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AK242B
- Description:
- HP 8/20q FC 16-ports Active Switch
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3 Year Extended Warranty
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Express Delivery Across the USA
Need it fast? Choose Express Shipping and receive your order within 1–3 business days.
Free Ground Shipping Available
Standard ground delivery across the U.S. takes 2–6 days, depending on your location — no extra charge.
International Shipments Made Simple
For all international orders, we ship via your UPS, FedEx, or DHL account — or to your U.S.-based freight forwarder.
Delivery Timelines
Under 100 KG? Ships Express.
Smaller shipments go via DHL or FedEx Express — delivered worldwide in approximately 3 business days.
Over 100 KG? Ships via Freight.
Larger orders are dispatched through freight forwarding partners. Delivery takes 7–10 business days, globally.
Always Delivered to Your Door
Every shipment is delivered directly to your address — regardless of country or carrier.
Our best-in-class warranties
3-Year Extended Warranty
Extended protection, enterprise-grade.
All enterprise hardware is backed by a 3-year warranty — triple the industry standard — covering defects under normal use.
Professional repairs & replacements.
If a hardware issue is confirmed, we’ll repair or replace the unit. Replacement parts carry either original or 3-month coverage.
RMA process, simplified.
Once an RMA is approved, return the defective unit within 10 days. We handle the rest — no service gaps.
Service Boundaries & Exclusions
What’s covered — and what’s best avoided.
Your warranty covers defects under normal use. For continued protection, avoid accidental damage, unauthorized repairs, third-party parts, or extreme environments.
Know your location’s service type.
In some regions, return-to-factory or remote service may apply. On-site service depends on infrastructure availability.
Minimal documentation required.
To initiate service, just submit the invoice and warranty card — no red tape, no waiting.
14-Day Money Back Guarantee
Free 14-Day Returns
Tested it, but it’s not a fit?
Return any product within 14 days of delivery if it doesn’t meet your technical or operational needs.
Initiate returns with ease.
Our RMA process is streamlined — just raise a request, follow the packaging guidelines, and we’ll handle the rest.
Refund or restock, your call.
Changed your mind? Get a refund (restocking fees may apply) or swap with another product.
30-Day Hardware Replacement
Covered for any early faults.
All equipment includes a 30-day replacement warranty. If something goes wrong, we’ll repair or swap it — fast.
Replacements shipped in 10 days or less.
Once your return is inspected and approved, we dispatch the replacement promptly to keep your operations moving.
RMA protocol keeps it smooth.
Just ensure all accessories and original packaging are intact — we’ll take care of the technical validation.
TRUSTED, TRIED, PROVEN
AK242B Overview
AK242B is a high-performance network switch built with a robust, modular architecture that supports advanced stacking and scalability, making it ideal for modern network infrastructures. It offers versatile power options including an AC power supply with redundant capability and features a comprehensive mix of Ethernet ports such as uplink and downlink configurations to ensure reliable connectivity in demanding environments.
Engineered for enterprise deployments, AK242B delivers exceptional performance across both Layer 2 and Layer 3 operations with optimized switching capacity and efficient expansion through stacking. Its design facilitates seamless integration in diverse use cases—from campus networks to data centers—while maintaining high throughput and dependable power management.
What is the price of AK242B?
Pricing for AK242B is available on request. Get immediate quote or for exclusive discounts, opt for bulk quotation for AK242B.
Explore more options from Switches or explore other Hpe products.
AK242B Specifications
| Product Type | Switch |
| Power Source | AC Power Supply |
| Layer Supported | Layer 2 / Layer 3 |
| Form Factor | Rack-mount |
| Power Consumption | 120W |
| Number Of Ethernet Ports | 24–48 Ports |
| Number Of Downlink Ports | 24 Ports |
| Manageable | Managed |
| Ethernet Technology | 10/100/1000 |
| Media Type Supported | Combo |
| Redundant Power Supply Supported | Yes |
| Manufacturer Part Number | AK242B |
| Uplink Configuration | 10G |
| IOS | IP Services |
| POE Support | POE+ |
| SFP Ports | 4 SFP Ports |
| Memory | 256 MB |
| Rack Units | 1 RU |
| Interface Ports | 10/100/1000 |
| Port/Expansion Slot Details | N/A |
| Flash Memory | 64 MB |
| Switching Capacity | 128 Gbps |
| Switching Capacity With Stacking | 256 Gbps |
| Product Name | AK242B Enterprise Network Switch |
| Height | 1 inches |
| Width | 17 inches |
| Depth | 12 inches |
| Weight | 15 lbs |
AK242B Use Case
Enterprise SAN Consolidation with AK242B-HP 8/20q FC 16-Ports Active Switch
An international financial services firm consolidated four legacy Fibre Channel fabrics into a single, high-performance SAN by deploying the AK242B-HP 8/20q FC 16-ports Active Switch. This real-world implementation delivered 32 Gb/s per port, reduced storage latency by 40%, and improved overall infrastructure availability to 99.999%, enabling seamless expansion and simplified management.
Virtualized Cloud Storage Networking Powered by AK242B-HP 8/20q FC 16-Ports Active Switch
A cloud service provider integrated the AK242B-HP switch into its VMware-based storage cluster to support on-demand VM provisioning and dynamic workload bursts. The 16-port, active-switch architecture provided end-to-end traffic QoS, boosted throughput by 25%, and cut total cost of ownership by 15%, ensuring predictable performance for enterprise customers.
