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Re: Confused between updating the HP Blade network card and FC HBA firmware & driver.

 
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Server-Support
Super Advisor

Confused between updating the HP Blade network card and FC HBA firmware & driver.

People,

 

Can anyone here please explains to me the difference between HP Blade network card and the Blade FC HBA card driver ?

 

I'm tryingto upgrade the network card firmware only of my HP BL 465c G8 servers which is identified by VMware as HP Emulex FlexFabric 10Gb 2-port 554FLB Adapter, but how come the article below:

 

http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?sp4ts.oid=5215387&swItemId=MTX_36203ea2d4154750ba24a25ae4&swEnvOid=4166#tab4

 

mention that it is for both Fibre Channel and the network ?

Best regards,
7 REPLIES 7
Server-Support
Super Advisor

Re: Confused between updating the HP Blade network card and FC HBA firmware & driver.

 

And now from the VMware ESXi SSH root console, when I go to the SSH console using putty.exe, I execute the command ethtool -i vmnic0 the network card is recognized as be2net ?

 

pNic vmnic0

DriverName be2net

DriverVersion 4.6.247.10

DriverFirmware 10.2.340.19

bus-info  0000:04:00.0

 

I'm confused here and would greatly appreciate any explanation that you can offer.

 

Thanks.

Best regards,
Jan Soska
Honored Contributor
Solution

Re: Confused between updating the HP Blade network card and FC HBA firmware & driver.

Hello,

HP FlexFabric 10Gb 2-port 554FLB Adapter cabable ethernet and FC over ethernet and iSCSI, any case you have infrastructure suitable for it (HP FlexFabric and HP Flex-10). If not, it is let say normal network adapter.

For details, check quickspecs here:

http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetDocument.aspx?docname=c04111537

Server-Support
Super Advisor

Re: Confused between updating the HP Blade network card and FC HBA firmware & driver.

Ok so in this case, one hardware can emulate two types of device to the Hypervisor or the guest OS ?

And firmware update will need to be done once but the driver must be updated twice for each type of hardware ?
Best regards,
Jan Soska
Honored Contributor

Re: Confused between updating the HP Blade network card and FC HBA firmware & driver.

yes, this adapter can provide mentioned connections to servers.

Firmware is only one. Driver depends which feature will you use. And it depends if you have flexfabric.

Maybe could you discribe your enviroment little bit more?

 

Jan

Server-Support
Super Advisor

Re: Confused between updating the HP Blade network card and FC HBA firmware & driver.

Hi Jan,

 

here's my environment summary below:

 

Blade Specs:

 

Type I - Gen 7
Blade 1
Model: ProLiant BL465c G7
Manufacturer: HP
Part Number: 518851-B21
Spare Part Number: 598247-001
Mezz 1
Model: HP StorageWorks 640GB IO Accelerator
Manufacturer: HP
PCA Serial Number: 00000000435741
Part Number: BK836A
Spare Part Number: 627196-001
Product Ver: 02

Mezz 2
Model: QLogic QMH2562 8Gb FC HBA for HP BladeSystem c-Class
Manufacturer: QLogic
PCA Serial Number: MY5034260S
Part Number: 451871-B21
Spare Part Number: 455869-001
Product Ver: 00

Type II - Gen 8
Model: ProLiant BL465c Gen8
Manufacturer: HP
Part Number: 634975-B21
Spare Part Number: 683821-001
Mezz 2
Model: QLogic QMH2572 8Gb FC HBA for HP BladeSystem c-Class
Manufacturer: QLogic
PCA Serial Number: MY53490NRY
Part Number: 651281-B21
Spare Part Number: 656452-001
Product Ver: 00
Adaptive Fabric Adapter 1
Model: HP FlexFabric 10Gb 2-port 554FLB Adapter
Manufacturer: HP
PCA Serial Number: WD3CBQ8277
Part Number: 647586-B21
Spare Part Number: 649940-001
Product Ver: 00

Interconnect modules:
Bay 1 HP VC Flex-10 Enet Module Firmware Version 4.01
Bay 2 HP VC Flex-10 Enet Module Firmware Version 4.01
Bay 5 HP B-series 8/24c SAN Switch BladeSystem c-Class Not Available
Bay 6 HP B-series 8/24c SAN Switch BladeSystem c-Class Not Available

 

 

Best regards,
Jan Soska
Honored Contributor

Re: Confused between updating the HP Blade network card and FC HBA firmware & driver.

Hello, then it is clear, for storage connection you will use FC Qlogic HBA QMH2562 connected to Brocade B-series 8/24c SAN Switch, for network (or even iSCSI) you will use onboard flex adapter conected to Flex-10 Enet Module, which is very common setup used by many customers (including me).

For qlogic HBA use driver for Qlogic FC, for CNA use Emulex driver, everything available at VMware driver download. If you use HP customized image, it is very likely newest driver will by included.

Please check nice HP page for VMware Update Manager at vibsdepot.hp.com, where are newest information about HP hardware in VMware env.

 

Jan

Server-Support
Super Advisor

Re: Confused between updating the HP Blade network card and FC HBA firmware & driver.

many thanks for the clarification once again.

Cheers !

Best regards,