HPE 867796-B21 Virtual Connect SE 100Gb F32 Synergy Module
Overview
The HPE 867796-B21 is the Virtual Connect SE 100Gb F32 Module for HPE Synergy — a converged fabric interconnect that consolidates Ethernet and Fibre Channel traffic across a single high-density backplane. For data center architects running HPE Synergy composable infrastructure, this module eliminates the need for separate Ethernet and FC switching tiers, reducing cabling complexity and switch port sprawl in the interconnect layer.
The 867796-B21 (often searched as 867796 B21) supports 100Gb uplink bandwidth with flexible 25Gb or 50Gb downlink speeds to compute blades, and 16Gb or 32Gb Fibre Channel fabric connectivity — giving you the headroom to support both current workloads and next-generation storage arrays without a forklift upgrade to the fabric layer.
Key Features
- 100Gb Uplink Connectivity: A single 100Gb uplink port delivers enough aggregate bandwidth to feed busy Synergy frames without creating a north-south bottleneck — relevant when consolidating workloads from multiple compute nodes onto a converged core.
- Flexible Downlink Speeds (25/50Gb): Downlink speed configurable at 25Gb or 50Gb per server connection, so you can match bandwidth allocation to workload density rather than over-provisioning uniformly across all blades.
- 32Gb Fibre Channel Fabric: Dual-speed FC support (16Gb and 32Gb) means this module works with both installed-base FC storage arrays and current-generation 32Gb targets — protecting existing SAN investments while enabling migration to higher-throughput arrays on your schedule.
- Converged Fabric Architecture: Handling both Ethernet and FC in a single module reduces the physical interconnect footprint inside the Synergy frame, which directly lowers rack cabling density and simplifies zone and VLAN management across the fabric.
- Synergy-Native Design: Built specifically for the HPE Synergy composable infrastructure platform, this module integrates with HPE OneView for unified lifecycle management — firmware updates, health monitoring, and fabric configuration handled through a single management plane rather than separate switch CLIs.
- 3-Year On-Site Warranty Coverage: The included 3-year parts, labor, and on-site support warranty means field failures get a technician dispatched — not a return-to-depot process that takes a production frame offline for days.
Integration & Compatibility
The 867796-B21 is designed for deployment within HPE Synergy frames as part of the Virtual Connect SE fabric interconnect architecture. It is managed through HPE OneView, the composable infrastructure management platform that treats compute, storage, and fabric as software-defined resources. Verify frame generation and OneView firmware compatibility against HPE's current support matrix before deployment — Synergy frame generations and OneView major versions have specific module support requirements that can affect feature availability and firmware upgrade paths.
For environments running enterprise network switching alongside Synergy composable infrastructure, this module handles the server-side fabric layer while upstream core switching handles east-west data center traffic. Teams evaluating HPE's broader HPE data center portfolio should confirm module slot compatibility with their specific Synergy frame SKU before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What uplink speed does the HPE 867796-B21 support?
A: The 867796-B21 supports 100Gb uplink connectivity, with 25Gb or 50Gb flexible downlink speeds to compute nodes within the Synergy frame.
Q: Does the 867796-B21 support Fibre Channel?
A: Yes. The module supports both 16Gb and 32Gb Fibre Channel fabric speeds, enabling connectivity to both current-generation and previous-generation FC storage arrays.
Q: What is the warranty on the HPE 867796-B21?
A: The 867796-B21 includes a 3-year warranty covering parts, labor, and on-site support.
Q: What platform is the 867796-B21 designed for?
A: This module is designed exclusively for HPE Synergy composable infrastructure frames and is managed through HPE OneView.
Q: Can the downlink speed be configured per blade?
A: The module supports 25Gb and 50Gb downlink speeds; consult HPE OneView documentation and your frame configuration for per-connection speed assignment options.
The HPE 867796-B21 is the interconnect to specify when a Synergy deployment needs to stop treating Ethernet and Fibre Channel as separate infrastructure problems. The 32Gb FC support combined with 100Gb uplink bandwidth means this single module can carry the storage traffic that would otherwise require a dedicated FC director port allocation — a meaningful rack-and-cabling simplification in dense composable builds.
Technical Highlights:
- 100Gb Uplink: At 100Gb, the northbound link won't be your bottleneck even when multiple Synergy compute nodes are running storage-intensive workloads concurrently.
- Dual FC Speeds (16/32Gb): Running 32Gb FC to new arrays while maintaining 16Gb compatibility means you can migrate SAN storage incrementally without a hard cutover — the fabric handles both simultaneously.
- 25/50Gb Downlink Flexibility: Assigning 50Gb to high-throughput compute nodes and 25Gb to lighter workloads lets you tune bandwidth allocation without changing physical cabling — a software-defined benefit you only get with Virtual Connect architecture.
Deployment Considerations:
- Confirm your Synergy frame generation and HPE OneView version against HPE's support matrix before ordering — module compatibility is frame-generation specific and firmware mismatches can block feature enablement at commissioning.
- This module slots into the Synergy interconnect bays, not standard server expansion slots — it is not a standalone switch and cannot be deployed outside a Synergy frame.
The 867796-B21 is the right call for enterprise data center teams building out HPE Synergy composable infrastructure where converging Ethernet and FC onto a single high-bandwidth fabric interconnect is a priority — particularly in environments running 32Gb FC SAN storage arrays that need headroom beyond what 16Gb-only modules can deliver.
