HP 1.10GB Virtual Connect Ethernet Module for c-Class BladeSystem - Manual (Page 95)

Server management 95
Server management
Server profile overview
A Virtual Connect server profile is a logical grouping of attributes related to server connectivity and identity
that can be assigned to a server blade. The server profile can include MAC and WWN addresses, as well
as boot parameters for the various connection protocols supported by VC. After being defined, the server
profile can be assigned to any server blade within the Virtual Connect domain. A Virtual Connect domain
can have a maximum of 64 Virtual Connect server profiles.
A Virtual Connect server profile consists of connections that group attributes related to server connectivity for
the various protocols supported by Virtual Connect Interconnect Modules. These are Ethernet, iSCSI, Fibre
Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), and Fibre Channel.
• For Ethernet connections, VC provides the ability to assign VC-assigned MAC addresses and configure
PXE boot settings as well as allocate bandwidth on Flex-10 connections.
• For iSCSI connections, VC provides the ability to assign VC-assigned MAC addresses and configure
iSCSI boot settings, as well as allocate bandwidth.
• For FCoE connections, VC provides the ability to assign VC-assigned WWN and MAC addresses, and
configure Fibre Channel boot settings.
• For FC connections, VC provides the ability to assign VC-assigned WWN addresses and configure
Fibre Channel boot settings.
Virtual Connect provides the ability to configure boot settings when using either VC-assigned or factory
default MAC addresses. In addition, USE-BIOS is an option for all connection boot settings that preserves the
options set in the RBSU or through other configuration utilities.
Virtual Connect also provides the ability to either override the VC-assigned MAC addresses or WWNs or
both when creating a new profile. See "Creating server profiles" in the HP Virtual Connect Manager
Command Line Interface for c-Class BladeSystem User Guide.
IMPORTANT: The term server blade also applies to HP Integrity multi-blade servers. For more
information on multi-blade servers, see "Multi-blade servers (on page 97 )."
When a server profile is assigned to a server blade, the Virtual Connect Manager configures the connections
with the appropriate MAC/WWN addresses and Boot settings. In addition, the Virtual Connect Manager
automatically connects the server blade Ethernet, iSCSI, FCoE, and Fibre Channel ports to the specified
networks and SAN fabrics. This server profile can then be re-assigned to another server blade as needed,
while maintaining the server's network and SAN identity and connectivity.
The Virtual Connect Manager can be configured so that server blades use server factory default
MACs/WWNs or Virtual Connect-administered MACs/WWNs . These administered values override the
default MAC addresses and WWNs when a server profile is assigned to a server, and appear to pre-boot
environments and the host operating system software as the hardware addresses. To use administered
MAC/WWN addresses, select a range of HP pre-defined or user-specified MAC addresses. See "Setting the
domain name" in the HP Virtual Connect Manager Command Line Interface for c-Class BladeSystem User
Guide.