4GB FIBRE CHANNEL PASS-THRU MODULE
Table of contents
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HP BladeSystem c-Class SAN connectivity
technology brief
Abstract.............................................................................................................................................. 2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 2
HP BLadeSystem c-Class architecture...................................................................................................... 2
c-Class server FC interconnect options ................................................................................................ 3
FC HBAs ..................................................................................................................................... 3
c-Class FC SAN interconnect modules.............................................................................................4
Port mapping of server blade FC HBA mezzanine cards....................................................................... 6
FC SAN connectivity ............................................................................................................................ 8
Port redundancy strategies ................................................................................................................ 9
Selecting interconnect module types ................................................................................................. 10
Connecting with pass-thru modules ...............................................................................................10
Connecting with HP Virtual Connect modules................................................................................. 11
Connecting with SAN switches ....................................................................................................12
Interconnect bay loading summary ............................................................................................... 12
HP software for server deployment/SAN connectivity............................................................................. 12
Conclusion........................................................................................................................................ 13
For more information.......................................................................................................................... 13
Call to action .................................................................................................................................... 13
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Abstract
This paper describes the hardware and software required to connect HP BladeSystem c--Class server
blades to Storage Area Networks
1
(SANs) using Fibre Channel (FC) interconnect technology.
Introduction
The HP BladeSystem c-Class solutions provide high performance and high availability for multi-tiered
data center architectures. BladeSystem c-Class architecture offers unique flexibility for connecting
server blades to storage systems to provide high-performance, robust, and manageable SANs.
HP BLadeSystem c-Class architecture
The BladeSystem c-Class architecture is extremely modular and flexible. This adaptive infrastructure
can easily accommodate changing business needs. The BladeSystem c-Class architecture was first
implemented in the HP BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure, a 10U-sized unit that can support half-height
and full-height server blades, storage blades, and single-wide and double-wide interconnect modules
(Figure 1). Front-loading server or storage blades and rear-loading interconnect modules slide into the
enclosure and mate with a signal midplane that provides data connections, including those for
optional interfaces.
Figure 1. Architecture of the HP BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure
Redundant
single-phase or
three-
hase powe
The enclosure also houses power supplies and HP Active Cool Fans. An HP Insight Display on the
front of the enclosure provides convenient local access to determine system status.
1
For information about supported HP StorageWorks SAN configurations, refer to the "HP StorageWorks SAN
design reference guide" at
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00403562/c00403562.pdf.
pp
(
)
(upper)
(
)
c-Class server FC interconnect options
All c-Class server blades provide expansion slots that accept optional mezzanine cards in support of
several fabric options. Half-height server blades provide two mezzanine slots; full-height blades
provide three slots (Figure 2).
Figure 2. BladeSystem c-Class server blades and mezzanine cards
Half-height BL465c server blade
Full-height BL480c server blade
Mezzanine
slot 2 (u
Mezzanine
slot 1
lower
Mezzanine
slot 2
Mezzanine
slot 1
lower
Mezzanine
slot 3
er)
Optional
Mezzanine card
FC HBAs
Two FC HBA mezzanine cards are available for c-Class server blades:
• Emulex LPe1105-HP 4Gb FC HBA mezzanine card for the HP c-Class BladeSystem
• QLogic QMH2462 4Gb FC HBA mezzanine card for the HP c-Class BladeSystem
The Emulex card provides dual-port 4-Gb/s FC connectivity and is driver-compatible with all Emulex
HBAs. The Emulex card uses a firmware-based architecture that allows firmware upgrades without
taking the server offline, rebooting, or upgrading the driver.
The QLogic card provides dual-port 4-Gb/s FC connectivity along with intelligent networking features
specific to enterprise class data centers. In addition, QLogic’s unified driver model, whereby firmware
is bundled with the driver, eliminates any potential interoperability issues between the driver and
firmware and reduces the number of software components to be managed.
The Emulex and QLogic cards are compatible with all ProLiant c-Class server blades. Software and
driver support for both mezzanine cards is available at the following URL:
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/blades/components/c-class-sans.html
c-Class FC SAN interconnect modules
Eight single-wide interconnect bays are provided at the rear of the HP BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure.
Four FC options are available for connecting the c-Class FC HBAs to a SAN:
• HP 4Gb Fibre Channel Pass-Thru Module for the c-Class BladeSystem
• HP 4Gb FC Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Module for the c-Class BladeSystem
• Brocade 4Gb SAN Switch for HP c-Class BladeSystem
• Cisco MDS 9124e Fabric Switch (Figure 3)
Up to six of these single-wide, hot-pluggable modules can be installed into the interconnect bays at
the rear of the HP BladeSystem c7000 enclosure. The modules provide external ports that accept short
wave or long wave 4-Gb small form factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceivers. The SFPs can operate
at 1, 2, or 4 Gb/s as needed based on the SAN infrastructure.
HP recommends installing the SAN interconnect modules in pairs to complement the high availability,
dual-FC port capability of the HBA mezzanine cards.
Figure 3. ProLiant c-Class FC SAN interconnect modules
HP 4Gb Pass-Thru Module
Brocade 4Gb SAN Switch
HP 4Gb VC-FC
Module
Cisco MDS 9124e
Fabric Switch
HP 4Gb Fibre Channel Pass-Thru Module for the HP c-Class BladeSystem
The HP 4Gb Pass-Thru Module provides transparent, 1:1 port connectivity (16 internal/16 external)
between HBA mezzanine ports and external SAN devices or switches. The module, which provides
16 ports with short-wave 4-Gb SFP transceivers, provides a solution for connecting the c-Class FC
HBAs to a local SAN. It is suitable for installations where the SAN is in close proximity and the
amount of cabling is not a major concern.
HP 4-Gb Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Module for the HP c-Class BladeSystem
The HP 4-Gb VC-FC Module cleanly separates SAN and server management and simplifies SAN
installation. The module appears to the SAN as one to four HBAs (depending on the number of ports
used), but provides certain switch-like benefits such as reduced cabling and shared, high-performance
auto-negotiating external SFP ports. The FC Virtual Connect module allows server blades to be moved
or replaced efficiently without involving SAN administrators. Each module provides 16 internal ports
for connections with HBAs and four external ports for connection to the SAN. Four short-wave 4-Gb
SFP transceivers are included. The module can selectively aggregate multiple FC HBA ports on up to
four external FC ports for connection to external SAN switches. The HP Virtual Connect Ethernet
Module (required when the FC Virtual Connect module is used) can manage server profiles and can
be deployed anywhere within a Virtual Connect
2
For more information about Virtual Connect technology, refer to the white paper “HP Virtual Connect
Technology implementation for the HP BladeSystem c-Class,” which is available at
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/technology/whitepapers/index.html .
2
domain.
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