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Each node on PowerStore systems can support up to two I/O modules that provide extra connectivity. For the two nodes in a base enclosure, the I/O modules that are configured must match between nodes. During a node failure, matching I/O modules ensure that the peer node can begin servicing I/O using the mirrored I/O module.
All PowerStore Ethernet I/O modules support file, iSCSI, NVMe/TCP, import, and replication protocols. For interoperability support on NVMe/TCP, see the NVMe/TCP Host/Storage Interoperability Simple Support Matrix. Dell recommends the fastest speed I/O module be placed in slot 0.
PowerStore systems support the following I/O modules:
Available since PowerStoreOS 3.0, the 100 GbE optical I/O module supports QSFP28 transceivers running at 100 GbE speeds. The optical I/O module ports also support 100 GbE active and passive direct attach copper cables with QSFP28 transceivers. Each QSFP28 transceiver is a quad-lane small form-factor pluggable that multiplexes the data stream across all four lanes. You can mix different QSFPs or copper cables on the same I/O module, and they are hot-swappable. This I/O module supports file, NVMe/TCP, iSCSI traffic, replication, and import interfaces.
The 25 GbE optical I/O module supports SFPs running at 25 GbE or 10 GbE speeds. The optical I/O module ports also support 10 GbE active and passive Twinax, and 25 GbE passive Twinax connections. You can mix different SFPs or Twinax cables on the same I/O module, and they are hot-swappable. This I/O module supports file, NVMe/TCP (supported since PowerStoreOS 2.1), iSCSI traffic, replication, and import interfaces.
The 32 Gb Fibre Channel (4-port) I/O module supports 32 Gbps and 16 Gbps SFPs. The 32 Gbps SFP offers front-end connectivity at 32 Gbps speeds and can autonegotiate to 16 Gbps and 8 Gbps. The 16 Gbps SFP offers front-end connectivity at 16 Gbps and can autonegotiate to 8 Gbps and 4 Gbps.
Starting with PowerStoreOS 2.0, PowerStore systems with the 32 Gb Fibre Channel I/O module support NVMe over Fibre Channel. NVMe over Fibre Channel support with PowerStore requires 32 Gb speeds, and the Fibre Channel I/O module must be configured with 32 Gb SFPs to support this feature.
The 10 GbE BASE-T (4-port) I/O module operates at speeds up to 10 Gbps. It is used for front-end host access and supports iSCSI, NVMe/TCP (since PowerStoreOS 2.1), and file protocols.