HPE FlexFabric 12900E 18-port 100G QSFP28/18-port 40G QSFP+ HB Module

Unlock unparalleled scalability and performance in your data center with the HPE FlexFabric 12900E HB Module. Designed for high-density, multi-rate environments, this module delivers 18 ports of 100G QSFP28 and 18 ports of 40G QSFP+ in a single HB module, empowering core and spine-leaf architectures to handle demanding workloads with ease. Built to integrate seamlessly with the HPE FlexFabric ecosystem, it combines ultra-high bandwidth, flexible interconnectivity, and intelligent fabric capabilities to simplify operations, accelerate deployment, and optimize total cost of ownership. Whether you’re consolidating virtualization, accelerating cloud services, or enabling multi-tenant infrastructures, this module provides the backbone for a future-ready network.

• Dual-rate, high-density ports for flexible connectivity: The module offers 18 x 100G QSFP28 ports alongside 18 x 40G QSFP+ ports, enabling scalable uplinks and inter-switch connections in dense data center fabrics. This configuration supports multi-hop spine-leaf designs, non-blocking fabric fabrics, and rapid scaling as traffic patterns evolve, all while minimizing cabling complexity.
• Unified fabric with intelligent automation: As part of the HPE FlexFabric family, this HB Module enables a single, policy-driven fabric that unifies data plane operations across data networking and storage networking. Operators benefit from simplified provisioning, consistent QoS, streamlined virtualization, and improved agility when deploying virtual machines, containers, and cloud-native workloads.
• Standards-based optical performance: Supporting 100GBASE-X and 40GBASE-X standards, the module ensures reliable, standards-compliant long-reach interconnects. It enables high-efficiency data transport across data centers, campus backbones, and metro networks, while maintaining compatibility with top-tier QSFP28 and QSFP+ transceivers for robust interoperability.
• Expansive scalability with extensive expansion capabilities: Marketed with a robust 36 x expansion-slot framework, the module is engineered to grow alongside your infrastructure. This design supports large-scale deployments, future-proofing your investment as you expand capacity, introduce new services, and consolidate workloads onto a single, high-performance fabric.
• Reliable performance for mission-critical workloads: Built to deliver low latency and high throughput, the HPE FlexFabric 12900E HB Module supports data-intensive applications, virtualization, AI inference, and software-defined networking. Its engineering emphasizes consistent performance under heavy load, ensuring service levels for core business applications, analytics pipelines, and multi-tenant environments.

Technical Details of HPE FlexFabric 12900E HB Module

• Ports: 18 x 100G QSFP28 ports and 18 x 40G QSFP+ ports, delivering multi-rate capability in a dense form factor.
• Standards: Supports 100GBASE-X and 40GBASE-X standards for flexible optical interconnects and broad compatibility with high-speed transceivers.
• Fiber Type: Optical Fiber, optimized for high-bandwidth data center networking.
• Network Type: Data Networking and Optical Network, suitable for spine-leaf fabrics, core interconnects, and cloud-scale deployments.
• Expansion: 36 x Expansion Slots designed to support scalable growth and future-ready configurations within the HPE FlexFabric ecosystem.
• Form Factor: HB Module designed for the HPE FlexFabric 12900E switch series, enabling seamless integration into compatible data center fabrics.
• Compatibility: Specifically engineered for use with HPE FlexFabric 12900E switches and related ecosystem components to maximize performance and reliability.

how to install HPE FlexFabric 12900E HB Module

• Power down the chassis and follow proper electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions before handling any module or chassis components.
• Identify the correct expansion slot in the HPE FlexFabric 12900E chassis that supports HB Modules and is designated for high-speed port expansion.
• Carefully align the HB Module with the slot, ensuring that connectors engage properly. Gently press until the module seats securely into place.
• Secure any retention mechanisms or screws as specified by your chassis model to lock the module in position and prevent movement during operation.
• Reconnect power and console cables, then boot the system. Verify that the module is recognized by the switch and that all 100G QSFP28 and 40G QSFP+ ports come online with expected LED indicators.
• Configure port groups, VLANs, QoS policies, and any virtualization or fabric automation features within the HPE management interface to optimize performance and ensure policy-driven traffic handling across the fabric.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the port configuration of this HB Module?

  A: It provides 18 ports of 100G QSFP28 and 18 ports of 40G QSFP+ in a single module, for a total of 36 high-speed ports to support versatile interconnects.

• Q: Which environments is this module best suited for?

  A: It is designed for data networking and optical networks in data centers employing HPE FlexFabric architectures, including spine-leaf and large-scale cloud deployments requiring multi-rate, high-density connectivity.

• Q: What standards does it support?

  A: The module supports 100GBASE-X and 40GBASE-X standards, enabling compatibility with QSFP28 and QSFP+ transceivers and ensuring reliable high-speed performance across fabrics.

• Q: Is this module hot-swappable?

  A: As part of the HPE modular ecosystem, the HB Module is designed for insertion and replacement with appropriate chassis shutdown procedures to minimize downtime and maintain service continuity.

• Q: How do I verify compatibility and optimization?

  A: Confirm compatibility with the HPE FlexFabric 12900E series, review the official HPE interoperability guides, and utilize the HPE management tools to configure port profiles, QoS, and fabric policies for best results.

• Q: Can I mix transceivers from different vendors?

  A: While the module supports standard QSFP28 and QSFP+ interfaces, for optimum reliability and performance, use transceivers that are listed in the HPE compatibility matrix and validate in your environment.