Implementing IBM System Networking 10Gb Ethernet Switches

38 Implementing IBM System Networking 10Gb Ethernet Switches

򐂰 IBM 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module for IBM BladeCenter Installation Guide:

ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/systems/support/system_x_pdf/dw1gymst.pdf

򐂰 IBM 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module for IBM BladeCenter Application Guide:

http://www-947.ibm.com/systems/support/supportsite.wss/docdisplay?brandind=5000

008&lndocid=MIGR-5076214

򐂰 IBM 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module for IBM BladeCenter Command Reference:

http://www-947.ibm.com/systems/support/supportsite.wss/docdisplay?brandind=5000

008&lndocid=MIGR-5076525

򐂰 IBM 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module for IBM BladeCenter isCLI Reference:

http://www-947.ibm.com/systems/support/supportsite.wss/docdisplay?brandind=5000

008&lndocid=MIGR-5076215

򐂰 IBM 1/10Gb Uplink Ethernet Switch Module for IBM BladeCenter BBI Quick Guide:

http://www-947.ibm.com/systems/support/supportsite.wss/docdisplay?brandind=5000

008&lndocid=MIGR-5076219

1.6.3 IBM BladeCenter H

The IBM BladeCenter H (Figure 1-19) is a high-performance 9U chassis, designed for

compute-intensive environments, such as Earth/Life Sciences, commercial analytics, and

next-generation network applications.

Figure 1-19 IBM BladeCenter H Chassis front view

It provides:

򐂰 Reduced single points of failure: Many major components (either standard or optionally)

are hot-swappable or redundant. Servers and modules can be configured for automatic

failover to backups.

򐂰 Compatibility with earlier versions: Every blade, switch, and pass-through module

released by IBM, since the original IBM BladeCenter E chassis in 2002, is supported in the

IBM BladeCenter H chassis.

Chapter 1. Introduction to IBM System Networking 10Gb Ethernet products 39

򐂰 High-speed redundant midplane connections: Based on 4X InfiniBand, the midplane

supports up to 40 Gb bandwidth and provides four 10 Gb data channels to each blade. By

giving each blade two physical connections to the midplane that connects all blades and

modules together internally, a failure of one connector alone cannot bring down

the server.

򐂰 Fourteen 30 mm blade slots: These hot-swap slots can support any combination of 14

blade servers, or seven double-wide (60 mm) blade servers, or a mixture of 30 mm and 60

mm blades. It also supports multiple optional 30 mm Expansion Units in combination with

the blade servers, using the same blade slots. Up to four chassis can be installed in an

industry-standard 42U rack, for a total of up to 56 30 mm blade servers per rack.

򐂰 Up to 10 module bays for communication and I/O switches or bridges: The modules

interface with all of the blade servers in the chassis and alleviate the need for external

switches or expensive, cumbersome, and error-prone cabling. All connections are done

internally through the midplane. Two module slots are reserved for hot-swap/redundant

Gigabit Ethernet switch modules. Two slots support either high-speed bridge modules or

traditional Gigabit Ethernet, Myrinet, Fibre Channel, InfiniBand, and other switch modules.

Two slots are dedicated for bridge modules. Four additional slots are dedicated for

hot-swap/redundant high-speed switch modules. All modules, when installed in pairs, offer

load balancing and failover support.

Figure 1-20 shows the module bay locations.

Figure 1-20 IBM BladeCenter H chassis switch module identification

򐂰 Integrated switch and bridge modules: No additional rack U space is required.

򐂰 Two module bays for Advanced Management Modules (AMMs): The management

modules provide advanced systems management and KVM capabilities for not only the

chassis itself, but for all of the blades and other modules installed in the chassis. The

AMM provides capabilities similar to the Baseboard Management Controller used in

stand-alone System x rack and tower servers. Features include concurrent KVM (cKVM),

an external Serial over LAN connection, industry-standard management interfaces

(SMASH/CLP/CIM/HPI), USB virtualization, network failover, compatibility with an earlier

version of the original Management Module, and so on.

Switch Module Bays 3 & 4

-OR- Bridge Slots

Bay 7 Bay 8

High Speed Switch Module Bays

Bay 9 Bay 10

High Speed Switch Module Bays

Switch Module Bays 1 & 2

(dedicated Ethernet)

Switch Module Bays 5 & 6

(dedicated bridge module)