HP 4GB FIBRE CHANNEL PASS-THRU MODULE User Manual

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

Abstract

This paper describes the hardware and software required to connect HP BladeSystem c--Class server blades to Storage Area Networks

(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.

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.

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(upper)

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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

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 .

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