HPE R6B04AR SN8700B 32GB 48P SFP28 Reman Blade

HPE R6B04AR SN8700B 48-Port SFP28 32GB Remanufactured Blade

Overview

The HPE R6B04AR is a remanufactured 48-port SFP28 blade for the HPE SN8700B director-class switch chassis, carrying 32GB of onboard memory to sustain high-throughput fabric operations across dense SAN and high-performance network environments. Specifying a remanufactured unit delivers the same port density and interface capability as a new blade at a reduced acquisition cost — a practical lever when scaling existing SN8700B chassis deployments without full capital refresh. This blade interfaces via Ethernet and SFP, manufactured in the Czech Republic (country of origin: CZ, UNSPSC 43222612).

Key Features

• 48 SFP28 Ports: Forty-eight SFP28 ports per blade means you're pulling maximum density from each chassis slot — relevant when rack space is constrained and per-port cost is the primary budget driver in a SAN or leaf-spine expansion.
• 32GB Onboard Memory: 32GB of blade memory supports large forwarding tables and buffer capacity under sustained high-bandwidth workloads, reducing the risk of frame drops in busy multi-initiator storage fabrics.
• SFP28 Interface Standard: SFP28 supports 25GbE or 32GFC depending on the optic fitted, giving you flexibility to deploy this blade in either Ethernet or Fibre Channel fabrics within the same SN8700B director chassis.
• Remanufactured Designation: HPE remanufactured (Reman) product — functionally equivalent to new, factory-tested and refurbished to HPE standards, making it a viable path for budget-conscious refresh cycles on established infrastructure.
• Director-Class Platform: Designed for the HPE SN8700B director chassis, which targets mission-critical, non-disruptive fabric environments — this blade inherits that platform's hot-swap and non-disruptive upgrade architecture.

Integration and Compatibility

The HPE networking and storage switching line built around the SN8700B director is targeted at enterprise SAN fabrics, high-performance computing interconnects, and large-scale data center switching deployments. The R6B04AR blade slots into an existing SN8700B chassis — verify chassis firmware revision and blade slot compatibility with your HPE support documentation before deployment. SFP28 optic selection (25GbE vs. 32GFC) should be confirmed against the fabric type in use. For environments combining storage and compute networking, review your SFP28 transceiver inventory to ensure optic compatibility before installation. For broader HPE infrastructure planning including HPE server platforms and storage, cross-reference your chassis generation documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What chassis does the HPE R6B04AR blade install into?

A: The R6B04AR is designed for the HPE SN8700B director-class switch chassis. Confirm your chassis slot availability and current firmware version before installation.

Q: What does the remanufactured designation mean for the R6B04AR?

A: HPE remanufactured (Reman) products are factory-tested and refurbished to HPE's functional standards — equivalent in operation to new product. They carry HPE's remanufactured product warranty terms; verify current warranty coverage with HPE at time of purchase.

Q: What interface types does the R6B04AR support?

A: The R6B04AR uses SFP28 ports over Ethernet and SFP interfaces. SFP28 optics can support 25GbE or 32GFC depending on the transceiver installed, giving deployment flexibility across Ethernet and Fibre Channel fabrics.

Q: What is the country of origin for the R6B04AR?

A: The HPE R6B04AR is manufactured in the Czech Republic (country of origin: CZ).

Q: How many ports does the R6B04AR blade provide?

A: The R6B04AR provides 48 SFP28 ports per blade, enabling high-density connectivity within the SN8700B chassis.

Karl Wilson

The R6B04AR is worth a close look for any team running an HPE SN8700B director chassis that needs to add port density without the premium of new-unit pricing. The 48 SFP28 ports per blade, combined with 32GB of onboard memory, position this remanufactured unit as a practical expansion path in environments where the chassis itself is already proven and the budget is the constraint — not the performance requirement.

Technical Highlights:

• 48 SFP28 Ports per Blade: At 48 ports, this blade maximizes per-slot density in the SN8700B chassis — the right move when you're trying to scale fabric connectivity without adding chassis footprint.
• 32GB Onboard Memory: Sufficient buffer for large forwarding tables under multi-initiator SAN workloads; this matters in environments where fabric congestion is a real operational risk.
• SFP28 Dual-Mode Flexibility: SFP28 is optic-agnostic between 25GbE and 32GFC — you're not locked into a single fabric type, which helps in mixed Ethernet/FC environments.

Deployment Considerations:

• Verify chassis slot availability and SN8700B firmware compatibility before ordering — blade-chassis firmware mismatches can block insertion or limit port functionality.
• Remanufactured units carry HPE Reman warranty terms, which differ from new-product coverage — confirm current HPE warranty documentation for this SKU before committing to a long-horizon deployment.

Best fit for enterprises expanding an existing HPE SN8700B SAN fabric — particularly data center teams adding storage connectivity at an established site where chassis infrastructure is already in place and capital cost reduction is the driving factor.