HP 1.10GB Virtual Connect Ethernet Module for c-Class BladeSystem - Manual (Page 7)

Overview 7
Overview
Virtual Connect overview
Virtual Connect is a set of interconnect modules and embedded software for HP BladeSystem c-Class
enclosures that simplifies the setup and administration of server connections. HP Virtual Connect includes
the following components:
• HP 1/10Gb Virtual Connect Ethernet Module for c-Class BladeSystem
• HP 1/10Gb-F Virtual Connect Ethernet Module for the c-Class BladeSystem
• HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 10Gb Ethernet Module for BladeSystem c-Class
• HP 4Gb Virtual Connect Fibre Channel Module for c-Class BladeSystem
• HP Virtual Connect 4Gb Fibre Channel Module for BladeSystem c-Class (enhanced NPIV)
• HP Virtual Connect 8Gb 24-Port Fibre Channel Module for BladeSystem c-Class
• HP Virtual Connect 8Gb 20-Port Fibre Channel Module for BladeSystem c-Class
• HP Virtual Connect Manager
Virtual Connect implements server edge virtualization so that server administrators can upgrade, replace,
or move server blades within their enclosures without changes being visible to the external LAN and SAN
environments.
The Virtual Connect Manager is embedded on the Virtual Connect Ethernet module. Users access VCM
through a web-based GUI or CLI. The Onboard Administrator provides a web link to the GUI. Use an
SSH session to establish a console connection to the CLI.
The Virtual Connect Ethernet modules and the Virtual Connect FC modules support the HP BladeSystem
c7000 Enclosure, the HP BladeSystem c3000 Enclosure, and all the server blades and networks
contained within the enclosure.
The Virtual Connect Ethernet modules enable connection to all brands of data center Ethernet switches.
The Virtual Connect Ethernet modules can also be connected to other devices, such as printers, laptops,
rack servers, and storage devices. To connect to devices other than switches, create a VC network for that
device and only connect uplinks for that network to that device. If you connect uplinks from that network to
other devices, one of the uplinks becomes standby due to the loop avoidance algorithm.
The Virtual Connect FC modules enable connection of the enclosure to Brocade, Cisco, McDATA, or
QLogic data center Fibre Channel switches, but the modules do not appear as switches to the Fibre
Channel fabric.
A basic Virtual Connect domain includes a single HP c-Class BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure for a total of
16 servers (or up to 32 servers if the double-dense option is enabled), or a single HP c-Class BladeSystem
c3000 Enclosure for a total of eight servers (or up to 16 servers if the double-dense option is enabled).
Within the domain, any server blade can access any LAN or SAN connected to a VC module, and a
server blade can be used as a spare for any server blade within the same enclosure.