tools, ensuring optimal performance across every fibre link.

What makes the HPE 8Gb SW especially valuable is its backward compatibility. Organizations that are gradually upgrading from 4Gbps or 2Gbps Fibre Channel don’t need to rip and replace their entire infrastructure. Instead, they can insert this transceiver into existing switches and immediately benefit from enhanced bandwidth where supphttps://www.hpe.com/emea_europe/en/home.htmlorted, while still maintaining connections with older equipment. This forward-and-backward flexibility significantly reduces CapEx and extends the life of legacy hardware.

Enterprise Readiness with HPE 8Gb SW

The HPE 8Gb SW is engineered with energy efficiency and thermal optimization in mind, reducing heat output in dense environments. It also supports Digital Optical Monitoring, allowing administrators to track performance metrics such as temperature, voltage, and optical power levels.

Its compact SFP+ form factor makes it ideal for use in high-density switching platforms, helping reduce rack space while maintaining superior throughput.