The QLogic Enhanced Gen 5 16 Gb FC HBAs have the following features:

• Maximum performance with up to 1.3 million input/output operations per second (IOPS) to support larger server virtualization deployments and scalable cloud initiatives, and performance to match new multicore processors, SSDs/flash storage, and faster server host bus architectures.
• Independent function, transmit and receive buffers, an on-chip CPU, DMA channels, and a firmware image for each port enable complete port-level isolation, prevent errors and firmware crashes from propagating across all ports, and provide predictable and scalable performance across all ports.
• Support forward error correction (FEC) to enhance reliability of transmission and thereby performance.
• Industry-standard class-specific control (CS_CTL)-based frame prioritization Quality of Service (QoS) helps alleviate network congestion by prioritizing traffic for time-sensitive mission critical workloads for optimized performance.
• T10-PI data integrity with high performance offload provides end-to-end data corruption protection.
• Support for Message Signaled Interrupts eXtended (MSI-X) improves host utilization and enhances application performance.
• Fabric-assigned port worldwide name (FA-WWN) and fabric-based boot LUN discovery (F-BLD) pre-provisioning services allow servers to be quickly deployed, replaced, and moved across the SAN; the creation of zones, LUNs, and other services can be completed before the servers arrive on site.
• Using the Brocade ClearLink diagnostic port (D_Port) available on the Brocade Gen 5 switches, administrators can quickly run automated diagnostic tests to assess the health of links and fabric components.
• Read diagnostic parameters (RDP) feature provides detailed port, media, and optics diagnostics to easily discover and diagnose link-related errors and degrading conditions on any N_Port-to-F_Port link.
• Link cable beacon (LCB) enables administrators to visually identify both ends of a physical link by flashing HBA's LEDs, simplifying identification of the connection peers within server racks without tracing the cable.
• Single-pane-of-glass management across generations of QLogic FC adapters with QLogic QConvergeConsole (QCC).
• Deployment flexibility and integration with third-party management tools, including the VMware® vCenter™ and Brocade Network Advisor.
• Support for 16 Gb, 8 Gb, and 4 Gb FC devices.
• Comprehensive virtualization capabilities with support for N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV).
• A common driver model allows a single driver to support all QLogic HBAs on a given OS.
• Reduce the number of cards, cables, and PCIe slots required.
• Exceptional performance per watt and price/performance ratios.
• Backward compatibility with existing 4GFC and 8GFC infrastructure, leveraging existing SAN investments.
• Allow application of SAN best practices, tools, and processes with virtual server deployments.
• Ensure data availability and data integrity.
• Boot from SAN capability reduces the system management costs and increases uptime.

The following table compares features of QLogic Enhanced Gen 5 16 Gb, Gen 5 16 Gb, and 8 Gb FC HBAs.

The QLogic Enhanced Gen 5 16 Gb FC HBAs have the following specifications:

• Based on the QLogic QLE2690 (single port) and QLE2692 (dual port) adapters
• Host interface: PCIe 3.0 x8
• Ports: Single-port and dual-port SFP+ based adapters
• Link speed: Support for 16 Gb, 8 Gb and 4 Gb FC link speeds, which are automatically negotiated
• Data rate: 14.025 Gbps (1600 MBps), 8.5 Gbps (800 MBps), and 4.25 Gbps (400 MBps) autosensing (per port), with full duplex
• Performance: Up to 1,300,000 IOPS (up to 650,000 IOPS per port)
• Fibre Channel standards: FC-PI-5, FC-GS-2, FC-GS-3, SCSI-FCP, FCP-2, FC-TAPE
• Topology: Point-to-point and switched fabric
• Hot-pluggable 16 Gbps Fibre Channel SFP+ short wave optical transceivers (850 nm) with LC connectors (included with the adapters). Note: Other transceivers are not supported.
• Distance support:
  • Operating at 16 Gbps:
    • Up to 35 m on 50/125 µm OM2 Multi-Mode Fiber (MMF)
    • Up to 100 m on 50/125 µm OM3 MMF
    • Up to 125 m on 50/125 µm OM4 MMF
  • Operating at 8 Gbps:
    • Up to 21 m on 62.5/125 µm OM1 MMF
    • Up to 50 m on 50/125 µm OM2 MMF
    • Up to 150 m on 50/125 µm OM3 MMF
    • Up to 190 m on 50/125 µm OM4 MMF
  • Operating at 4 Gbps:
    • Up to 70 m on 62.5/125 µm OM1 MMF
    • Up to 150 m on 50/125 µm OM2 MMF
    • Up to 380 m on 50/125 µm OM3 MMF
    • Up to 400 m on 50/125 µm OM4 MMF
• Management software:
  • The QLogic unified management application, QLogic QConvergeConsole (QCC), provides single-pane-of-glass management across generations of QLogic FC adapters.
  • QLogic supports all major APIs for deployment flexibility and integration with third-party management tools, including the VMware vCenter and Brocade Network Advisor.