Brocade BR-BES20-0008 Encryption Switch

BR-BES20-0008 is a 32-port base encryption switch from Brocade, designed to secure Fibre Channel SAN traffic as it traverses the fabric. It provides 32 active ports and ships with 8 Gb Fibre Channel SFP transceivers, enabling encryption across the entire switch fabric without requiring changes to host or storage interfaces. Classified in the BES20 family as a Base Encryption Switch (BASE ENC), the BR-BES20-0008 model represents a compact, hardware-based solution for protecting data in flight between SAN components. This model is a discontinued product with an end-of-life date of December 30, 2019, so current availability is typically through secondary markets or remaining field installations. Common applications include encrypting storage traffic between servers, switches, and disk arrays in Fibre Channel SANs where protecting data in transit is a requirement. The 32-port footprint and 8 Gb FC support define an encryption layer suitable for legacy or conservatively sized SAN deployments that need to enforce encryption without re-architecting the fabric. When considering acquisition, verify compatibility with existing Brocade encryption-capable hardware and plan for potential support options through third-party channels.