This article has been archived and is no longer updated by Apple.

Fibre Channel hardware compatibility guide

Learn more about compatibility for cables and cards. Click any image to see a larger version.

Cable Compatibility

The following table summarizes compatibility between Apple Fibre Channel cards, Xserve RAID, Apple copper Fibre Channel cables and third-party optical transceivers. Click any image to see a larger version.

Note: Using 2 gigabit (Gb) optical transceivers reduces communications between 4 Gb devices to 2 gigabits per second (Gb/s). Likewise, communications between a 2 Gb Fibre Channel card or an Xserve RAID with a 4 Gb Fibre Channel card is reduced to 2 Gb/s.

Apple 2 Gb

SFP-SFP cable

Apple 2 Gb

SFP-HSDDC2 cable

Apple 4 Gb

SFP-SFP cable

Appearance

Apple 2 Gb SFP-SFP cableApple 2 Gb SFP-HSDDC2 cableApple 4 Gb SFP-SFP cable

Apple dual-channel

2 Gb Fibre Channel card

(PCI, PCI-X, PCI Express)

Yes

Yes

Yes (at 2 Gb/s speeds)

Apple dual-channel/

quad-channel

4 Gb Fibre Channel

PCI Express Card

Do not use

Do not use

Yes

Xserve RAID

Yes

Yes

Yes (at 2 Gb/s speeds)

Promise VTrak

No

No

Yes

Third-party Fibre Channel switches

Check with switch vendor for compatibility

Card Compatibility

This table summarizes compatibility between PPC and Intel computers with 2 Gb and 4 Gb cards. Click any image to see a larger version.

Apple dual-channel

2 Gb Fibre

Channel card (PCI)

Apple dual-channel

2 Gb Fibre

Channel Card (PCI-X)

Apple dual-channel

2 Gb Fibre

Channel Card (PCI-Express)

Apple dual-channel

4 Gb Fibre

Channel card

Apple quad-channel

4 Gb Fibre

Channel card

Power PC-based Macintosh computers

Yes (bootable)

Yes (bootable)

Yes (bootable)

Do not use

Do not use

Intel-based Macintosh computers

Do not use

Do not use

Yes (Not bootable)

Yes (bootable)

Yes (bootable)

Xserve RAID

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Promise VTrak

Do not use

Do not use

Do not use

Yes

Yes

Appearance

Apple dual-channel 2 Gb Fibre Channel card (PCI)Apple dual-channel 2 Gb Fibre Channel Card (PCI-X)Apple dual-channel 2 Gb Fibre Channel Card (PCI-Express)Apple dual-channel 4 Gb Fibre Channel cardApple quad-channel 4 Gb Fibre Channel card

Product Number*

LSI7202P

LSI7202XP

LSI7202EP

LSI7204EP

LSI7404EP

Part Number

M8940G/A and /B

M9274G/C

MA900G/A

MB842G/A

MA462G/A

MB355G/A

MB843G/A

MA465G/A

MB356G/A

Firmware versions

2.00.17

1.02.18

1.02.18

1.03.14, 1.03.20, 1.03.23

1.03.14, 1.03.20, 1.03.23

FCode version (2GB HBA)

1.00.29

1.00.37

1.00.37

EFI versions (4GB HBA)

1.05.03, 1.05.05, 1.05.06

1.05.03, 1.05.05, 1.05.06

*How to determine Host Bus Adapters (HBA) Product Number:

Apple Fibre Card product numbers are located on stickers attached to the Fibre card. In addition, the part numbers are displayed in Apple System Profiler's Fibre Channel section.

Additional information

Here is a list of optical transceivers that are compatible with the 2 Gb and 4 Gb Apple Fibre Channel cards:

4 Gb short-haul transceiver (supports up to 500 m with 50/125 m MMF)

  • Finisar FTLF-8524-P2BNL

  • Finisar FTLF-8524-P2BNL-LS

2 Gb short-haul transceiver (supports up to 500 m with 50/125 m MMF)

  • Finisar FTRJ-8519-P1BNL

  • Pico Light PL-XPL-VE-S24-11

  • Pico Light PL-XPL-VC-S23-11

  • JDS Uniphase JSM-21S0AA1

  • JDS Uniphase JSP-21S0AA1

  • JDS Uniphase JDS-42S4AA1

2 Gb long-haul transceiver (supports up to 10 km with 9/125 m SMF)

  • Finisar FTRJ-1319-P1BTL

Note: Certain Fibre Channel switches require that specific optical transceivers be connected to them. In cases like these, the required transceiver should be connected to the switch, while the other end of the optical cable should be connected to a transceiver that is supported by the Apple Fibre Channel Card.

Information about products not manufactured by Apple, or independent websites not controlled or tested by Apple, is provided without recommendation or endorsement. Apple assumes no responsibility with regard to the selection, performance, or use of third-party websites or products. Apple makes no representations regarding third-party website accuracy or reliability. Contact the vendor for additional information.

Published Date: