IBM 44W3323 server / storage / networking hardware Server Hardware / Parts

The IBM 44W3323 is a genuine IBM optical pass-thru module, as stated directly in IBM’s own part description. In a BladeCenter chassis, a pass-thru module occupies one of the I/O switch-module bays and provides a direct, unswitched optical connection from each blade’s mezzanine adapter out to external cabling, bypassing the integrated switch logic used by a standard switch module. This is typically chosen where a customer wants each blade to connect independently to an external optical switch or SAN fabric rather than sharing a chassis-integrated switch, giving more predictable per-blade bandwidth and simplifying certain SAN zoning and cabling designs. BladeCenter chassis configured this way remain in production at sites that made this architectural choice when the chassis was deployed, and a genuine pass-thru module replacement restores that connectivity path after a fault. Buyers should confirm their exact BladeCenter chassis model and bay compatibility before ordering. Tech-Star is UK-based and ships worldwide.