Brocade 6500 Series 6505
The Brocade 6505 is an entry-level 24-port Gen 5 16Gb Fibre Channel switch providing cost-effective SAN consolidation for small departments and remote branch offices. It offers 12 or 24 active ports in a 1U chassis with auto-sensing 16Gb, 8Gb, 4Gb, and 2Gb FC capabilities for simple edge-to-core network integration.
Specifications
| Brand | Brocade |
|---|---|
| Family | Brocade 6500 Series |
| Form factor | 1U |
| Released | Jun 2012 |
| End of sale | Feb 2019 |
| End of support | Feb 2024 |
| Form factor | 1U rackmount |
| Ports | 24x 16Gb FC SFP+ (12 or 24 ports active) |
| Switching capacity | 384 Gb/s full duplex |
| Latency | < 700 ns |
Generations
- Next generation: Brocade G-Series G610
Compatible parts
Transceivers
57-1000262-01 Brocade 16Gb Shortwave SFP+ Optical Transceiver
Works together
How the Brocade 6500 Series 6505 connects to servers, storage and the network: 1 way, with the parts and products on each path.
Fibre Channel SAN
Match the speed: 16Gb and 32Gb FC HBAs, switches and array ports work together, and each generation also runs one or two speeds below its own (a 32Gb port runs at 16Gb and 8Gb).
Servers
Dell PowerEdge R430 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R530 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R630 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R730 2U rack
Dell PowerEdge R730xd 2U rack
HPE ProLiant DL120 Gen9 1U rack
Adapters for the server
540-BCMT Dell QLogic 2772 Dual Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter
540-BBUU Dell Emulex LPe31002 Dual Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
540-BBUV Dell QLogic 2692 Dual Port 16Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
540-BCMS Dell QLogic 2770 Single Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter
Storage
HPE MSA 2060 2U rack
HPE MSA 2040 2U rack enterprise SAN
HPE StoreEver MSL2024 Tape Library 2U rack tape library
HPE MSA 1040 2U rack entry SAN
Dell PowerStore 7000T 2U rack
Dell Unity XT Unity 300 2U rack
Optics
- 57-1000262-01 Brocade 16Gb Shortwave SFP+ Optical Transceiver
DS-SFP-FC16G-SW Cisco 16Gbps Fibre Channel Shortwave SFP+ Transceiver
407-BBOG Dell 16Gb Short Wave SFP+ Fibre Channel Optical Transceiver
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
- SAN transport and NVMe over FC for backup mrplanb.com
Check compatibility with Brocade
Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that Brocade has tested with the Brocade 6500 Series 6505.
- Compatibility Brocade interoperability page for the Brocade 6500 Series 6505
- Compatibility Brocade Fibre Channel support and compatibility documents (Broadcom)
- Support Broadcom Support Portal
Equivalent models from other brands
FAQ
How many ports come active on the base Brocade 6505?
The base 6505 includes 12 active 16Gb FC ports, expandable to 24 ports using a 12-port PoD license.
What power configuration does the Brocade 6505 use?
The 6505 has a single fixed power supply with integrated system cooling fans, optimized for entry installations.
Buying or selling 6505?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- Brocade 6505 Hardware Reference Manual, checked 2026-10-27