Dell Connectrix MP-7840B
The Dell Connectrix MP-7840B is a 2U multiprotocol SAN extension switch based on the Brocade 7840 platform, engineered for high-performance multi-site disaster recovery and long-distance replication. Combining 24 16Gb FC ports with up to 40GbE WAN links, the MP-7840B provides hardware-accelerated FCIP data compression, line-rate encryption, and loss-free WAN transport for SRDF and remote arrays.
Also written as: Connectrix MP-7840B, Dell Connectrix MP-7840B, MP-7840B Extension Switch
Specifications
| Brand | Dell |
|---|---|
| Family | Connectrix |
| Form factor | 2U switch |
| Released | May 2015 |
| Port count | 24x 16Gb/s Fibre Channel ports + 16x 1/10GbE and 2x 40GbE WAN extension ports in 2U |
| Wan features | Hardware-accelerated FCIP compression, byte-level deduplication, IPSec encryption, and Adaptive Rate Limiting |
| Switching bandwidth | Up to 80 Gbps WAN replication throughput |
| Operating system | Brocade Fabric OS (FOS) extension edition |
| Power supply | Dual redundant hot-plug power supplies with hot-swappable fan trays |
Generations
- Next generation: Dell Connectrix MP-7850B
Compatible parts
Network adapters
540-BBGY Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Low Profile Network Adapter
OCP adapters
540-BBHB Dell Broadcom 57414 Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Mezzanine Network Adapter
Transceivers
407-BCBF Dell 25GbE SFP28 SR Optical Transceiver (850nm, 100m MMF)
Rail kits
770-BCKW Dell ReadyRails II Sliding Rails for 2U PowerEdge Servers (B6)
Works together
How the Dell Connectrix MP-7840B 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 C4130 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R230 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R330 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R930 4U rack
Dell PowerEdge R220 1U rack
Dell PowerEdge R430 1U rack
Adapters for the server
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
540-BCMT Dell QLogic 2772 Dual Port 32Gb Fibre Channel PCIe Adapter
Storage
Dell PowerProtect DD Data Domain DD9500 2U controller + shelves
Dell PowerProtect DD Data Domain DD6300 2U appliance
Dell PowerProtect DD Data Domain DD6800 2U controller + shelves
Dell PowerProtect DD Data Domain DD9300 2U controller + shelves
Dell PowerProtect DD Data Domain DD9800 2U controller + shelves
Dell PowerVault MD3800F 2U rack
Optics
407-BBOG Dell 16Gb Short Wave SFP+ Fibre Channel Optical Transceiver
407-BCBI Dell 32Gb Short Wave SFP28 Fibre Channel Optical Transceiver
57-1000262-01 Brocade 16G FC SFP+ ELWL 25 km
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
- Dell E-Lab Navigator (Dell interoperability) dell.com
Check compatibility with Dell
Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that Dell has tested with the Dell Connectrix MP-7840B.
- Compatibility Dell E-Lab Navigator (storage and SAN interoperability) (free vendor sign-in)
- Support Dell Support: drivers, manuals and service tag lookup
Equivalent models from other brands
Buying a used Connectrix MP-7840B: what to check
Verify Advanced Extension (WAN rate limiting, compression, IPSec) license keys, test 40GbE and 10GbE WAN interfaces, inspect 16Gb FC optical transceivers, and confirm dual power supplies.
FAQ
What is the primary role of the MP-7840B?
It tunnels Fibre Channel SAN traffic over IP WAN networks (FCIP) with real-time compression and encryption to link remote datacenters.
Can the MP-7840B mitigate WAN packet loss?
Yes, Fast Write and Adaptive Rate Limiting algorithms overcome WAN latency and recover lost packets without terminating storage I/O.
Buying or selling Connectrix MP-7840B?
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
- Dell Connectrix B-Series Spec Sheet, checked 2026-10-27