HPE 571956-B21 Getting Started Guide

QuickSpecs

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module

Overview

Page 1

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module for c-Class BladeSystem

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-port Modules are the simplest, most flexible way to connect virtualized server blades to

Figure 1 Virtual Connect FlexFabric Module Front Bezel

Unit Identification Display LED

4x 1/10Gb Ethernet (SFP+)

Backlit Fibre Channel mode indicator

Backlit Ethernet mode indicator

Backlit port number and status indicator LED

2x 10Gb Ethernet or 2/4/8 Gb Fibre Channel (SFP+)

4. Port Link/Activity/Speed indicator

10.

Enter button

5. Backlit up or X-link indicator

11.

Module status indicator

Reset button

What's New

• Virtual Connect v4.40 highlights for the Virtual Connect FlexFabric -10Gb/24-port Module

Models

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-port Module for c-Class BladeSystem

571956-B21

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10/24 Enterprise Edition BLc7000 Option

605865-B21

NOTE: Includes 2 x HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-port modules plus 1 x VCEM BL-c7000 enclosure license. Customer will receive a printed license entitlement certificate and 2 Virtual Connect modules as a single deliverable. The license entitlement certificate must be redeemed online or via fax to VCEM license activation key.

data or storage networks. VC FlexFabric modules eliminate up to 95% of network sprawl at the server edge with one device that converges traffic inside enclosures and directly connects to external LANs and SANs. Using Flex-10 technology with Fibre Channel over Ethernet and accelerated iSCSI, these modules converge traffic over high speed 10Gb connections to servers with HPE FlexFabric Adapters (HPE NC551i or HPE NC551m Dual Port FlexFabric 10Gb Converged Network Adapters or HPE NC553i 10Gb 2-port FlexFabric Converged Network Adapter). Each redundant pair of Virtual Connect FlexFabric modules provide 8 adjustable downlink connections ( six Ethernet and two Fibre Channel, or six Ethernet and 2 iSCSI or eight Ethernet) to dual port10Gb FlexFabric Adapters on servers. Up to eight uplinks are available for connection to upstream Ethernet and Fibre Channel switches. VC FlexFabric modules avoid the confusion of traditional and other converged network solutions by eliminating the need for multiple Ethernet and Fibre Channel switches, extension modules, cables and software licenses. Also, Virtual Connect wire-once connection management is built-in enabling server adds, moves and replacement in minutes instead of days or weeks.

− SR-IOV management allows assigning Virtual Functions to any Physical Functions

obtain the

QuickSpecs

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module

Supported Products

Page 2

Compatibility

HPE BladeSystem c-Class Virtual Connect Firmware v4.50 and the HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-port Module support

Hewlett Packard

All HPE ProLiant and Integrity server blades with their supported Ethernet adapters and the following server

HPE Network

FlexFabric adapter:

• HPE FlexFabric 20Gb 2-port 630FLB Adapter (Only at 10Gb downlinks)

the following hardware.

Enterprise servers

blades with supported FlexFabric (integrated or mezzanine) and Ethernet Adapters

HPE ProLiant Server Blades

• HPE ProLiant BL2x220c G6 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL2x220c G7 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL280c G6 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL420c Gen8 Server Blade

• HPE ProLiant BL460c G6 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL460c G7 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen8 Server Blade

• HPE Proliant BL460c Gen8 Server Blade with Intel E5-2600 v2 series Processors

• HPE ProLiant BL460c Gen9 Server Blade

• HPE ProLiant BL465c G6 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL465c G7 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL465c Gen8 Server Blade

• HPE ProLiant BL490c G6 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL490c G7 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL495c G6 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL620c G7 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL660c Gen8 Server Blade

• HPE ProLiant BL660c Gen9 Server Blade

• HPE ProLiant BL680c G7 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL685c G6 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant BL685c G7 Server Series

• HPE ProLiant WS460c Gen9 Graphics Server Blade

• HPE ProLiant WS460c Gen8 Graphics Server Blade

Integrity Server Blades

• HPE Integrity BL860c i2 Server Blade

• HPE Integrity BL860c i4 Server Blade

• HPE Integrity BL870c i2 Server Blade

• HPE Integrity BL870c i4 Server Blade

• HPE Integrity BL890c i2 Server Blade

• HPE Integrity BL890c i4 Server Blade

• HPE Integrity BL860c i6 Server series

• HPE Integrity BL870c i6 Server series

• HPE Integrity BL890c i6 Server series

NOTE: Some servers listed above may be discontinued. NOTE: HPE Integrity BL8x0c i2 servers require VC FW 3.00 or higher. HPE Integrity BL8x0c i4 servers

require VC FW 3.70 or higher.

