HPE StoreFabric SN6500B 16Gb 96/48 Power Pack+ FC Switch - C8R44B

The HPE C8R44B is an enterprise-class switch engineered to deliver high-speed, resilient storage networking for mid-to-large scale data centers. As an integral solution for flash-based storage systems, this switch seamlessly enables high-performance connectivity within storage area networks (SANs) and is optimized for use in environments demanding uncompromised reliability and scalable bandwidth. Leveraging HPE StoreFabric technology, the C8R44B provides a robust platform for organizations implementing advanced power pack+ features for simplified management and improved operational efficiency. It supports a comprehensive range of Fibre Channel port configurations—scaling up to 96 ports via modular licenses—making it equally suitable for data centers planning rapid expansion or modernizing legacy storage architectures. The C8R44B’s aggregate bandwidth of 1,536 Gbps and ultra-low fabric latency ensure non-blocking data paths vital for latency-sensitive applications, supporting critical workloads in real-time analytics and cloud tiering scenarios. This switch’s universal port functionality and extensive interoperability also enable seamless integration with multi-vendor SAN environments, increasing the overall agility of flash-based storage systems. With its hot-swappable optics support, redundant power supplies, and robust operating tolerance, the C8R44B ensures business continuity in globally distributed, mission-critical deployments. This makes it a reliable foundation for distributors, integrators, and enterprise users across Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America seeking to build future-proof IT infrastructure with robust power pack+ feature sets and comprehensive HPE StoreFabric capabilities.

Product Features Comparison

Model	C8R44B	C9300-48H-A=	920-9N42F-00RI-KC0	C9300-24U-A
Port Configuration	48, 72, and 96-port configurations (24-port increments via Ports on Demand licenses), Universal port types: E, F, M, D, EX	48 x 10/100/1000 (UPoE+)	Ports #1-64: OSFP, Port #65: SFP28	24 Cisco UPOE
Switching Capacity	1536 Gbps	256 Gbps	51.2 Tb/s	208 Gbps on 24-port Gigabit Ethernet model
Forwarding Rate	Auto-sensing 4, 8, and 16 Gbps port speeds, ISL trunking up to eight 16 Gbps ports (128 Gbps per trunk), unlimited trunk groups, Exchange-based load balancing (DPS in Fabric OS)	190.48 Mpps	n/a	154.76 Mpps
PoE Budget	n/a	822 W	n/a	830W
Stacking Capability	n/a	StackWise-480, StackPower	n/a	Cisco StackWise-480, StackPower