Pure Storage FlashArray //X50 R4

Name: Pure Storage FlashArray //X50 R4
Brand: Pure Storage

CurrentStorage3U rack

The Pure Storage FlashArray //X50 R4 is an enterprise midrange all-NVMe storage system delivering high-throughput block and file data services on PCIe Gen 4 hardware. Built for consolidated mission-critical databases and private clouds, it features sub-millisecond response times, 64Gb Fibre Channel, and 100GbE networking.

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Specifications

Brand	Pure Storage
Family	FlashArray //X
Form factor	3U rack
Released	Jun 2023
Controller configuration	Dual active-active controllers in 3U enclosure
Processor	Intel Xeon Scalable multi-core processors per controller
Operating system	Pure Storage Purity//FA
Raw capacity	Up to 880TB raw
Effective capacity	Up to 2.9PB effective with inline data reduction
Drive media	NVMe DirectFlash Modules (DFMs up to 36.4TB)
Connectivity	64Gb/32Gb FC, 100GbE/25GbE/10GbE iSCSI, and NVMe-oF (TCP/RoCE)
Data reduction	Inline deduplication and adaptive compression
Management	Pure1 SaaS management platform

Generations

Previous generation: Pure Storage FlashArray //X50

Works together

How the Pure Storage FlashArray //X50 R4 connects to servers, storage and the network: 2 ways, with the parts and products on each path.

Fibre Channel SAN iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet

Fibre Channel SAN

Serverwith an FC HBAFC switchtwo fabrics, A and BStorage arrayFC host ports

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

Adapters for the server

540-BDLM Dell Emulex LPe36002 Dual Port 64Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter
4XC7A77485 ThinkSystem Emulex LPe36002 64Gb 2-Port PCIe Fibre Channel Adapter
UCSC-PCIE-BD16GF Cisco Emulex LPe31002 Dual Port 16G Fibre Channel HBA
UCSC-PCIE-BD32GF Cisco Broadcom LPe32002 Dual-Port 32G FC HBA

Switches

Optics

57-1000495-01 Brocade 64G FC SFP+ SWL
DS-SFP-FC64G-SW Cisco 64Gbps Fibre Channel Shortwave SFP56 Transceiver
57-1000114-01 Brocade 10G FC SFP+ SWL

Fibre Channel SAN: how it fits together

iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet

Server10/25/100GbE NICEthernet switchstorage VLAN, two switchesStorage arrayiSCSI or NVMe/TCP ports

Keep the speed the same at all three points: a 25GbE server, a 25GbE switch port and a 25GbE array port. Mixed speeds work but the slowest link sets the pace.

Servers

Adapters for the server

BCM957504A5041CC Broadcom NetXtreme-E BCM57504 Quad-Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe 4.0 Ethernet Network Adapter
540-BDBX Dell NVIDIA Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx Dual Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe Adapter
540-BDCF Dell Intel E810-CQDA2 Dual Port 100GbE QSFP28 PCIe Gen4 Adapter
540-BDCP Dell Broadcom 57508 Dual Port 100GbE QSFP56 PCIe Gen4 Adapter

Switches

HPE Aruba CX 8100 1U fixed switch
Dell PowerSwitch S5448F-ON 1U switch
HPE Aruba CX 9300 1U fixed 400G switch
NVIDIA Spectrum-4 SN5600 2U fixed switch

Optics

QSFP-100G-CWDM4-AR Arista 100GBASE-CWDM4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver Module
QSFP-100G-LR4-AR Arista 100GBASE-LR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver Module
QSFP-100G-SR4 Arista 100GBASE-SR4 QSFP28 Optical Transceiver

iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet: how it fits together

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 Pure Storage

Before you buy, confirm the exact configuration against the vendor's own lists: firmware levels, operating systems, adapters and optics that Pure Storage has tested with the Pure Storage FlashArray //X50 R4.

Compatibility Pure Storage compatibility matrix (free vendor sign-in)
Support Pure Storage Support

Equivalent models from other brands

FAQ

What expansion shelves are supported on the //X50 R4?

The //X50 R4 connects to external NVMe DirectFlash Shelves via dedicated PCIe/SAS cabling.

Does the //X50 R4 support synchronous replication?

Yes, ActiveCluster provides zero-RPO/zero-RTO active-active synchronous replication across metro distances.

Buying or selling FlashArray //X50 R4?

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.

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Sources

Pure Storage FlashArray //X Specifications, checked 2026-10-28
Pure Storage Documentation - //X R4 Generation, checked 2026-10-28