HP part number AK858C identifies the AK858C - HP DC San Director Switch 16-Port 8GB Fibre Channel Blade Option, an enterprise-grade Networking Devices unit appropriate for data-center, server-room, and workstation deployment. The component is intended for use in HP / HPE ProLiant DL360, DL380, ML350 and BL series platforms where matched-pair installation, hot-spare provisioning, or matched-lot procurement is required. Technical specifications include capacity of 8 GB, interface of Fibre Channel, ports of 16. Typical use cases include enterprise LAN core-distribution-access architecture, hyperconverged cluster east-west traffic, SAN fabric uplinks, and replacement of EOL/EOSL networking infrastructure under existing OEM warranty contracts. Our procurement team maintains active inventory of the AK858C and verifies condition, firmware revision, and OEM part-number registry alignment for each unit prior to sale. Stocked units ship same-day on in-stock orders placed before 3pm ET. Pro Disk Network applies a 30-day functional warranty and accepts Net 30 / Net 60 terms for qualified business accounts. Free US ground shipping on orders over $150; same-day expedited (UPS Next Day Air, FedEx Priority) available at checkout.
The AK858C is a HP networking devices component with capacity 8 GB, interface Fibre Channel, ports 16. Pricing on the AK858C is quote-based — email sales@prodisknetwork.com or use our live chat for a quote within one business day.
Reviewed By
Reviewed by:Pro Disk Network Engineering Team — . Specifications, compatibility, and pricing for the AK858C verified against the manufacturer datasheet and our internal lab benchmarks.
Quick Answer: Is the AK858C compatible with my switch?
Pro Disk Network validates every AK858C against the target switch's published compatibility matrix before shipment. If you let us know your switch model and firmware version, we will confirm fitment and code the module appropriately (Cisco-coded, Juniper-coded, HPE-coded, etc.) at no extra charge.
How fast does the AK858C ship?
If in stock, the AK858C ships same business day on US orders placed before 2 pm ET. Most US ZIP codes receive next-business-day or 2-day delivery via FedEx/UPS Ground or Express. Bulk and project orders shipping in pallets are typically dispatched within 24-48 hours.
The AK858C is deployed by US enterprises, MSPs, government, and education customers across multiple infrastructure scenarios. Below are the most common deployment patterns Pro Disk Network sees in real-world orders.
Spine-Leaf Fabric — Top-of-rack 25G/100G aggregation between leaf and spine switches. Match speed and form factor across both endpoints.
Server Uplink — 10G/25G server-to-leaf uplink — pair with matching DAC or AOC at the host NIC to avoid optic mismatch.
DCI (Data Center Interconnect) — Inter-DC routing or aggregation. LR4/LR8 transceivers for 10–80 km, ER4 for 40 km, ZR4 for coherent long-haul.
Campus Distribution — Catalyst-class campus distribution between IDF and MDF closets. PoE+ where wireless APs and IP phones share infrastructure.
New, Bulk, or Refurbished — Choosing Your Tier
Pro Disk Network offers the AK858C across three procurement tiers. Each tier is fully functional and warranted; the choice comes down to budget, warranty length, and whether the deployment is production-critical or capacity-expansion.
Tier
Discount vs OEM List
Warranty
Best For
New (Sealed OEM)
25–40%
HP manufacturer warranty (1–5 yr)
Production-critical first-tier
New (Bulk OEM)
50–65%
3-year Pro Disk Network warranty
New cluster builds, secondary tier
Refurbished
75–85%
12-month advance replacement
Capacity expansion, lab, dev/test, EOL refresh
What is the AK858C?
The AK858C is a HP enterprise networking device with capacity 8 GB and interface Fibre Channel, manufactured by HP. Pro Disk Network ships this part new and certified-refurbished from our US warehouse with same-day dispatch on orders placed before 3 PM ET, backed by a 30-day return guarantee.
Cisco/Aruba/Juniper-compatible transceivers tested in our lab
Same-day US shipping cuts deployment downtime
Cons
Not for hyperscale ZR coherent — different SKU family
Some vendors deprecate firmware on EOL part numbers
Mismatched optic+switch firmware can require manual override
Frequently Asked Questions about AK858C
Is the AK858C a genuine HP part?
Yes. Pro Disk Network sources every AK858C as factory-original HP inventory verified against the manufacturer parts registry before listing. New units arrive sealed in OEM packaging; refurbished units are pulled from decommissioned HP servers, surface-tested, and re-warranted by Pro Disk Network for 12 months.
Is the AK858C compatible with my switch?
Pro Disk Network validates every AK858C against the target switch's published compatibility matrix before shipment. If you let us know your switch model and firmware version, we will confirm fitment and code the module appropriately (Cisco-coded, Juniper-coded, HPE-coded, etc.) at no extra charge.
How fast does the AK858C ship?
If in stock, the AK858C ships same business day on US orders placed before 2 pm ET. Most US ZIP codes receive next-business-day or 2-day delivery via FedEx/UPS Ground or Express. Bulk and project orders shipping in pallets are typically dispatched within 24-48 hours.
What is the warranty on the AK858C?
New AK858C units carry the full HP manufacturer warranty (typically 1 to 5 years depending on product line). Refurbished and bulk-OEM units include a Pro Disk Network advance-replacement warranty (12 months refurbished, 36 months new bulk). DOA replacement is free within 30 days of receipt.
Do you offer bulk pricing for the AK858C?
Yes. Pro Disk Network offers automatic volume discounts at 10, 25, 50, and 100+ unit tiers. Net 30 terms are available for verified businesses, government, and education buyers. Email sales@prodisknetwork.com with the quantity and target ship date for a quote within one business day.
Pro Disk Network Buyer’s Guide: Networking Devices
Optic Coding, Vendor Lock-In, and Multi-Vendor Compatibility
Networking optics — SFP, SFP+, QSFP+, QSFP28 — are physically interoperable across vendors but logically restricted by firmware coding. The AK858C is coded for a specific vendor family at our factory step before shipping, which preserves the OEM warranty workflow and allows the optic to be recognised without ‘service unsupported-transceiver’ CLI overrides. Mixing third-party optics with same-vendor optics in the same chassis is safe; mixing across vendor codings sometimes triggers warnings in the switch log.
Bandwidth Sizing for Spine-Leaf, EVPN-VXLAN, and Hyperconverged Storage
For EVPN-VXLAN overlays, the AK858C carries the underlay tunnels in addition to the workload traffic. Plan for VXLAN encapsulation overhead (50 bytes) plus MTU headroom; set the underlay MTU to 9216 (jumbo frames) and the overlay MTU to 9000. Make sure both the AK858C and the connected NICs support jumbo frames — some older NICs cap at 9000-byte payloads even when jumbo-enabled.