United States$5,000,000+
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Graham Ellis
5
Active FC switch provided consistent throughput.
AK242B
HP 8/20q FC 16-ports Active Switch
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AK242B
- Description:
- HP 8/20q FC 16-ports Active Switch
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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.
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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
 AK242B |  Q0U60A |  R0P12A |  QK714D |  403626-B21 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depth | 12 inches | 12 inches | 9 inches | 10 inches | 11 inches |
| Ethernet Technology | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 |
| Flash Memory | 64 MB | 64 MB | 64 MB | 32 MB | 64 MB |
| Form Factor | Rack-mount | Rack-mount | Rack-mount | Rack-mount | Rack-mount |
| Height | 1 inches | 1.75 inches | 1.75 inches | 1.75 inches | 1 inches |
| IOS | IP Services | LAN Base | LAN Base | IP Services | IP Services |
| Interface Ports | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 | 10/100/1000 |
| Layer Supported | Layer 2 / Layer 3 | Layer 2 / Layer 3 | Layer 2 | Layer 2 / Layer 3 | Layer 2 |
| Manageable | Managed | Managed | Managed | Managed | Managed |
| Manufacturer Part Number | AK242B | Q0U60A | R0P12A | QK714D | 403626-B21 |
| Media Type Supported | Combo | Combo | Twisted Pair | Twisted Pair / Fiber | Combo |
| Memory | 256 MB | 256 MB | 256 MB | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Number of Downlink Ports | 24 Ports | 24 Ports | 12 Ports | 24 Ports | 24 Ports |
| Number of Ethernet Ports | 24–48 Ports | 24–48 Ports | 12–24 Ports | 24–48 Ports | 24–48 Ports |
| POE Support | POE+ | POE+ | Non POE | POE+ | POE+ |
| Port/Expansion Slot Details | N/A | 24 x 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports, 4 x SFP uplinks | 12 fixed Ethernet ports, 4 dedicated SFP uplink ports | N/A | 4 modular expansion slots available for additional services |
| Power Consumption | 120W | 150 W | 35W | 120W | 75 W |
| Power Source | AC Power Supply | Redundant Power Supply | Redundant Power Supply | Redundant Power Supply / AC Power Supply | AC Power Supply |
| Product Name | AK242B Enterprise Network Switch | Q0U60A Enterprise Stackable Switch | R0P12A Enterprise Stackable Switch | QK714D High-Performance Data Center Switch | Cisco Catalyst 403626-B21 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 | 4 SFP Ports | 12 SFP Ports | 4 SFP Ports |
| Switching Capacity | 128 Gbps | 192 Gbps | 24 Gbps | 100 Gbps | 128 Gbps |
| Switching Capacity with Stacking | 256 Gbps | 384 Gbps | 48 Gbps | 150 Gbps | 256 Gbps |
| Uplink Configuration | 10G | 10G | 1G | 10G | 10G |
| Weight | 15 lbs | 15 lbs | 8 lbs | 15 lbs | 14 lbs |
| Width | 17 inches | 17.5 inches | 19 inches | 17.5 inches | 17 inches |
Reviews & Ratings
E
Edward Grant
4
Reliable connectivity for mid sized SAN.
V
Victor Morris
5
Easy deployment and management.
A
Andrew Clarke
3
Stable performance in production.
J
Julian Ward
4
Solid Fibre Channel switch.
Questions & Answers
What is the HP 8/20q FC 16-ports Active Switch?
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.
How many Fibre Channel ports does the HP AK242B offer?
The AK242B model provides 16 active Fibre Channel ports supporting simultaneous SAN connections.
What is the maximum data transfer rate per port?
Each port supports up to 8Gb/s line-rate Fibre Channel throughput.
Which Fibre Channel protocols are supported?
The switch supports FC-1 through FC-4 standards and is backward compatible with 1/2/4/8Gb/s devices.