Adapters

• HPE FlexFabric 20Gb 2-port 650FLB Adapter (Only at 10Gb downlinks)

• HPE FlexFabric 20Gb 2-port 650M Adapter (Only at 10Gb downlinks)

QuickSpecs

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module

Supported Products

Page 3

• HPE FlexFabric 20Gb 2-port 630M Adapter (Only at 10Gb downlinks)

HPE BladeSystem

HPE BladeSystem c-Class c7000 Enclosure with Onboard Administrator

Virtual Connect

Virtual Connect Firmware v4.40 is recommended with the following release sets for HPE ProLiant and HPE

comprehensive collection of firmware and system software components, all tested together as a single solution

https://www.hpe.com/us/en/product-catalog/detail/pip.service-pack-for-proLiant.5104018.html

• HPE FlexFabric 10Gb-2 port 536FLB Adapter

• HPE NC551i Dual Port FlexFabric 10Gb Converged Network Adapter

• HPE NC551m Dual Port FlexFabric 10Gb Converged Network Adapter

• HPE NC553i 10Gb 2-port FlexFabric Converged Network Adapter

• HPE NC553m 10Gb 2-port FlexFabric Converged Network Adapter

• HPE NC 554 M/FLB 10Gb 2 port Converged Network Adapter

• HPE FlexFabric 10Gb 2-port 554M Adapter

• HPE FlexFabric 10Gb 2-port 554FLB Adapter

• HPE FlexFabric 10Gb 2-port 534FLB Adapter

• HPE FlexFabric 10Gb 2-port 534M Adapter

Ethernet and Flex-10 Ethernet adapters:

• HPE NC325m PCI Express Quad Port 1Gb server adapter

• HPE NC326i Integrated Dual Port PCI Express Gigabit Server Adapter

• HPE NC326m PCI Express Dual Port Multifunction Gigabit Server Adapter

• HPE NC360m Dual Port 1GbE BL-c Adapter

• HPE NC364m Quad Port 1GbE BL-c Adapter

• HPE NC370i Dual Port Multifunction Gigabit Network Adapter

• HPE NC382i Integrated Dual Port PCI Express Gigabit Server Adapter

• HPE NC382m Integrated Dual Port PCI Express Gigabit Server Adapter

• HPE NC522m Dual Port Flex-10 10GbE Multifunction BL-c Adapter

• HPE NC532i Dual Port Flex-10 10GbE Multifunction BL-c Adapter

• HPE NC532m Dual Port Flex-10 10GbE Multifunction BL-c Adapter

• HPE NC542m Dual Port Flex-10 10GbE BL-c Adapter

• HPE NC550m 10Gb 2-port PCIe x8 Flex-10 Ethernet Adapter

• HPE NC522m Dual Port Flex-10 10GbE Multifunction BL-c Adapter

• HPE Flex-10 10Gb 2-port 530FLB Adapter

• HPE Flex-10 10Gb 2-port 530M Adapter

• HPE Flex-10 10Gb 2-port 552M Adapter

• HPE Ethernet 1Gb 2-port 361FLB Adapter

• HPE Ethernet 1Gb 4-port 366M Adapter

NOTE: Consult individual server blade QuickSpecs for specific adapter support. NOTE: Some options listed above may be discontinued. NOTE: For IPv6 management, Onboard Administrator version 4.00 or higher is required.

c-Class Enclosures

Firmware

NOTE: VC FlexFabric modules are not supported in BladeSystem c3000 enclosures.

Integrity environments

HPE ProLiant server blades HPE Service Pack for ProLiant: Version SPP 2014.09.0 or greater

The HPE Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) with HPE Smart Update Manager (HPE SUM) as the deployment engine provides a comprehensive approach to firmware and system software maintenance. The SPP is a

stack that include drivers, agents, utilities, firmware packages for HPE ProLiant servers, controllers, storage, blades and enclosures, and other options. It is available on all supported HPE ProLiant Gen 8 servers (HPE ProLiant SL/ML/DL/BL 100, 200, 300, 500, 700, 900 servers, and HPE CloudSystem Matrix) in addition to earlier generation HPE ProLiant servers. The SPP is released with most major HPE ProLiant server releases.

