Updated
License Options for the Brocade 6740T Switch: Capacity on Demand
The Brocade VDX 6740T unlocks ports by license: 10G in steps of 8, 16 or 24 ports, 40G in twos or fours. Extreme support ends January 31, 2028.
In the catalog: BR-VDX6740T-56-1G-F
Model pages: Brocade VDX 6740T
A VDX 6740T is sold with part of its ports switched off. The ports are on the board, and a license key turns them on. That is what "capacity on demand" means on this switch, and it is why two listings that look alike can differ by a license.
This page sets out what each license does on the Brocade VDX 6740T family, what the base model contains, and the dates Extreme Networks, the maker that now documents the VDX line, published for the family. Port and license facts come from Extreme's VDX 6740 hardware installation guide and technical specifications. The lifecycle dates come from Extreme's end-of-sale notice for the VDX 6740 family.
The two variants
The installation guide describes the VDX 6740T and a 1G variant of it. The access ports are Base-T copper (RJ-45), and both carry 40 GbE QSFP+ capacity.
| Variant | Base ports | 10G upgrade license | 40G upgrade license |
|---|---|---|---|
| VDX 6740T | 24 Ethernet ports at 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps or 10 Gbps | Adds 8, 16 or 24 ports, for 48 in total | Base has no 40 GbE ports; the license adds two or four |
| VDX 6740T-1G | 48 Ethernet ports at 100 Mbps or 1 Gbps | Enables 10 Gbps in steps of 16, 32 and 48 ports | Base has two 40 GbE ports; the license adds two more |
Extreme's guide adds that any 40 GbE port can be set to four 10 GbE ports with breakout optics, so a switch can be configured with as many as 64 ports of 10 GbE.
The licenses Extreme lists
Extreme's end-of-sale notice for the family lists these license part numbers, which shows what the family was sold with:
BR-VDX6740-FCOE: the Fibre Channel over Ethernet license for the VDX 6740 and 6740T. FCoE carries Fibre Channel frames over Ethernet.
BR-VDX6740-8X10G-POD: an eight-port 10G port-on-demand license for the VDX 6740 and 6740T.
BR-VDX6740-2X40G-POD: a two-port 40G port-on-demand license for the VDX 6740 and 6740T.
BR-VDX6740T-1G-16X10G-COD: a 16-port 10G capacity-on-demand upgrade for the VDX 6740T-1G.
BR-VDX6740-VCS: the Virtual Cluster Switching license for the VDX 6740 and 6740T.
Extreme's guide has the owner read the switch's license ID, obtain a key, install the PORT_10G_UPGRADE license and then reserve it port by port with the dpod command. So when buying one refurbished, ask what license the unit carries today, because the part number gives the model and not the license state.
What the hardware is
| Item | Brocade VDX 6740T |
|---|---|
| Rack space | 1U |
| Switching bandwidth | 1.28 Tbps, full duplex |
| Forwarding rate | 960 Mpps |
| Port-to-port latency | 3 microseconds |
| Power | Two internal, redundant, field-replaceable supplies, 500 W AC each |
| Cooling | Five separate hot-swappable fan units |
| Size and weight | 1.68 x 17.22 x 21.12 in; 10.82 kg (23.85 lb) |
| Airflow | -F is front to rear (air in at the port side), -R is rear to front |
The switching and latency figures are from Brocade's original VDX 6740 data sheet, kept on the Internet Archive. The airflow letter must match across power supplies and fans: Extreme warns that a mismatched fan or supply raises a console warning.
Dates from Extreme Networks
Extreme published an end-of-sale notice for the VDX 6740 family on July 29, 2022. It lists the VDX 6740T part numbers, among them BR-VDX6740T-24-F, BR-VDX6740T-48-F, BR-VDX6740T-64-F and BR-VDX6740T-56-1G-F, with one set of dates.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Notice | 2022-07-29 |
| End of sale | 2023-01-31 |
| End of software maintenance | 2026-01-31 |
| End of service life | 2028-01-31 |
| Replacement the notice names | 8520 |
Extreme's notice defines end of sale as the last date to order through its sales channels, end of software maintenance as the last date it releases maintenance or patch releases, and end of service life as the last date a product is supported. Several licenses closed later than the hardware: the 2x40G and 8x10G port licenses, the 16x10G upgrade for the 6740T-1G and the VCS license reached end of sale on January 31, 2026. The notice is on Extreme's end-of-sale and end-of-support page, listed as "EOS Notification for VDX 6740".
None of these dates stops a switch working. They describe what Extreme will still do for it: new software maintenance releases ended on January 31, 2026, and support ends on January 31, 2028.
Common questions
Does a license change the hardware? No. The ports are on the board, and Extreme's guide describes the licenses as upgrades that add or enable ports on a base model.
Does a 6740T have 40G ports without a license? The plain VDX 6740T base model has none; its 40G ports come from the 40G upgrade license, which adds two or four. The 6740T-1G base model includes two.
Can it run 10G on every copper port? Yes with the upgrade installed: Extreme's guide says the upgrade enables 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 10 Gbps or auto-sensing operation on those ports.
Where to look
The VDX 6740T page holds the family, with the whole VDX range above it. The 24 port BR-VDX6740T-24-F, the 48 port BR-VDX6740T-48-F and the 64 port BR-VDX6740T-64-F are listed alongside the 56-1G. For a side-by-side with the SFP+ VDX 6740 and the VDX 6940, read the VDX comparison. Every unit we ship is tested in-house first and carries our warranty; if the part number you need is not listed, request a quote.
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