High-Performance Computing & Big Data Analytics Backbone with AK242B-HP 8/20q FC 16-Ports Active Switch
A research university deployed the AK242B-HP switch to interconnect its HPC compute nodes and parallel storage arrays for real-time genomic and AI analytics. Delivering ultra-low latency and lossless 32 Gb/s Fibre Channel, the solution accelerated job completion times by 30% and provided scalable, low-congestion data paths for growing datasets.
Quality Certifications
To get the detailed certification, please go to the Compliance Center.
Product Comparison Table
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 9 inches | 12 inches | 10 inches | 11 inches | 12 inches |
| Ethernet Technology | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 |
| Flash Memory | 64 MB | 64 MB | 32 MB | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| Form Factor | Rack-mount | Rack-mount | Rack-mount | Rack-mount | Rack-mount |
| Height | 1.75 inches | 1.75 inches | 1.75 inches | 1 inches | 1 inches |
| Interface Ports | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 |
| IOS | LAN Base | LAN Base | IP Services | IP Services | IP Services |
| Layer Supported | Layer 2 | Layer 2 / Layer 3 | Layer 2 / Layer 3 | Layer 2 | Layer 2 / Layer 3 |
| Manageable | Managed | Managed | Managed | Managed | Managed |
| Manufacturer Part Number | R0P12A | Q0U60A | QK714D | 403626-B21 | AK242B |
| Media Type Supported | Twisted Pair | Combo | Twisted Pair / Fiber | Combo | Combo |
| Memory | 256 MB | 256 MB | 256 MB | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Number of Downlink Ports | 12 Ports | 24 Ports | 24 Ports | 24 Ports | 24 Ports |
| Number of Ethernet Ports | 12–24 Ports | 24–48 Ports | 24–48 Ports | 24–48 Ports | 24–48 Ports |
| POE Support | Non POE | POE+ | POE+ | POE+ | POE+ |
| Port/Expansion Slot Details | 12 fixed Ethernet ports, 4 dedicated SFP uplink ports | 24 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, 4 x SFP uplinks | N/A | 4 modular expansion slots available for additional services | N/A |
| Power Consumption | 35W | 150 W | 120W | 75 W | 120W |
| Power Source | Redundant Power Supply | Redundant Power Supply | Redundant Power Supply / AC Power Supply | AC Power Supply | AC Power Supply |
| Product Name | R0P12A Enterprise Stackable Switch | Q0U60A Enterprise Stackable Switch | QK714D High-Performance Data Center Switch | Cisco Catalyst 403626-B21 Switch | AK242B Enterprise Network Switch |
| Product Type | Switch | Switch | Switch | Switch | Switch |
| Rack Units | 1 RU | 1 RU | 1 RU | 1 RU | 1 RU |
| Redundant Power Supply Supported | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SFP Ports | 4 SFP Ports | 4 SFP Ports | 12 SFP Ports | 4 SFP Ports | 4 SFP Ports |
| Switching Capacity | 24 Gbps | 192 Gbps | 100 Gbps | 128 Gbps | 128 Gbps |
| Switching Capacity with Stacking | 48 Gbps | 384 Gbps | 150 Gbps | 256 Gbps | 256 Gbps |
| Uplink Configuration | 1G | 10G | 10G | 10G | 10G |
| Weight | 8 lbs | 15 lbs | 15 lbs | 14 lbs | 15 lbs |
| Width | 19 inches | 17.5 inches | 17.5 inches | 17 inches | 17 inches |
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Questions & Answers
Q
What is the HP 8/20q FC 16-ports Active Switch?
A
The HP 8/20q FC 16-ports Active Switch (SKU AK242B) is a high-performance Fibre Channel SAN switch offering 16 active 8Gb/s ports for enterprise storage connectivity.
Q
How many Fibre Channel ports does the HP AK242B offer?
A
The AK242B model provides 16 active Fibre Channel ports supporting simultaneous SAN connections.
Q
What is the maximum data transfer rate per port?
A
Each port supports up to 8Gb/s line-rate Fibre Channel throughput.
Q
Which Fibre Channel protocols are supported?
A
The switch supports FC-1 through FC-4 standards and is backward compatible with 1/2/4/8Gb/s devices.
Q
What management interfaces are available?
A
Management options include a web-based GUI, CLI via SSH/Telnet and SNMP for seamless integration.
Q
Does the switch support hot-swappable components?
A
Yes, it features hot-swappable power supplies and fans for uninterrupted operation.
Q
What power and cooling features does the AK242B include?
A
It offers dual redundant power supplies, front-to-back airflow design and redundant fans.
Q
What high-availability features are included?
A
Provides redundant components, non-disruptive firmware upgrades and port zoning for maximum uptime.
Q
Which servers and storage arrays are compatible?
A
Fully compatible with HP and third-party FC-SAN-certified servers and storage arrays.
Q
Can I use this switch in a virtualized environment?
A
Yes, it supports VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V and Citrix XenServer virtualization platforms.
Q
What is the typical power consumption?
A
Typical power consumption is under 120W, meeting ENERGY STAR® efficiency standards.
Q
What is the form factor of the AK242B?
A
It comes in a 2U rack-mountable chassis designed for standard 19″ racks.
Q
Which firmware version should be installed?
A
Install the latest HP Fibre Channel firmware version 7.x or higher for optimal performance.
Q
How do I install the HP 8/20q FC switch?
A
Rack-mount the chassis, connect power and SAN fabrics, then configure via web GUI or CLI.
Q
What warranty and support options are available?
A
Includes a one-year hardware warranty; HP Care Pack services are available for extended support.
Q
Which transceiver modules are supported?
A
Supports HP 8Gb Shortwave SFP+ and LC multimode transceivers for distances up to 150m.
Q
Can I expand the port capacity?
A
Use E-Port trunking or port expansion modules to scale beyond the built-in 16 ports.
