HPE StoreFabric SN1600E Dual-Ports SFP+ Fibre Channel 32Gb/s PCI-Express 3.0 x8 High Profile Host Bus Adapter (HBA) – Q0L12A

HPE StoreFabric SN1600E Dual-Port 32Gb/s Fibre Channel HBA — Q0L12A

The HPE StoreFabric SN1600E (Q0L12A) is a dual-port 32Gb/s Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter (HBA) featuring SFP+ connectivity and a PCI-Express 3.0 x8 high-profile interface. Designed for enterprise SAN connectivity in HPE ProLiant and Synergy servers, it delivers the highest-generation Fibre Channel bandwidth for latency-sensitive storage workloads including all-flash arrays, virtualization, and mission-critical databases.

Product Details

• Part Number: Q0L12A
• Manufacturer: HPE
• Model: StoreFabric SN1600E
• Product Type: Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter (HBA)

Key Features

• Dual-Port 32Gb/s FC: Maximum Fibre Channel bandwidth per port for latency-sensitive workloads
• SFP+ Connectivity: Industry-standard SFP+ for flexible transceiver options
• PCIe 3.0 x8: High-bandwidth host interface for maximum throughput
• HPE ProLiant Validated: Tested and certified for HPE ProLiant and Synergy servers
• High Profile: Standard high-profile PCIe form factor
• 32Gb/s Auto-Negotiation: Backward compatible with 16Gb/s and 8Gb/s FC fabrics

Technical Specifications

• Part Number: Q0L12A
• Ports: 2x 32Gb/s Fibre Channel (SFP+)
• Host Interface: PCI-Express 3.0 x8
• FC Speed: 32Gb/s per port (auto-negotiates to 16Gb/s, 8Gb/s)
• Form Factor: High-profile PCIe
• Compatible Servers: HPE ProLiant, Synergy

Use Cases

• SAN Connectivity: High-bandwidth Fibre Channel SAN connectivity for enterprise servers
• All-Flash Arrays: 32Gb/s FC for maximum throughput to all-flash storage
• Virtualization: Low-latency FC storage for VMware ESXi and Hyper-V hosts
• Mission-Critical Databases: High-performance FC storage for Oracle, SQL Server, and SAP

Compatibility Notes

• HPE ProLiant and Synergy server validated — verify server model compatibility
• 32Gb/s FC — backward compatible with 16Gb/s and 8Gb/s FC switches and arrays
• Requires 32Gb/s SFP+ FC transceivers (sold separately)
• Compatible with HPE 3PAR, Primera, Nimble, and major third-party FC storage arrays

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the SN1600E backward compatible with 16Gb/s FC fabrics?

Yes — the SN1600E auto-negotiates to 16Gb/s and 8Gb/s, providing backward compatibility with existing Fibre Channel fabrics while delivering 32Gb/s when connected to 32Gb/s switches and arrays.

What transceivers are required for the Q0L12A?

The Q0L12A requires 32Gb/s SFP+ Fibre Channel transceivers. HPE-branded SFP+ transceivers are recommended for guaranteed compatibility with HPE servers and storage.

Is the Q0L12A compatible with non-HPE servers?

The Q0L12A is validated for HPE ProLiant and Synergy servers. While it may function in non-HPE servers, HPE does not provide support for non-validated configurations.

Whether you are connecting HPE ProLiant servers to a Fibre Channel SAN, maximizing throughput to an all-flash array, or deploying 32Gb/s FC for mission-critical database storage, the HPE StoreFabric SN1600E (Q0L12A) delivers the dual-port 32Gb/s bandwidth, SFP+ flexibility, and HPE validation your enterprise SAN demands.