Dell PowerConnect J-EX8216 Hardware Manual page 46

Dell PowerConnect J-Series J-EX8216 Ethernet Switch Hardware Guide
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A J-EX8216 switch can have up to eight SF modules. We recommend that you install all
eight SF modules in a J-EX8216 switch to support maximum midplane performance for
the installed line cards. All shipping configurations of a J-EX8216 switch include eight SF
modules. See "J-EX8216 Switch Configurations" on page 7.
In the J-EX8216 switch, all eight SF modules are simultaneously active when the switch
is operational. All SF modules are fully connected to all installed line cards. If a single SF
module fails, the input/output traffic for that module is load-balanced among the
remaining SF modules, providing graceful degradation in midplane performance. The
impact of an SF module failure on the performance of a J-EX8216 switch varies based
on the type of line cards installed in the switch and the traffic mix flowing through them.
In a J-EX8216 switch configuration that is fully loaded with 8-port 10-Gigabit Ethernet
SFP+ line cards, if one SF module fails, the remaining seven SF modules still have sufficient
switching capacity to maintain continuous switch operation at full wire-rate performance.
Figure 13: SF Module in a J-EX8216 Switch
The SF modules are installed in the rear of the chassis in the slots labeled SF7 through
SF0 (from left to right). See "Slot Numbering for a J-EX8216 Switch" on page 14.
The SF modules are hot-insertable and hot-removable field-replaceable units (FRUs).
However, you must take the SF modules offline before removing them. See "Taking the
SF Module Offline in a J-EX8216 Switch" on page 164.