Brocade is punting a new incarnation of its Fibre Channel over IP (FCIP) storage and SAN extension router, with its functionality clipped to appeal to the purses of smaller businesses and remote offices.

The 7500E SAN router is based on Brocade's — wait for it — regular 7500 router. The "E" means most of its ports are plugged, some capabilities were switched off and it costs less.

The 1U router comes with four activated ports - two 4Gb/s Fibre Channel and two 50Mb/s Ethernet ports. Purchasing a software license upgrade activates 14 additional Fibre Channel ports, bumps the Ethernet throughput to 1Gb/s, and restores full 7500 capability. Brocade reckons the ability to upgrade is a match for growing businesses.

SAN extension tools in the box include Fast Write for FCIP to improve response time over distance.

Networking capabilities the router lacks compared to the 7500 are hardware-based encryption, FICON over metro, FC routing between fabrics, and a call home feature.

The 7500E is available now from Brocade and Hitachi Data Systems. Brocade's channel sellers will have the router next month, and it will be in other OEM partners' hands by the first half of 2008. Pricing details have not been disclosed. ®

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