To access the latest HPE Service Pack for ProLiant click here:

QuickSpecs

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module

Supported Products

Page 4

Supported Configurations

HPE BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure - Rear View

Upper Fan System

Interconnect Bays 7 / 8

Interconnect Bays 1 /2

On Board Administrator

3. Interconnect Bays 3 / 4

7. Lower Fan System

4. Interconnect Bays 5 / 6

8. Rear Redundant Power Complex

Mezzanines

c7000 Port Mapping

Port mapping differs slightly between full height and half height server blades due to the support for additional Mezzanine cards on the full height version. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has providing intelligent management tools via the Onboard Administrator and Onboard Administrator Guide and Enclosure Setup and Installation Guide provide detailed information on port mapping.

HPE Integrity Server Blades To access latest HPE Smart Update Firmware, click here:

https://www.hpe.com/us/en/products/servers/smart-update.html

HPE Integrity i4 Server Blades Recommended HPE Smart Update Firmware:

HPE Smart Update Firmware-HPE Integrity BL860c/870c/890c i4 System Firmware Bundle for Linux/Windows, 44.01

HPE Integrity i2 Server Blades

HPE Smart Update Firmware-HPE Integrity BL860c/870c/890c i2 System Firmware Bundle for Linux/Windows, 26.36

simplified the processes of mapping Mezzanine ports to switch ports by

HPE Insight Manager Software. The

QuickSpecs

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module

Supported Products

Page 5

Half Height Server Blade

Full Height Server Blade

HPE BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure

NOTE: The following tables show a number of supported configurations for an HPE BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure with Virtual

Connect FlexFabric Modules. Not all possible combinations are shown here.

NOTE:

Server Network

Adapters Used

[Bay 1]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 2]

Integrated FlexFabric Adapter

[Bay 3]

Empty ->

Empty

[Bay 4]

[Bay 5]

Empty

[Bay 6]

[Bay 7]

Empty ->

Empty

[Bay 8]

[Bay 1]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 2]

FLEXFABRIC ADAPTER

Integrated FlexFabric Adapter

[Bay 3]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 4]

FlexFabric Adapter Mezzanine

[Bay 5]

Empty ->

Empty

[Bay 6]

[Bay 7]

Empty

[Bay 8]

[Bay 1]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 2]

Integrated FlexFabric Adapter

[Bay 3]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 4]

FlexFabric Adapter Mezzanine

[Bay 5]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 6]

FlexFabric Adapter Mezzanine

[Bay 7]

Empty

[Bay 8]

[Bay 1]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 2]

Integrated FlexFabric Adapter

[Bay 3]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 4]

FlexFabric Adapter Mezzanine

[Bay 5]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 6]

FlexFabric Adapter Mezzanine

[Bay 7]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 8]

FlexFabric Adapter Mezzanine

VC FlexFabric modules are not supported in HPE BladeSystem c3000 enclosures.

Interconnect Module Configurations

QuickSpecs

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module

Supported Products

Page 6

[Bay 1]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 2]

Integrated FlexFabric Adapter

[Bay 3]

VC Flex-10 VC Flex VC FC

VC Flex-10 or Empty VC Flex VC FC or Empty

[Bay 4]

Flex-10/Enet or

Mezzanine

[Bay 5]

Empty ->

Empty

[Bay 6]

[Bay 7]

Empty ->

Empty

[Bay 8]

[Bay 1]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 2]

Integrated FlexFabric Adapter

[Bay 3]

VC Flex-10 VC Flex VC FC

VC Flex-10 or Empty VC Flex VC FC or Empty

[Bay 4]

Flex-10/Enet or

Mezzanine

[Bay 5]

VC Flex-10 VC Flex VC FC

VC Flex-10 or Empty VC Flex VC FC or Empty

[Bay 6]

Flex-10/Enet or

Mezzanine

[Bay 7]

Empty ->

Empty

[Bay 8]

[Bay 1]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 2]

Integrated FlexFabric Adapter

[Bay 3]

VC Flex-10 VC Flex VC FC

VC Flex-10 or Empty VC Flex VC FC or Empty

[Bay 4]

Flex-10/Enet or

[Bay 5]

VC Flex-10 VC Flex VC FC

VC Flex-10 or Empty VC Flex VC FC or Empty

[Bay 6]

Flex-10/Enet or

[Bay 7]

VC Flex-10 VC Flex VC FC

VC Flex-10 or Empty VC Flex VC FC3 or Empty

[Bay 8]

Flex-10/Enet or

[Bay 1]

Empty ->

Empty

[Bay 2]

