HP ProLiant BL490c HP BladeSystem c-Class SAN connectivity technology brief - Page 14

Connecting with HP Virtual Connect Fibre Channel modules HP Virtual Connect Fibre Channel (VC-FC) modules provide the ability to quickly assign SAN storage to a server. Virtual Connect also provides the ability to quickly migrate server SAN storage assignments from one server to another for easy reallocation of servers and storage resources. In the event that a server needs to be taken offline, Virtual Connect allows another server to quickly assume the identity of the original server such that the assigned SAN Storage is accessible by the replacement server. HP VC-FC modules provide high-speed switching for connecting up to 16 servers to four or eight external FC ports, significantly reducing cabling and SFP requirements (Figure 10) without restricting bandwidth. HP VC-FC modules provide switch-like performance without adding a switch to the domain. A SAN manager is able to see all the HBAs in the c-Class enclosure without having to manage an additional switch. A Virtual Connect Ethernet module that provides the shared management resources is required when using an HP VC-FC module. Each Server HBA port can see only one external port on one HP VC-FC Module. Two HP VC-FC Modules are required for redundant FC path support for server blades. Figure 10. HP VC-FC Module connectivity for the HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure HP BladeSystem c-Class enclosure Internal FC ports 1-16 to server blades (devices 1-8, port 1) (devices 9-16, port 1)* HP VC-FC module (bay 2†, 3, 5*, or 7*) Internal FC ports 1-16 to server blades (devices 1-16, port 2) (devices 9-16, port 2)* *c7000 enclosure only †c3000 enclosure only HP VC-FC module (bay 2†, 4, 6*, or 8*) External FC ports 1-4 to SAN devices or switches (all HP VC-FC modules) External FC ports 5-8 to SAN devices or switches (HP VC 8-Gb 24-port FC module only) External FC ports 1-4 to SAN devices or switches (all HP VC-FC modules) External FC ports 5-8 to SAN devices or switches (HP VC 8-Gb 24-port FC module only) In the default configuration (before a Virtual Connect domain is created) all VC-FC module uplink ports are grouped together to form a single uplink port group. This allows for dynamic distribution of server blade connectivity, depending on the number of VC-FC module uplink ports connected to the Fabric SAN switches. The user may select other mappings as described in the HP Virtual Connect Manager Command Line Interface Version 2.10 Users Guide available at http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/blades/components/c-class-tech-function.html. Connecting with SAN switches Embedded SAN switches provide all the features and high-speed switching of external switches. They also offer flexibility in connecting redundant paths from server blades to dual-path Fibre Channel SANs. Embedded Brocade and Cisco switches support a maximum of 16 internal ports to 8 external ports (Figure 11). The Access Gateway function of the Brocade 4-Gb SAN Switch enables the device to present its ports to the fabric as HBA ports. This allows for scalability and interoperability between supported fabrics. Customers can order either switch with 12 or 24 ports enabled. Modules with 12 ports enabled are upgradeable with a 12-port licensing option for a pay-as-you-grow strategy. Two switches are required for redundant path support. SAN Management controls the embedded SAN 14