HP BL260c HP Flex-10 technology - Page 2

Abstract This technology brief examines HP Flex-10 for Virtual Connect technology. This paper takes an indepth look at the HP hardware and software technology that comprises Flex-10. It also explores Flex10's functional association with HP Virtual Connect (VC), and examines how Flex-10 technology enhances, and is compatible with, current 10GbE architecture. This paper is intended to be a primary resource for customers who are assessing whether or not Flex-10 technology is appropriate for their network environments. Introduction Flex-10 technology is a hardware-based solution that enables users to partition a 10 gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) connection and regulate the data speed of each partition. HP Flex-10 is available only with Virtual Connect (VC)1, and is currently available for implementation only with supported HP BladeSystem servers. See http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/blades/components/ethernet/1010gb-f/questionsanswers.html#c1 for HP products that currently support Flex-10. The Flex-10 technology enables VC to configure a single 10Gb network port of BladeSystem servers to represent four physical network interface controller (NIC) devices, also called FlexNICs, with a total bandwidth of 10Gbps. These four FlexNICs appear to the operating system (OS) as discrete NICs, each with its own driver. While the FlexNICs share the same physical port, traffic flow for each one is isolated with its own MAC address and virtual local area network (VLAN) tags between the FlexNIC and VC Flex-10 interconnect module. The transmit bandwidth available to each FlexNIC is controlled by the administrator through the VC interface. Advantages associated with using Flex-10 technology are significant. The implementation cost and management burden of 10GbE infrastructure become more feasible. It is easier to aggregate multiple 1Gb data flows and fully utilize 10Gb bandwidth. The ability to adjust transmit bandwidth by partitioning data flow makes 10GbE more cost efficient and easier to manage. The fact that Flex-10 is hardware based means that multiple FlexNICs are added without the additional processor overhead or latency associated with server virtualization (virtual machines). Significant infrastructure savings are also realized since additional server NIC mezzanine cards and associated interconnect modules may not be needed. Each dual-port Flex-10 device supports up to eight FlexNICs, four on each physical port, and each Flex-10 Interconnect Module can support up to 64 FlexNICs. Advantages and limitations of current 10GbE technology 10GbE networks offer increased bandwidth, lower latency, and more opportunities for network redundancy in data center environments. 10GbE is a full duplex point-to-point technology and can support simultaneous traffic from both initiator and target without packet collision. It does not have inherent distance limitations. 10GbE makes bandwidth available for numerous applications: High-bandwidth applications such as video on demand (VOD), data backup, and network storage High-performance, latency-sensitive computing requirements like those for high performance compute (HPC) clustering Converged network (CN), in which Local Area Networks (LAN), data, and storage traffic move over a unified fabric Customer requirements Data center customers are moving to 10GbE networks to accommodate the growing requirements for higher performance and more bandwidth. These requirements take the form of increasing volumes of 1 More information about Virtual Connect technology can be found in the "For More Information" section at the end of this paper. 2