[Bay 3]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 4]

FlexFabric Adapter Mezzanine

[Bay 5]

Empty ->

Empty

[Bay 6]

[Bay 7]

Empty

[Bay 8]

[Bay 1]

VC Flex-10

VC Flex-10 or Empty

[Bay 2]

Flex-10/Enet LOM

[Bay 3]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 4]

FlexFabric Adapter Mezzanine

[Bay 5]

Empty

[Bay 6]

[Bay 7]

Empty ->

Empty

[Bay 8]

[Bay 1]

VC Flex-10

VC Flex-10 or Empty

[Bay 2]

Flex-10/Enet LOM

[Bay 3]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 4]

FlexFabric Adapter Mezzanine

[Bay 5]

VC Flex-10 VC Flex VC FC VC FlexFabric

VC Flex-10 or Empty VC Flex VC FC or Empty VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 6]

Flex-10/Enet, FC HBA or FlexFabric

[Bay 7]

Empty ->

Empty

[Bay 8]

[Bay 1]

VC Flex-10

VC Flex-10 or Empty

[Bay 2]

Flex-10/Enet LOM

-10/10D

-10/10D or Empty

FC HBA

-10/10D

-10/10D or Empty

FC HBA Mezzanine

-10/10D

-10/10D or Empty

FC HBA Mezzanine

-10/10D

-10/10D or Empty

Adapter Mezzanine

QuickSpecs

HPE Virtual Connect FlexFabric 10Gb/24-Port Module

Supported Products

Page 7

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric2 or Empty

[Bay 3]

VC FlexFabric

VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 4]

FlexFabric Adapter Mezzanine

[Bay 5]

VC Flex-10 VC Flex VC FC VC FlexFabric

VC Flex-10 or Empty VC Flex VC FC or Empty VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 6]

Flex-10/Enet, FC HBA or FlexFabric

[Bay 7]

VC Flex-10 VC Flex VC FC VC FlexFabric

VC Flex-10 or Empty VC Flex VC FC VC FlexFabric or Empty

[Bay 8]

Flex-10/Enet, FC HBA or FlexFabric

NOTE:1 Requires HPE ProLiant BL G7 server blades with HPE NC551i or HPE NC553i Dual Port FlexFabric 10Gb Converged

Network Adapter.

NOTE:

Converged Network Adapter.

NOTE:

Required Cabling

NOTE: Twinax direct attach copper (0.5 to 7m). 7m is not supported on ports X1-X4

Maximum Distances

Multimode OM1

62.5/125 micron

Multimode OM2

50/125 micron

Multimode OM3

50/125 micron

Singlemode

9 micron

2 - 26m/33m*

2 - 82m

2 - 300m

2 -10km

LRM

0.5 - 220m

Table below lists distance for various cables types for Fibre Channel interface

Maximum Cable Distance (Meters) for Multi-mode Fiber Shortwave

Multimode Fiber Type

Fiber Channel Data Rate (Gbps)

OM1

OM2

OM3

OM4

8Gbps

21m

50m

150m

190m

4Gbps

70m

150m

380m

400m

2Gbps

150m

300m

500m

Stacking

Stacking links are used to interconnect Virtual Connect Ethernet/FlexFabric Modules when using more than

re than two Virtual Connect Ethernet/FlexFabric Modules in a single enclosure.

-10/10D

-10/10D or Empty

or Empty

Adapter Mezzanine

Supports Ethernet only when connected to server blades without embedded NC551i Dual Port FlexFabric 10Gb

Requires full-height servers.

NOTE: Direct Attach Copper cables listed in the options section below is fully supported by HPE. Hewlett Packard Enterprise recommends use of these cables. If not identified as a "supported" DAC, VC will allow the connection to proceed if the discovery process indicates the cable meets the following criteria: connector=copper pigtail; transceiver code=active cable or passive cable; speed >=10Gb; length between 1m and 7m, inclusive. The connection is logged as an unsupported cable. Prior to requesting support from HPE, a DAC from the supported list must be used to validate the issue.

Configuration

one enclosure or when using mo All Virtual Connect Modules within the VC Domain must be interconnected. The following provides recommended configurations.

Interconnecting the modules allows all Ethernet NICs or CNAs on all server blades in the Virtual Connect domain to have access to any Virtual Connect Ethernet uplink port. By using these module-to-module links, a single pair of uplinks can be used as the data center Ethernet network connections for the entire Virtual Connect domain, and allows any server blade to be connected to any Ethernet network.

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