H3C Switch with Fiber Optic Cable

H3C offers multiple switch series with fiber optic support, including the CN series for high-performance SANs and the S5170 series for enterprise and campus fiber access.

H3C CN Series Fibre Channel Switches

The H3C CN series is designed for storage area networks (SANs) and supports fiber optic connectivity with high-speed Fibre Channel ports. Key models include:

• CN3360B: Compact 1U form factor, scalable from 8 to 24 ports, supporting 4, 8, 16, or 32 Gbps speeds. It provides simplified deployment and a user-friendly interface, ideal for evolving storage environments .
• CN6660B / CN6670B: High-density switches with 32 Gbps Fibre Channel support, up to 48 ports, and total system bandwidth up to 4 Tbps. These switches are optimized for NVMe storage, all-flash workloads, and virtualized environments. They include automation capabilities via open APIs and Ansible, enabling efficient SAN management . These switches are suitable for medium to large data centers requiring low-latency, high-bandwidth fiber connections and robust SAN management.

H3C S5170 Series for Fiber Access

The H3C S5170 series focuses on enterprise and campus fiber access:

• Offers 28-port and 54-port fiber models with standard, PoE, and high-power PoE variants.
• Designed for reliable optical access, centralized management, and long-term operation.
• Prioritizes stability, manageability, and cost efficiency, making it ideal for access-layer deployment in enterprise and campus networks . This series is particularly suitable for organizations that need fiber-first access networks while optionally powering downstream devices via PoE.

Deployment Considerations

• Port Density & Speed: Choose CN series for high-performance SANs with 16–32 Gbps speeds; S5170 series for access-layer fiber connectivity.
• Management: Both series offer simplified deployment and user-friendly interfaces; CN series adds automation and analytics for SAN optimization.
• Use Case: CN series is ideal for storage-heavy environments, while S5170 is optimized for enterprise and campus fiber access networks.

Summary

For fiber optic connectivity, H3C provides flexible solutions:

• CN Series: High-speed SAN switches with 16–32 Gbps Fibre Channel, automation, and NVMe optimization.
• S5170 Series: Enterprise and campus fiber access switches with PoE options, stability, and centralized management. Selecting the right H3C switch depends on whether the primary need is high-performance storage networking or fiber-based access for enterprise/campus networks .