topic Re: BL 465C NIC Speed/Duplex Setting in Operating System - Linux

BL 465C NIC Speed/Duplex Setting

Rob Rugg — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:22:03 GMT

Hello,

I am trying to set a nic on a bl465c to 100FD. I only see the option to change this setting in the hp ncu but it is grayed out. The switch that this server connects to is set at 100FD. Anyone have any idea why this is happening?

Thank you

Re: BL 465C NIC Speed/Duplex Setting

Steven E. Protter — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:53:19 GMT

Shalom,

These NIC cards are supposed to use autonegotiate. If you want it to default to 100FD then the switch should be set that way for the port the NIC is connected to.

My guess is you are getting these settings because thats as fast as the switch can go or the port has been configured that way.

SEP

Re: BL 465C NIC Speed/Duplex Setting

rick jones — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 21:25:31 GMT

Autoneg in with contemporary NICs and switches should work just fine. Might as well use it.

Re: BL 465C NIC Speed/Duplex Setting

Connery — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 07:51:32 GMT

Rob,
All c-Class servers only support 1000 Full to c-Class blade switches, c-Class pass through, or c-Class Virtual Connect.

The c-Class enclosure uses serialized signals from the onboard NICs and mezzanine slots so that devices other than just ethernet can be used in each slot. In other words, we use serialized signals in order to support infiniband and/or Fiber Channel in the mezzanine slots. Because of this serialization, the ethernet NICs only support 1000 Full.

In summary, all c-Class servers only support 1000 Full on all their Ethernet NICs.

-sean

P.S. If/When 10gig NICs are supported in the future, 10 gig speeds will also be supported.

Re: BL 465C NIC Speed/Duplex Setting

Rob Rugg — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 08:11:51 GMT

Thank you for the reply...

So if I understand you correctly, I can't connect any c class server to a switch that is only 100mb?

Rob

Re: BL 465C NIC Speed/Duplex Setting

Connery — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 08:52:09 GMT

If you are using pass through modules, you are correct.

If you are using c-Class switches or using c-Class Virtual Connect, you can connect the enclosure to an external network device (switch) at 10, 100, or 1000 by setting the uplinks to the desired speed (or just use autonegotiation).

EXAMPLES:
Using Pass Through:
Server NIC running at 1000/Full straight out to external switch also running at 1000/Full.

Using c-Class switches or c-Class Virtual Connect:
Server NIC running at 1000/Full to c-Class switch\VC downlink running at 1000/Full. c-Class switch\VC uplink running at 10 or 100 or 1000 Full or Half to external switch/device running at 10, 100, 1000 Full or Half.

Best Regards,
-sean

Re: BL 465C NIC Speed/Duplex Setting

Rob Rugg — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 09:01:38 GMT

We are using the pass-though configuration. In order for us to get this to work with our current network switches we need to purchase a c-class switch or virtual connect device correct?

Re: BL 465C NIC Speed/Duplex Setting

Connery — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 17:37:36 GMT

Yes, in order for you to connect Blade server NICs to external switches running at less than 1 gig, you will need an intermediary device (such as a blade switch or Virtual Conenct module).

Regards,
-sean