The HP C-series SN8000C Directors deliver many unique innovations for constructing powerful, large scale storage networks. With these innovations, users can build highly scalable, always available, high performance storage network solutions with comprehensive security and unified management. The SN8000C Directors have multiple layers of intelligence, including multi-protocol support (Fiber Channel, iSCSI, FCIP, and FCoE), Virtual SANs (VSANs), embedded diagnostics and role-based security.

The SN8000C Directors deliver industry-leading scalability and performance (up to 8.4 Terabits per second internal system bandwidth), high port density (up to 528-ports in an SN8000C 13-Slot Director) and high availability to lower TCO and enable integrated SAN infrastructures. HP delivers the SN8000C Directors with high availability features inherent in the design.

The open expansion slots of the SN8000C Directors can be filled by optional MDS 9000 Family Modules, which include 32 port 8Gb Advanced Fiber Channel Modules. Lastly, the SN8000C Directors can be populated with the 4-port 10Gb Fiber Channel Module as well as an MDS 9000 18/4 MultiServices Module with 18, 4Gb FC ports, 4, 1Gb IP ports and a cryptographic processing engine enabling integrated Fiber Channel, FCIP and iSCSI operation.

In addition, the 18/4 Multi-Service Module will increase the speed of data transfer across a MAN or WAN environment resulting in better data replication and backup performance. Most MDS 9000 modules are interchangeable across SN8000C, providing a smooth migration path, common sparing and investment protection.

Layered, intelligent features also include integration with fabric-based applications to fabric-wide services for a wide range of solutions for business continuance, storage virtualization, network assisted backup and information life cycle management.