C7000 Interconnect bays config question

[darren franklin]

I have a number of BL480 servers configured with 2 x Emulex duel port Mezz cards in mezz slots 2 and 3.
currently slot 2 communicates with the SAN via 2 x VC modules in bays 5 and 6. bays 7 and 8 are empty meaning the 2nd Mezz hba is not being used.
Does anyone know if it is a valid configuration to install 1 x VC in bay 5 and 1 x VC in bay 8 to enable the use of a single hba port from both of the Mezz hba's?
this will mean leaving bays 6 and 7 empty.

Thanks for any help offered.

[cjb_1]

It's not a supported option, so probably don't need to go on.

Not sure what you'd achieve by doing it. See the mezz diagram for the full height c7000. Mezz 3 has connectivity to 5 and 6.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12597_div/12597_div.PDF

Cheers
Chris

[darren franklin]

thanks for the reply,
Mezz 3 only has access to 5 and 6 if more than 2 ports on the card. I have duel port HBA's so it will only use 7 and 8.
Ive actually looked at the config sheet you attached before and it only states that they are some of the typical supported configurations, so presumably there must be more that they didnt document? although you are most likely right that it wont be supported.

[JKytsi]

Here You can find supported VC configurtions

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/12597_div/12597_div.html

Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] Empty
[Bay 3] Other/empty [Bay 4] Other/empty
[Bay 5] Other/empty [Bay 6] Other/empty
[Bay 7] Other/empty [Bay 8] Other/empty


[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] Other/empty [Bay 4] Other/empty
[Bay 5] Other/empty [Bay 6] Other/empty
[Bay 7] Other/empty [Bay 8] Other/empty


[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] VC-Enet [Bay 4] VC-Enet
[Bay 5] Other/empty [Bay 6] Other/empty
[Bay 7] Other/empty [Bay 8] Other/empty


[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] Other/empty [Bay 4] Other/empty
[Bay 5] VC-Enet [Bay 6] VC-Enet
[Bay 7] Empty [Bay 8] Empty


[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] VC-Enet [Bay 4] VC-Enet
[Bay 5] VC-Enet [Bay 6] VC-Enet
[Bay 7] Empty [Bay 8] Empty


[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] Empty
[Bay 3] VC-FC [Bay 4] Empty
[Bay 5] Other/empty [Bay 6] Other/empty
[Bay 7] Other/empty [Bay 8] Other/empty


[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] VC-FC [Bay 4] VC-FC
[Bay 5] Other/empty [Bay 6] Other/empty
[Bay 7] Other/empty [Bay 8] Other/empty


[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] VC-Enet [Bay 4] VC-Enet
[Bay 5] VC-FC [Bay 6] VC-FC
[Bay 7] Empty [Bay 8] Empty


[Bay 1] VC-Enet* [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] VC-Enet [Bay 4] VC-Enet
[Bay 5] VC-FC [Bay 6] VC-FC
[Bay 7] VC-FC [Bay 8] VC-FC

* This configuration is only applicable for enclosures with full-height servers.

[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] VC-FC [Bay 4] VC-FC
[Bay 5] VC-Enet [Bay 6] VC-Enet
[Bay 7] Empty [Bay 8] Empty


[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] VC-FC [Bay 4] VC-FC
[Bay 5] VC-Enet [Bay 6] VC-Enet
[Bay 7] VC-Enet [Bay 8] VC-Enet


[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] Other/empty [Bay 4] Other/empty
[Bay 5] VC-FC [Bay 6] VC-FC
[Bay 7] Empty [Bay 8] Empty


[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] VC-FC [Bay 4] VC-FC
[Bay 5] VC-FC [Bay 6] VC-FC
[Bay 7] Empty [Bay 8] Empty


[Bay 1] VC-Enet [Bay 2] VC-Enet
[Bay 3] VC-Enet [Bay 4] VC-Enet
[Bay 5] VC-Enet [Bay 6] VC-Enet
[Bay 7] VC-Enet [Bay 8] VC-Enet

[darren franklin]

Thanks but as mentioned earlier, the link sent only states
"The following tables show a number of typical, supported configurations for an HP BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure."

I have not seen any documentation that states that I can or cannot use the configuration I explained in the original question.

[Steven Clementi · Accepted solution]

There is no reason why you can not use the configuration you stated.

Typically, to get a "redundant" HBA configuration, this is what you need to do.

I've seen similar configurations for networking components. Customers want additional redundancy so they use 1 onboard NIC and 1 mezz card and put their second network interconnect in 3/4.

The drawback is that you lose the other bay if you have nothing else to connect to.

What I would like to see is a Mezz card that has 1 Network Port and 1 Fibre Port.

Steven

[Steven Clementi]

Quote from that doc...

"NOTE: The following tables show a number of typical, supported configurations for an HP BladeSystem c7000 Enclosure."

...which reads: Here are some typical supported configurations, there may be more "non-typical" configurations that are suported.


Steven

[darren franklin]

thanks for all the reply's guys. Im gonna give it a go with the config in the original question