topic Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions in BladeSystem - General

BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

Rob_69_1 — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:32:18 GMT

Hello, I have I few doubts choosing the right server blades for my situation.

I ended up with 2 final possible choiches:

BL460c G6:
- Intel Xeon 5500/5600 Processor(s)
- Up to 192 GBytes RAM
- (1) 10 GbE Flex10 Card (with 2 ports)

BL465c G6:
- AMD Opteron 2400 Processor(s)
- Up to 64 GBytes RAM
- (2) 1 GbE Ethernet Nics

My choice would be BL460c for a number of reasons, but it comes with Flex10 embedded.

If I understand correctly, IN THIS CASE i should put Flex10 Interconnect module(s) in my enclosure, instead of plain Ethernet Switches, to be able to connect to the external network...

But, in my understanding, Flex10 Interconnect Modules DO NOT support L2/L3 switching/routing, which I do need for a number of reasons.

The questions:

1) Why can't I have plain 1Gbit NICs with the BL460c G6? (I know I can add a mezzanine card, but I'd need a total of 4 NICs in my config... So that's not feasible)

2) Is it true that Flex10 Interconnect Module DO NOT support L2/L3? Maybe I did not understand this point well

3) Any other thoughts/workarounds to make it possible to stick to the Xeon processor? Or am I really constrained to buy the Opteron model to sort everything out?

Thanks...

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

Jan Soska — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 19:22:03 GMT

Hello,
to your questions:
1) onboard Flex10 NIC will work with normal ethernet interconnect as normal NIC, you will just loose virtualization potential of flex10 technology like virtual nics, dynamic speed setup...
2) I am not network specialist, but I think L3 routing is not supported, you need external L3 device to route trafic outside blade chasis (but internal traffic does not need real ethernet device to route.)
3) I would buy newest bl495c G7 with latest Opeterons and all newest HP technology onboard - flex10, ilo3, etc..

Jan

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

HEM_2 — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:12:42 GMT

1) the embedded NC532i NICs on a bl460c G6 will support connecting to non-Flex-10 c-Class Interconnect modules that have 1Gb downlinks.

2) VC Flex-10 Interconnect modules do not perform L3 routing but they do perform L2 switching.

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

Rob_69_1 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:11:22 GMT

Thanks for your replies.

So, if I have a plain Gigabit Ethernet swith as my interconnect module in the enclosure, and if I install an additional Flex10 2 ports mezzanine card in the BL460c, when I install the OS I will see 4 NICs, 1 Gbit each?

Is this correct?

More than this... What "brand" of NICs will I see? Will the "qlaxxx" drivers be installed, or maybe the Broadcom drivers, or...?

I'll be grateful for any answers and/or ideas... Thanks!

PS I can't buy the G7 right now, because it's not in the certification matrix of the environment I'm about to put up

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

Jan Soska — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:25:18 GMT

Hello,

To your questions:
1) Be carefull - if you have only 1 interconect module, it is linked only to onboard NIC's! If you add another mezanine card, you need adidtional interconect modules! By default config you'll see 2 gigabit NIC (made form flex10 onboard nic). If you need more NICs, go to full size blades - bl680c /bl685c , or buy aditional interconects, or even replace current module for flex10 modules (losing L3 routing).

2) these card are from Broadcom (if I am not wrong.. :) )

Jan

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

Rob_69_1 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:05:20 GMT

Thanks Jan.

I'll take care to put in 2 interconnect modules to have a proper port mapping with the 4 "NICs".

The main doubts have been definitely sorted out...

Hopefully somebody will add if the resulting 4 NICs will be seen as Broadcom for sure?

I'd like to know this last detail...

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

kris rombauts — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:10:47 GMT

Rob,

do you have a productnumber available for the 2 port mezz card you want to use ?

Kris

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

Rob_69_1 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:17:54 GMT

Hi Kris... No, I still have no idea of what part number I'll eventually install in the mezzanine slot...

But, let's put it like this:

I'll install a mezz flex10 card that will "present" (2) 1 Gbit NICs, identical to the (2) 1 Gbit NICs that will be "presented" by the embedded flex10 adapter.

Therfore the question is:

What "brand" will the 2 "NICs" presented by the embedded adapter? :-)

Hope this clarifies a little bit what I have in mind...

Cheers!

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

Jan Soska — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:19:20 GMT

hello Rob,
the onboard NC532i flex10 is Broadcom product... http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=3958221&taskId=135&prodTypeId=329290&prodSeriesId=3958220〈=en&cc=us&submit=Go%20%BB

jan

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

Jan Soska — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:25:26 GMT

if you use mezanine NIC, it depends on direct model, but most of them are Broadcom, list of compatible products is in server quickspec...

Jan

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

Jan Soska — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:26:41 GMT

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/13238_div/13238_div.HTML

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

Rob_69_1 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:53:37 GMT

Thanks everybody for helping out!

Re: BL460c G6 vs. BL465c G6 - Networking questions

Rob_69_1 — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:54:11 GMT